The Fact-Checker, by Michael Dobbs

SEXIST!!!

The truth?
The truth is to Republicans as salt is to slugs. They don't do truth, they only do slurrs.
I'm glad somebody in the mainstream media is finaly noticing that.

The four P's are deserved. This is a flat-out lie intended to deceive the voting public with a known-false statistic, there's no equivocating about it.

Palin knows more about energy than anyone in America? Wow. What is it exactly that she knows? Where energy comes from? The oil industry?

How about her explaining about solar, wind, biofuels? What can she tell us about the production and development of those, and what can be done to wean our dependence on oil?

It's getting to the point that every American should be insulted that McCain thinks we're dumb enough to buy this crap. What a joke.

Plus, how much does the Governor of a state really have to do with anything? It's not like she's running the companies that produce the stuff. So let's test her -- she should submit to an interview with an impartial expert on energy issues, and let's she if she really knows what she's talking about. Come on, Gov. Palin -- you're not scared, are you?

HOW MUCH LONGER CAN AMERICAN WITHSTAND GOP LIARS?

When is the fourth estate finally going to stand up and start asking tough questions. I am not talking about being harsh, rude or impolite.

What I am talking about is follow up questions when the intial answer fails to address the question.

Fact checker give Palin 4 Pinnochio's to Palin on her claim of being responsible for 20% of the nations oil & gas.

Pure hogwash, 7% at best and it is a declining number under Palin's tenure.

Demmand straight answers from this woman. It isn't sexist to demand straight answers from somenone who wants to be a heartbeat away.

Better start sharpening those noses, there are likely more lies to come. The republicans have shown time and time again they cannot win an election on an even playing field, so they must lie. MUST.

But events are catching up to them. The economy is not "robust". I heard a republican this morning say how great things are because oil just dropped below $100 a barrel, yet it was nearly half that just 2-3 years ago. $100/bbl is a good sign for the economy?

Just how stupid do republicans think Americans are? Oh yea, they elected Bush twice, even after his lies about WMD were exposed. Maybe republicans are right, Americans are stupid enough to elect a republican again based on the lies they tell. We are now reaping what we sowed in 2000 and 2004. If McCain is elected, America's downfall is assured, and we can only point the finger at ourselves for being so gullible, so stupid, so superficial.

From:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/hed-rather-win-election-than-tell-truth.html

Friday, September 12, 2008
He'd Rather Win The Election Than Portray The Truth

John McCain ran an honorable campaign in 2000.

He was beaten due to scurrilous dishonesty.

He's learned the lesson well.

He's hired those who did this to him.

And now, they're doing it again.

McCain has said that he would rather win the war than win the election.

In fact, as we have seen time after time this week, he would apparently rather win the election than convey the truth.

This approach brought us George W. Bush--and the dissembling, the half-truths, and the omissions and distortions to come. And, so, brought us the tragic consequences that have followed for individuals and families across the nation and the world.

As Americans, we often have short memories and powerful impulses. We tend to act on the latter. This is why history can repeat itself.

Remember. Remember how driven by emotion many became last time. By impulse. Without thought. Remember the statements that were made. Remember the realities that followed. Remember.

You can feel what you feel now--anger, aggression, glee, without examination of the underlying truth--for a moment.

You will live with the consequences for years, decades to come--perhaps for the rest of your life.

Remember the thoughts and feelings that preceded these last 8 years.

Remember.

According to the non-partisan FactCheck.org (http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_mccain.html), McCain has strained the truth about health care. About small business. About education. About taxes. About corporate welfare. About energy independence. About free trade.

We've seen this before.

We were distracted from the truth in just the same way before.

And we've lived the resulting damage--for the past 8 years.

This is the way we need to change the nation: By realizing what is true, rather than realizing what emotes us for the moment.

Think.

Remember.

And act accordingly for your future.

Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/hed-rather-win-election-than-tell-truth.html

Finally, another relevant fact check -- and it's a whopper. The nerve of Palin to, even after corrected, continue to lie to the American people. No surprise, however, when you see McCain doing the same thing -- Palin never took earmarks, Obama wants sex ed for kindergartners. Lies -- proven, with empirical evidence, to be false statements -- and they continue to repeat them. The willful ignoring of facts is beyond spin -- it is utter dishonesty. It's a surprise coming from McCain, but not from a woman who denies evolution (Dinosaurs? What dinosaurs?) and global warming. The most important thing to point out is that in continually spouting these lies, McCain-Putin actually believe you will buy it -- that shows the level of respect they have for hard-working Americans, none. But at least the economy is strong, huh? Liars!

"What I am talking about is follow up questions when the intial answer fails to address the question."

Aside from the Charlie Gibson interview, when is the press even allowed to ask questions of Palin? Her statements come from speeches without any chance for rebuttal and it should be interesting to see how these are woven into the debate on October 2nd.

The Republican mantra seems to be say something often enough and loud enough, no matter how ridiculous or untrue, until people believe it to be the truth. It works for Rush Limbaugh, right?

Is anyone surprised? I mean seriously, the Republican campaign strategy has been to lie and lie some more. What they seem to fail to understand is this is the information age. We have 24x7 access to the media. We KNOW that you are lying.

It's sad that people aren't smart enough to see that the Republicans are going to say and do anything they possibly can to win this election. And I hope Americans are as offended as I am that they think we are that stupid.

Obama/Biden '08!

Gov. Palin lies repeatedly and she draws throngs to witness her and cheer her lies. McCain may call Obama a Messiah figure but a true Messiah of evil proportions is one who lies, the people know it, and they follow blindly.

Remember Kristallnacht 1938 is soon to be repeated in America.

Mr Dobbs, you might want to check your numbers. I did a simple google for "domestic oil production" and the first link was
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_crd_crpdn_adc_mbbl_a.htm

In that link there is data accurate up to 2007. The data breaks up everything by PADDs but also make a distinct difference between state offshore numbers. If you assume the state offshore is NOT counted in the PADD numbers, you can get the 18% oil production number that people keep quoting (This means adding the PADD numbers to the state offshore for your totals). Perhaps that's were the "about 20%" number is coming from.

I'm not sure if the state offshore production is included in the PADD totals. I at first assumed they were not and I found no info telling one way or the other, but they seem to make a clear distinction between the two. Perhaps you could clarify this.

Maybe Michael Dobbs needs to revisit his Fact-Checker yesterday on the meaning of words. When Sarah Palin said "energy supply", Dobbs and his fellow left-leaning 'fact-checkers' immediately assumed Palin meant "consumption". In the energy community, "supply" frequently refers to what is available for use, not necessarily what is being used.

So, if Michael Dobbs were to do his own homework (not just cut-and-paste what the DNC is feeding to him) and look at what share of U.S. energy supply 'available to be used' is in Alaska, I wonder what number he might find. Maybe something closer to 20%?

Of course, our hope of ever being able to use the vast supply of oil and gas resources in Alaska depends on Democrats in Congress deciding to work for the good of the American people and approve new drilling, but I'm sure the Democrats will continue to just represent their real constituents: tree-hugger environmental special interests and celebrities.

It's a sad commentary on the state of the American mainstream press when it's left to everyday citizens to fact-check the Washington Post 'Fact-Checker', who we can no longer rely on to provide, you know, facts.

Well, she can see an oil well from her state -- that's why she "knows more about energy than probably anyone in the United States of America."

She's scary -- what is even scarier is that millions of Americans are still prepared to vote for her.

I don't think Palin can take credit on her resume for a supply that has been coming years before her. As gov she just resumed that final say on ongoing events.

To dbw:

Good catch. I got confused myself between "supply" and "production" because I was focusing on Dobbs point of view. You're correct there is a big difference.

Mr Dobbs, ignore my post about oil "production." It's totally irrelevant (and probably wrong anyways). Palin specifically said "supply" which renders your whole "production" argument meaningless.

Actually, I think to simply say that the Factchecker is confusing supply and production is wrong. A supply is something that is readily accessible for use, as in "our supply of moosemeat is running low, better go hunt some more." Maybe the word some of the discussants were looking for is "reserves" which refers to potential oil and gas. Governor Palin may be overseeing large amounts of reserves, but that's a little like saying she's overseeing the largest percentage of sunlight hitting the United States.

McCain and Palin are chronic liars.

Period.

They lie and lie and get caught and lie some more.

That's fine for a four-year old child who's learning to understand morality.

Not so much from a 72 year-old politician and a forty-something nobody.

It's disgraceful, dishonest, and unbefitting of a potential President and Vice-President.

And what's truly sad is that they don't get it. They've ruined their credibility. They've thrown their integrity under the bus.

If they act this way now, how on Earth will they behave should they win the election?

Enough is enough.

Hey dbw - I see your friend Jake D is weighing in on the side of honesty and logic these days....

Just as with Bush, the current Republican party has no genuine respect for the voters, the Constitution, the law or the truth.

The scariest thing about this whole controversy is not what Sarah Palin claims (regardless of how much it is discounted), it is what John McCain says about Sarah Palin. John McCain actually believes that Sarah Palin "knows more about energy than probably anyone in the United States of America." Really? Okay. So now we have a definite picture of what we can expect from a McCain/Palin administration ... A doddering old fool who will just sit there mumbling foolishness with no concern whatsoever for honesty or factual accuracy. What sort of people will we find in a McCain administration? A used car salesman as the policy expert on transportation issues? A bank teller as the policy expert on the economy? A security guard as the national security advisor? Look, I don't mean to make too light of this situation. Because, honestly, I am scared stiff thinking about how McCain -- a man who could conceivably become the leader of the most powerful nation on the planet -- goes about making decisions that will affect every American, whether living here in the U.S. or abroad. What we have experienced these last 8 years with President Bush -- a man who knows of no mistake that he has ever made with the possible exception of certain of the people that he has hired -- is such an alarming display of shallow perception that this country is now truly in peril. We absolutely cannot afford another administration who does not concern itself with good government, but instead with imagery, sound bites and photo ops.

Either John McCain is telling us that he really doesn't know that there are people who have devoted their entire education and professional energies to researching, analyzing, developing and advising on energy issues ... or he is telling us that he is not honest enough to admit that his vice presidential pick is window dressing who is not qualified in either foreign affairs or energy.

The comments by McCain / Palin are stretching of the truth at best, and out and out lies, as with the Bridge to No Where. This is what got us in the Iraqi war in the first place. Isnt it? They say we won or are winning the war? We won what? Sure, Cheney, Parsons and Mobil oil reaped record breaking profits, but the American people are paying a toll of $100s of millions of dollars a month. 100s of thousands of innocent iraqi people, men, woman and children have been killed! maimed! tortured, raped, left homeless... these are human beings, and all are creatures of God! The children of Iraq are worse off than ever before, and now their country is riddled with terrorists. Iraq is about to make a deal with China for the oil.

WON WHAT MCCAIN / PALIN? OR SHOULD I SAY WHO WON? I am a small business entrepreneur and my business is doing worse than ever before, and so are a lot of my other colleagues. We need to be honest and above board about our strengths and weaknesses. ENOUGH LIES. If you deny the truth, certainly you cant solve the cause of problems that you in fact dont acknowledge exists.

Its not just about salaries on Wall Street. It is about investing in America's future. Not short term money making schemes. The rebuilding of the economy, i.e., solar and alternative sources of energy take a great infusion of capital. We cannot accomplish this and invest in war that deplete our reserves and make the fat cats fatter! In fact, Bush / McCain / Palin depend on foreigners to fund this war. We will be paying interest for 100s of years. My God. They are weakening America and have the nerve to say they represent the common man!!! Which one of us common people have benefitted from this war? Even the soldiers and their families are not getting the support they need coming out of war. We are all losing jobs!!! Not to mention McCain / Palin are so trigger happy that we have to fear for our children in a war with Iran, Iraq, Afghanastan and Russia. No they wont talk to the enemy. They will respond in a war situation without blinking - like they did in Iraq.

Under McCain / Palin there is NO possibility for America to have in place alternative sources of energy within ten years in order for us to be energy efficient - as called for by Gore and wholeheartedly supported by Obama. Do they think common folk are imbeciles? STOP THE LIES!

We can count on a transparent, open and honest campaign and presidency with Obama and Biden! At least we can have OPEN AND HONEST dialogue as necessary to get to know each other better and work more effectively together in unison toward specific common goals, i.e., alternative energy plan that is doable, not just in theory, but in practice.

How on Gods Earth can she claim to know more about oil when she believes in "Intelligent Design"? Clearly she has never spoken to an oil geologist!

dbw, does it concern you how technical and specific your defenses of Sen McCain's and Gov Palin's claims have been? Don't you think the proffered basis for these sort of claims ought to be more in line with the typical news consumer's initial interpretation of them? What percentage of the public would you estimate understood Mrs Palin's claim to refer to oil reserves?

dbw - Are you and the real JakeD responsible for 100% of our supply of B.S. or just the production?

Jfg,
That was an interesting possibility, but the offshore oil is already counted in the "PADD" numbers. You can check this yourself by adding up the PADD totals and comparing them to the total production number at the top.

The off shore numbers are then seen to be merely for additional information. They are not additional oil.

In this context, "supply" and "production" are essentially synonymous. Palin is either ignorant of the actual percentage or deliberately exaggerating. Either way, though, McCain's claim is ridiculous on its face. Palin is not a bona fide energy expert, let alone the nation's leading expert.

"The woman touted by John McCain"

Woman? She has a freaking name you sexist POS. Stop the DNC cool-aid and get use to a GOP President come this November.

So it sounds like Sarah Palin speaks many falsities and half-truths.

Do you think she is a liar or just to lazy to check what she purports as facts to actually be facts before she states them?

I think a little of both.

HOW IS THIS NOT MORE OF THE SAME?

Kay Decker:

Did you really just accuse the Bush administration of mostly using "imagery, sound bites and photo ops"? That's pretty funny! Whoever said you liberals don't have a sense of humor?

Allow me to introduce you to your candidate, one Barack Obama, whose entire career in public service can be adequately summarized by your phrase above.

This country is so fd up because the the Clinton's! Go Johnny Go!!!

Even if jfg and dbw's hair splitting explanations held up, is that really the standard we should expect for our political discourse? Should every individual voter have to become a quasi-expert in every technical field discussed to suss out the kernel of basis for every misleading claim, or should these sort of claims rely on our common understanding of issues and their meaning be intuitive?

For example, McCain relies heavily on claiming Obama will "raise taxes", referring to the highest marginal tax rate and capital gains rate, neither of which will actually result in increased taxes for 97% of us, but be offset by other cuts resulting in a net decrease. Why do I have to be a CPA to know McCain is lying to me?

Patrick said: "In this context, "supply" and "production" are essentially synonymous."

So then you must agree that "HAD a relationship" and "HAS a relationship" are essentially synonymous, when talking about Barack Obama's ties to domestic terrorists and racist America-hating preachers?

Keep spinning, Obama followers...it's fun to watch!

Limey good question. If she believes in creationism where does she think oil and other petroleum products come from?

On which day did God create them?

Wow,WAPO is really digging itself deeper with its biased reporting. I think they need to change their name to "Washington Enquirer."

Obama posters.....why don't you just relax. If she is a fraud, liar, bimbo, etc, don't you think the American people will figure this out? Gosh, you have the MSM on your side. Just take a breath and let them do your dirty work.

I thought conservatives were the 'hateful' and 'mean-spirited' ones, while liberals were nothing but loving, peaceful, tolerant folks? You wouldn't know it by reading these boards.

The Obama defenders are by far the quickest to degenerate into belittling name-calling and accusations of stupidity and racism against anyone who dares to find any fault with their Obama.

I checked the EIA numbers for 2007. Taking into account offshore as well as onshore production, Alaska produced 18 percent of domestic crude oil in 2007.

Maybe she phrased it poorly, no need to be bitter ...

concerned08 said: "Obama posters.....why don't you just relax. If she is a fraud, liar, bimbo, etc, don't you think the American people will figure this out?"

Honestly? No. I've lost all faith in the American people to be able to discern or care about the truth....

(Of course, this also means that I don't think that raising a fuss about the lying is going to do much good, either, which is why you haven't seen me contribute elsewhere to this thread)

Also, Alaska's gross withdrawal (which includes gas later burned off or pumped back underground because of lack of infrastructure) of natural gas is 13.6 percent of total domestic gross withdrawal for 2006.

only one thing... the economy is so messed up because of president Bush and vice president McCain.
and if Palin won the election, the economy will be in peril in world history.

Never let the facts get in the way of a good sound bite. We could have a competition: see what silly things you can get Palin to repeat!

Since when did truth and honesty have gender or race attached? Everytime a responsible citizen (regardless of occupation) asks legitimate questions, follow up or otherwise, we have to call them sexist or racist? When you read all of this, my question is, why are we all so confused at the state of affairs in this country, much less globally? We have come to a point where if someone is not "physically" reaching into our pockets, we have our heads buried into apathy where our fellow human citizens (and mammals for recent news) are concerned. We simply have stopped caring. We critique and criticize, rather than think and decide. We fear intelligence and have stopped applauding achievement. And what does it say of a society that refuses to take care of its children and care for its elders?

Yes, women can multi task, be great leaders and do some of the most miraculous things...like bringing life into this world. But without truth, empathy, intelligence and honor, they are just another person, like everyone else. We should not elevate one woman because she multi tasks with 5 children, we should recognize the millions that have done that every day for a very long time. John McCain made a choice of strategy, not respect nor wisdom. There simply is no sexist issue here. Just that truth that we all seem to have forgotten to see.

Why don't we ask the McCain campaign how they arrived at the figures. If they don't respond within a reasonable time, then there is no doubt that they are lying.

Sarah Palin is Pinnocchio: a wooden puppet and walking lie machine.

Since when is 18% NOT "nearly 20%"?! Michael Dobbs has gone off the deep end, in the tank for Barack Obama.

To dbw: No, I did not "just accuse the Bush administration of mostly using 'imagery, sound bites and photo ops'?" I accused the Bush administration of ONLY concerning itself with imagery, sound bites and photo ops. To wit, "Mission Accomplished," telling terrorists to "bring 'em on" when our brave young men and women are overseas dying for their country, Hurricane Katrina, etc., etc., etc. Please do not mistake me for someone who gives the Bush administration one iota of credit for anything except doing an extremely poor job for the last 8 years.

So what good does 26 years in office do for John McCain if he hasn't learned anything during his long tenure in D.C., except how to lie and spin ... which is exactly what his campaign is built on. Something which this fact check is specifically intended to address. Palin as the most knowledgeable person regarding energy in the entire U.S.? Let me introduce you to your candidate: Doddering old fool who's not intelligent or savvy enough to know not to say something so stupdendously stupid.

dbw:

That was a fake JakeD at 8:37 AM.

zukermand said: "...McCain relies heavily on claiming Obama will "raise taxes", referring to the highest marginal tax rate and capital gains rate, neither of which will actually result in increased taxes for 97% of us. Why do I have to be a CPA to know McCain is lying to me?"

I almost missed this gem. "Zukermand", I'm not sure you have to be a CPA, but you do have to be able to do math....which admittedly is elusive for most liberals.

This is brain-numbing boring math, but try to follow. If Obama delivers on BOTH his promised tax decreases for "95% of Americans" AND all of his new spending programs, something will have to give. His promised tax cuts to middle class folks like myself will result in, let's say, $250 billion less revenue. Further, estimates of all his promised programs range anywhere from $300 billion to $500 billion per year. Let's split the difference and call it $400 billion.

Still with me? So, if Obama delivers all his promises, he has $650 billion to make up between our tax cuts and his new spending. Oh wait, one more thing....he's promised to eliminate the $400 billion deficit. So let's just round it off at $1 trillion dollars that Obama has promised to add to our federal coffers.

Corporations, small businesses, and those 'greedy rich people' currently fund approximately $1.5 of our $2.5 trillion budget. For Obama to deliver on all his promises, he will have to add another $1 trillion dollars to the tax burden of businesses and the wealthiest Americans, or nearly double what they currently pay.

Now "zukermand", if you were one of the wealthiest Americans, how long do you think it would take you to find somewhere else outside our borders to invest your money if Obama told you he was going to double your tax bill?

The logic is simple....Obama can promise and promise all he wants, and accuse McCain of lying that your taxes will go up. Unfortunately for "Fact-Checkers" everywhere, your total taxes WILL go up under Barack Obama....via higher payroll taxes, capital gains taxes, federal estate taxes (the so-called death tax), etc....because there is no way Obama can shift that much tax burden to American businesses without an economic fallout that would make yesterday's 500 point drop look like chump change.

The sum is, McCain is NOT lying (not that I expect Michael Dobbs to Fact-Check something that would embarass Obama, for once). Your total taxes will go up under Obama, if he delivers everything he promised.

Zakk:

Did you use the same standard for Bill "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky" Clinton?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgn2g4NKhZY

the real JakeD:

No worries. I've learned how to distinguish the two :o)

"Where's my lipstick??!! I need my lipstick, now!!!" squeals the pigs of the most dishonest GOP ticket since Watergate, John Sidney McCain and Sarah Palin. These two will say anything and do everything (including lie) to win the election. America, wake up! It is the economy, dimwits!! McCain has no clue as to the state of economic affairs that affect you and me (McCain thinks the economy is "fundamentally sound"; perhaps his personal economy but others, not so much).

The GOPers lie like dogs and squeal like swine. Don't vote for this ticket!!

Kay Decker said: "Please do not mistake me for someone who gives the Bush administration one iota of credit for anything except doing an extremely poor job for the last 8 years."

Kay, I have one question: How many terrorist attacks have come near you and your family since the evil George Bush launched the Iraq War?

Next, please.

Thank you media! We need you to call these lies as they are -- lies. Too many people have been scared into "reporting both sides" as in: "Sarah said X, Barack said Y, you decide the truth." People just remember there is an issue there, it isn't made clear to them. We need you to play that role!

Black and Bitter Like Coffee:

That's Sarah LOUISE Palin to you!

KathyFL:

I believe you are mistaken if you think Mr. Dobbs is saying McCain or Palin are "lying".

dbw:

There have also been ZERO partial-birth abortions near Kay Decker since he signed that ban into law. So, that's two big accomplishments right there. With Roberts and Alito on the Supreme Court, we are slowly moving in the right direction.

Marissa:

If not "sexist" there's some other type of double-standard going on then with the "Can you be Vice President and raise kids?" question. Did you ever see that SNL skit where they asked Hillary a question first, and when she got the answer wrong, gave the correct answer right before saying: "Senator Obama, same question?"

Sexist? Accuracy knows no sex.
Methinks I smell desperation and the craziness that goes with it in the GOP.
Check out New York Times on how Palin hired friends and punished enemies as governor. This is getting Nixonesque.
Thank God a few media have grown a pair and stood up to the GOP slime machine with facts.

dbw:

President Bush also prevents rabid tiger attacks. We haven't had any since he's been president, right? Therefore, he has prevented rabid tiger attacks... Sheesh, learn about logic and how to use it.

Q: So, Senator McCain, who would you say knows the most about foreign policy?
A: Oh, that definitely would be Sarah Palin. Who else would have the nerve to say that because they can see Russia from a remote part of their state, they can manage foreign policy? And the way she repeats “all options on the table” when prompted at the right times – it’s obvious she’s the country’s expert on foreign policy. Oh, and she and her husband used to belong to a group that advocates making Alaska an independent country, a group that has ties to Russia, so there’s that too.

Q: And on drug control, Sen. McCain, who would you say knows the most about illegal drugs in the country?
A: Sarah Palin. By far she’s the expert on this topic. She was the mayor of Wasilla, meth capital of Alaska, and by all accounts her teenage daughter and son are heavy users of illegal drugs. Plus, I think she once got a prescription for Percocet. My wife would be a close second, of course, but Sarah’s the nation’s top expert.

Q: And sex education?
A: Come one, give me a tough one. Sarah Palin obviously. She’s had like twenty kids, and her teenage daughter is pregnant. That tells you right there how much she knows about sex. Show me one person who knows more about it than, Sarah Palin, I dare you.

Q: Is there any topic on which Sarah Palin is not considered the foremost expert in the country, ever?
A: No, there is not. She knows about everything. Look at Alaska – the perfectly run state. It has the best education, doesn’t it? And moose – I’ll tell you, she knows everything about a moose, and I mean everything. She even knows how many million-dollar homes I own – I had no clue. And transportation management? The expert, I tell you. I once saw her bring down a dirigible simply by pulling on the tether with her teeth. Tough woman. Nope, there is no one who knows more about anything, anything at all, than Sarah Palin. Plus, she is indeed a woman and an evangelical – please vote for me…. Um, Sarah Palin, um something something, vote for me.

A couple fake JakeD posts (what are you guys going to do tomorrow while I'm golfing?!)

I think the difference between "supply" and "production" is important. Consider the following the two questions:

1. What is Alaska's oil production?
2. What is Alaska's oil supply?

Production would mean oil pumped out of the ground. Supply would mean any oil stored above or below ground. That's just my opinion of course.

I think that's probably where the "nearly 20%" came from. I figured that number had to come from somewhere. When either campaign puts out a stat, its tied to some truth somewhere. At the very worst, Palin's statement might be misleading, but it does not deserve 4 pinocchios.

dbw, is it really necessary for you to infuse your baseless arguments with insults? Perhaps you consider that a feature, rather than a bug.

If I understand correctly, your argument is the deficit implicit in Obama's tax proposals will result in higher taxes. A suggestion, if you plan to argue economics or politics, "dbw sez" is not evidence.

fake JakeD:

'Sheesh', my logic works just fine. But perhaps yours needs some tweaking.

George Bush as President is tasked with commanding our national defense. Zero terrorist attacks on our soil since he started the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is a success, no matter how you liberals want to spin it.

As for your nonsensical analogy to rabid tiger attacks? I can't help you there....I can only conclude that you must not be a conservative nor live anywhere near one of our mainstream media outlets, otherwise the danger would be quite real.

dbw:

Just ignore the WaPo "Tar Baby" zukermand.

To dbw: To answer your question ("How many terrorist attacks have come near you and your family since the evil George Bush launched the Iraq War?"), 100% of the more than 4,000 deaths of U.S. soldiers needlessly killed in the unnecessary Iraq War have come near me and my family. See, unlike you and other unthinking Bush bootlickers, I actually put my country first and care that Bush and Cheney are so glibly wasting the lives of these brave young men and women.

Bush told the terrorists to bring 'em on, and that they did. And there you sat ... in your Barcalounger ... beer in one hand, half-burned Camel in the other ... cheering that dunderhead Bush on!

dbw, you are in fantasy land.
The Iraq war has killed more Americans than 911 and achieved NOTHING...nothing except to promote IRAQ as a recruiting ground for irritated Arabs who want to join the terrorists. Bush has made us less safe and shed an unGodly amount of innocent blood in the process. (Check out those ten commandments.)
As for Palin, she's so hostile to women she brought in a measure to have the women of Wassila pay for police rape test kits. Check out the Washingtoon Post.
Oh, I'm sorry republican paranoids...all media are lying liberals...the elite world is against you...after all a Saturday Night Live skit proves it you say. Just nuts, you right-wingers.
(Time now to start with personal attacks...you know...call me unAmerican and unpatriotic...that always hides the facts for you nicely.

"A couple fake JakeD posts (what are you guys going to do tomorrow while I'm golfing?!)"

How does one tell if it's a fake Jake post? Do they actually read intelligently and have something going for them other than "liberal lap dogs," elitist snobs, hatred of liberals, adoration of conservatives, pledges of undying loyalty to Bush and McCain?

As a true liberal, "zukermand" believes government tax policy does not change behavior. In other words, if zukermand's income tax rate is increased 100% of his income, he/she will continue to go to work same as always and gladly turn over every check to Uncle Sam and never think twice.

The point, 'zukermand', is that Obama works with a static model that pretends no one (including corporations or rich people) will change their behavior no matter how high he raises their taxes. You and I would change our behavior if Obama said he was going to double our taxes, wouldn't we? So why won't businesses and rich people change their behavior and lower the tax base Obama plans to apply his new rates to? And if they move investments overseas, guess what....I may have $0 income to apply those new lower tax rates to that Obama is promising me.

That's why John McCain is not lying about how your TOTAL taxes are going up if Obama delivers on all his spending promises, even if Obama can trumpet a meager 'cut' in your income rate.

The fact is Congress over decades now has not properly addressed the current energy crisis in this country and both sides are to blame, not just one single administration. On another note, that Bridge to Nowhere, if I am not mistaken, Congress could have, because they took a vote, sent that money to Katrina victims in NOLA, but they voted to send it to Alaska, this includes Obama and Biden. I think if I were them I would be careful casting out those earmark stones. On a final note, Biden himself has lied on Meet the Press. He spoke about the bankruptcy reform he worked on and how it was not a conflict of interest for him to chair the committee even though his son was a lobbyist for bankruptcy reform and his son's company had donated $215k to his campaign chest. That's the first no no. The second was his statement that he made sure his bankruptcy reform took care of mothers and child support issues. WRONG WRONG WRONG. Child support his listed as an "unsecured priority debt" under bankruptcy rules. This means that companies with "secured priority debts" get paid first, like say Friedman's Jewelers or a car loan company, just exactly how did Biden think he was protecting mothers and child support? Case in my point, when my ex filed bankruptcy, his arrearages went up because I was so far down on the list to get paid, in fact I never saw a dime of that bankruptcy money. Biden should max out on the Pinnochios if you ask me. I think he is out of touch with the child support crisis in this country.

Kay Decker:

Since I have never posted the words "liberal lap dogs" (before just now), that would indeed be a fake JakeD post. Next question?

I don't think the supply=reserves argument holds water. Supply by definition, as any economist would tell you, is that which is immediately available for consumption in the market, and not that which may become available at a future date.

Even if the supply=reserves interpretation was valid, wouldn't we need to compare all reserves, including coal, gas, hydro, wind, solar and nuclear, to get an apples-to-apples comparison? Admittedly, the concept of reserves in some of these examples may not make sense (such as our solar reserves), but what about the "supply" of nuclear energy as measured by the amount of untapped Uranium reserves in the country? Sorry, but supply means supply.

If you want energy expertise in Alaska, you talk to the head of Alyeska, not the governor.

The Post should stop referring to factcheck.org as "nonpartisan." The Annenberg (yes, THAT Annenberg) funded group is strongly pro-Obama in every way. Take a look at the home page and you'll see that factcheck.org intentionally distorts and deceives.

She either doesn't know what she is doing, or she doesn't care for right or wrong. Both admirable qualities in a leader. Same with this:

http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/sarah-palins-reading-list/

Whatever it is, her cheek or her sheer incompetence it is despicable.

jfg:

Read the link in the above column to factcheck.org. The McCain campaign has answered where the data came from -- data from an Alaskan state agency that is not only dated, but that even if it were current does not support the sweeping claims that Palin and McCain have made. Even their refinement to 20% of oil/gas is simply not true.

As for your musings on production/supply, it is clear from the datasource that McCain/Palin used, that they were talking production as supply. The amount under the ground is only an estimate, and not all can be recovered. Not to mention the fact that if you look at potential reserves as "supply," Alaska would have an even lower percent of domestic oil/gas, if you listen to those who believe the oil/gas reserves off the eastern continental shelf could provide as much as 5% of the world's current production. Nice try, though.

kalexander1:

Good points (although the federal government has spent MUCH more on Katrina than ever proposed for the Bridge to Nowhere). As for McCain's energy plan, he is willing to look EVERYWHERE for solutions. Not just drilling for more oil -- which it sounds like the Democrats are going to agree to finally -- but also nuclear, wind, solar, etc.:

http://www.johnmccain.com//Informing/Issues/17671aa4-2fe8-4008-859f-0ef1468e96f4.htm

I have heard so many mis speaks on both sides that I could care less about what statistics were misquoted at this point. It will all come down to who you can trust. Keep in mind that Obama said some nasty things about people in Ohio and PA while he was in California. To treat people with so little respect will not gain their vote. I believe that obama may just lose this election by a landslide. It doesn't seem to matter how much money he gets in donations anymore. It is not buying him peoples votes.

Kay Decker:

Another fake JakeD post at 12:54 PM

kalexander1: This is typical of Bush apologists. If Bush and Cheney screw up, blame Congress.
Sorry, Cheney held an energy summit as he took power but didn't reveal what goals had been set or who he met with. Bush, the "oil man" has created NO proactive measures to deal with the energy crisis except to invade Iraq. Sadly, the Chinese have been the first to make an oil deal with the Iraqis.
Bush/Cheney: pathetic. McCain? McSame.
Oh yeah, Palin is a real energy expert...see all the windmills and geothermal in Alaska? Just Kidding. I only see Russia from Alaska.

to Kay Decker & BioWolff:

Well, you guys have certainly bought into the propoganda of the liberal party line. The Iraq War was a waste, and liberals are desperate to make America a loser in wars.

Don't get me wrong, liberals aren't always against war.....just this war. Or the next one. Or the one after that. Or the one.....

dbw:

Saying there is nothing wrong with your logic and proving it are two different things. To make the statement you made valid, you would have to prove that President Bush, directly on his own, single-handedly prevented terrorist attacks from taking place in the homeland. That is patently absurd. So, I guess President Reagan and President Carter, did the same?

Any sensible person knows that there are many, many reasons a major attack has not taken place in the U.S. since 911. Some of that has to do with policy (foreign and domestic, but certainly not the Iraq war), some of it does not.

As for your distinction between attacks here and abroad on U.S. interests (i.e., people), is it better to kill Americans here or overseas? And are Americans only affected when it happens here? When an American solder gets killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq, how is that not a terrorist attack and how does that not affect his family just the same than if it happened here? Now, multiply it -- you get more deaths since 911 than occurred during it. By your logic, that is all on President Bush. Oh wait, a minute -- there I agree with you. President Bush has been on watch as thousands of Americans have been killed by terrorists. Therefore, he is directly responsible for their deaths. Good point, dbw. (Ah, bad logic brings such comfort, doesn't it?)

It makes me so sad to watch what McCain-Palin have done to this campaign. I can truly say their genre of politics makes me ashamed to be American. McCain is NO patriot. He would not wish this on this country if he care for America and its citizens - he is a terrible role model for patriotism.

BioWolff:

My, you are such an expert on energy policy. Do tell: what has your party, which controls Congress, done lately to try to address the energy crisis? I mean, other than tell me to inflate my tires?

AMCNYC:

Unfortunately, for you, McCain-Palin have pulled to within 5% points in New York (Electoral Landslide, here we come ; )

Why is it considered sexist to expect a woman running for the second highest position to be honest. No one screamed sexist when people disagreed or pointed out incorrect claims that Hilary made. Can we all remember ducking from gun fire? Geez people if you can't see that Palin is just a "pretty puppet" we are in really big trouble.

dbw, you may be certain, increasing my tax rate to 100% would dramatically affect my decision making. So would doubling my taxes. Of course, these and all of your other hypothetical policies and their effects exist only in your fevered imagination. Which demands the question, do you have a point, or do you simply parrot right wing talking points all day as a form of finger exercise?

the fake JakeD said: "To make the statement you made valid, you would have to prove that President Bush, directly on his own, single-handedly prevented terrorist attacks from taking place in the homeland."

Man, do you liberals walk into traps so easily. Thank you, fake JakeD, for pointing out to everyone that, by your own admission, President Bush has nothing to do with the failing economy.

I mean, after all President Bush didn't 'single-handedly' make millions of foolish people ignore all conventional personal-finance wisdom, and sign papers to buy homes that were twice what they could afford with 0% downpayments and interest-rate escalators.

So according to the fake JakeD, President Bush had nothing to do with the mortgage-related economic problems we are facing. Someone should let Obama know.....maybe that Fact-Checker, Dobbs.

Do liberals even know what powers our President has? Have you guys read the constitution? Ever?

You think Bush has nothing to do with foreign policy successes....but domestic economic failure is all his. Yeah, liberal logic makes perfect sense!

How do you know McSain/Stalin are lying?

When their lips are moving.

Problem is we'll never be able to wake up the 30 percentile of ignorant fools in this country who only care what's on American Idle next week.

Democrats loose or have this election stolen again and we're finished as a country.

Christine:

Is it "sexist" to ask Gov. Palin (and no other MALE candidate): "Can you be Vice President / President and raise kids?"

zukermand:

If you missed the point, that's on you. I can't help you anymore. Do you have any facts or numbers to prove me wrong, or just empty rhetoric....much like your candidate?

dbw, perhaps you miss the point. It is clear that while you type and type, you offer nothing but baseless speculation, caricature of opposing arguments, and your opinion. What is there to respond to?

dbw:

Another leap in logic, and this time by putting words in my mouth with your straw man "liberal" -- another good example of a classic foible in logic... If you read my post you would realize several things: 1) I never said Bush was to blame for the mortgage crisis; 2) I said that the reason a major terrorist attack has not occurred in the homeland was for many, many reasons -- to include domestic and foreign policy (under President Bush, obviously, but with Congressional, agency, private industry, and many others involved). There are also reasons outside of President Bush's, or liberals' (which I am not -- I'm independent), or anyone's control, that has contributed to this undoubtedly good situation... And the question still remains of you, though I know you won't answer it as you are simply trying to get out of the corner I backed you into. If you believe President Bush is responsible for saving American lives in the U.S. thanks to his leadership, then you must agree that he is responsible for the deaths of Americans overseas as well -- based on the same logic. I'm sure you'll either deliver another tangential post or crickets to that.

To dbw: "Well, you guys have certainly bought into the propoganda of the liberal party line. The Iraq War was a waste, ..."

Yeah, me, BioWolff ... and 2/3 of all Americans. We all bought into the liberal propaganda of what a disaster the Iraq War has been, how it was a mistake to ever start a war in Iraq in the first place, how it wasn't and still isn't worth the costs of waging it, how it hasn't accomplished anything benefical for America, and how it has made America less safe. Darn! Those liberals are even better than even I would have given them credit for!!!! They've managed to sell their party line to a full 2/3 of all Americans.

dbw, thank you for the kind compliment. First of all I don't have a party. I do know that the executive branch has achieved nothing at all despite being oilmen. Congress achieved nothing also during six years of GOP domination. Now under the Dems, you are right, nothing substantial has come out of Washington gridlock...that's why we have an executive branch (or should) to work in a bipartisan way to make things happen...to break gridlock and set goals. Whose future goals you believe in...well you just have to go with America's foremost energy expert who can't get her facts straight on Alaska energy, right?

So dbw, your 'clarification' of supply holds as much plausibility as Palin's explanation of her grasp of Russia. She lives in a state atop a large oil field = she can see Russia from Alaskan land. Well, I can see Canada from my house, so can I be the US ambassador to Canada in McCain's administration?

The immoral war in Iraq is proof enough of the lying and incompetence of the Republican patsies of the defense industry. We don't need oil statistics. There are 100,000 dead Iraqi men, women and children and 4,200 dead American soldiers who can provide all the statistics we need to vote these bungling idiots out of office.

It's not so much that they're deliberately lying, but they just believe everything they hear from Rush.

That's why John and Sarah think George is the best president we ever, ever had :)

I live in West Florida. The Gulf of Mexico is smaller than the Bering Sea. This makes me a Mexican authority. Can I be the ambassador MM?

Kay Decker:

Please post here the non-partisan opinion poll where 66% of Americans called the Iraq War "a waste".

Or, once again, do you have zero facts to back up your impassioned-yet-misguided rhetoric?

alaska in the beginning exported most oil outside of the U.S....
which was changed later...by clinton...
the company is canadian owned...
crude in most goes to canada and U.S....
however they have downed the production to one third of capability/what it was to insure high prices...
supply and demand inverse...
so who gets stuck...we do...the average person
palin knows nothing...as she is really not in charge of anything...
then she talks of drilling...
when we do not have refineries...have out of date refineries closed...and add to that doing worse after the hurricane...

zukermand: "what is there to respond to"

You could always respond to stuff like, you know, facts and numbers, if you think I'm wrong. Prove how the math of Obama's plan works. Maybe that would be a good start.

I find it interesting that whenever I have called out the mathematical implausibility of Obama's economic "plan", not one Obama defender has even tried, much less succeeded, in showing how Obama's plan can really work as it is laid out in campaign promises.

So I don't intend to be insulting, but if an Obama follower can't defend Obama's economic plan, then I can only assume that either 1) they already know it's a lie, or 2) they can't do math.

The truth has a well-known liberal bias and it's now sexist, too! This is why you can't trust the facts!

Facts make people feel stupid. We need a stupid president so that we can feel smarter than them. We need a president who makes us feel good!

What could be more important than feeling good?

To mm: "Well, I can see Canada from my house, so can I be the US ambassador to Canada in McCain's administration?"

Seems to me, mm, you are a little overqualified to fill the U.S. Ambassador to Canada slot in the McCain administration. I think McCain is looking to fill that slot with, perhaps, a cashier at a 7-Eleven in Alabama who was once given a Canadian quarter by mistake. Good news, however. You are qualified to be Secretary of State due to your proximity to Canada!

There's so much sexism in this campaign, I hardly know where to begin. I mean, just look at how sexist THESE guys are!

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184086&title=sarah-palin-gender-card

It's just absurd to see women attacked like that.

To be fair, it might well be true that Palin knows more about energy than anyone else in McCain's campaign . . .

The disconnect between the mass-media world we live in and the real world our rear-ends occupy while we're contemplating it grows wider every day. (Pun intended)

That McCain would make a statement about Gov. Palin's expertise on the subject of energy such as he did is incredible, but even more incredible is the number of people who are willing to accept it at face value. Gov. Palin has already revealed her own ignorance of even the most obvious and readily available facts on the subject, but I'm willing to be that McCain's own expertise on the subject is not much better or worse than hers.

But here's the real kicker: we have (and have had for at least 10 years) a technology which makes it possible for anyone with reasonable critical thinking skills to study, investigate and learn about just about any subject imaginable, and it's called the Internet. If you gave me 24 hours notice that you were going to anoint me as "one of the foremost experts on domestic energy" at a press-conference, I could (and would) spend maybe 8 to 12 hours of that time reading up on the subject, and by the time someone asked me a question about it, I'd probably know enough to make at least a modestly credible answer, and avoid answering a question I knew nothing about. But just as I heard John McCain explaining why he doesn't need to use e-mails, he obviously doesn't need to know much about the single most important technology for learning and thinking about and then deciding critical issues facing mankind. Instead, he concentrates on knowing when the cameras are on and when they're off, and as long as voters don't require any more of him than that, he'll be okay.

We get the government we deserve.

fake JakeD at 1:58 PM

According to the Energy Information Administration, the total US known oil reserves (as of 12/31/2006) were 20.972 Billion barrels. Alaska reserves were 3.879 Billion barrels, or 18.5% of the US total.

Kay Decker and mm:

The guy you want to be PRESIDENT:
- had 1 year of Senate experience before he began campaigning
- 8 years as a part-time state senator before that.
- has never led anything.
- has never even been the chair of a committe in the Senate.
- never ran a company.
- never ran a town, city, county, or state government.

Now, what were you saying about the experience required to serve in a McCain administration?

Kay Decker and mm:

The guy you want to be PRESIDENT:
- had 1 year of Senate experience before he began campaigning
- 8 years as a part-time state senator before that.
- has never led anything.
- has never even been the chair of a committe in the Senate.
- never ran a company.
- never ran a town, city, county, or state government.

Now, what were you saying about experience requirements in a McCain administration?

Ah, Palin will get some learnin' at the U.N. according to the right wing Wall St. Journal:

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will meet with foreign leaders next week at the United Nations, a move to boost her foreign-policy credentials, a Republican strategist said.

Republican candidate John McCain plans to introduce the Alaska governor to heads of state at the opening of the U.N. General Assembly, although specific names weren’t yet firmed up. “The meetings will give her some exposure and experience with foreign leaders,” the strategist said. “It’s a great idea.”

McCain and Palin are expected to visit the U.N. on Tuesday, when President George W. Bush will address the international body.

McCain advisers hope her U.N. visit will show how quickly Palin can make key connections and become well-versed in foreign-policy issues.

Boy oh boy, she must be a quick study!

To dbw: Go to http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm to view the recent poll results. One question that was asked was: "All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war with Iraq was worth fighting, or not?" 61% of those polled answered "Not Worth It." 60% of those polled say that the U.S. should set a timetable to get us out of Iraq. 58% say that it was a mistake to send troops in the first place. Are you suggesting that you believe America, as a whole, is still behind the Iraq War? News reports abound with how disheartened the American public is with the Iraq War, and what an abysmal failure they consider it to be. America's desire to get out of Iraq is one of the primary issues driving this election.

It truly is sad ... nay, pathetic ... that everything you cannot understand, refuse to see, are incapable of admitting is something that, in your mind alone, has no basis in fact or is based on some lopsided adherence to liberal ideology or is misguided. Perhaps the world wouldn't be such a big, bad, scary place to you if you would just open your mind.

To dbw: Go to http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm to view the recent poll results. One question that was asked was: "All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war with Iraq was worth fighting, or not?" 61% of those polled answered "Not Worth It." 60% of those polled say that the U.S. should set a timetable to get us out of Iraq. 58% say that it was a mistake to send troops in the first place. Are you suggesting that you believe America, as a whole, is still behind the Iraq War? News reports abound with how disheartened the American public is with the Iraq War, and what an abysmal failure they consider it to be. America's desire to get out of Iraq is one of the primary issues driving this election.

It truly is sad ... nay, pathetic ... that everything you cannot understand, refuse to see, are incapable of admitting is something that, in your mind alone, has no basis in fact or is based on some lopsided adherence to liberal ideology or is misguided. Perhaps the world wouldn't be such a big, bad, scary place to you if you would just open your mind.

can we sell sarah on e-bay?

ted in pdx:

As was pointed out, above, using the Internet CONFIRMED that Alaska indeed accounts for "nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of oil and gas." Gov. Palin was CHAIRMAN of that Commission prior to being elected to her current post.

Would you also fault President Bush or President Clinton for not looking up something personally on the Internet? Last time I checked, they had aides like Carl who do that sort of thing ; )

Sarah is dead wrong on facts most of the time. But.....she can see Russia from her house.

No, katie, but there's a local pimp I can put you in touch with.

To Kay Decker:

Thanks for proving my point. Nowhere in your link did 66% of Americans call the Iraq War "a waste", as you previously contented.

No one likes war when it's happening. Everyone, including myself, would love for this war to be behind us and over. But only naive persons such as yourself would ever stoop to calling a war "a waste".

Thanks for your effort, though.

I recall Obama saying the programs that don't work will be dropped. I am guessing that will be quite a few. (Hence the change thing). Someone is going to have to pay the piper for the last 8 years. I am afriad the pot was calling the kettle black with the "Democrats spend all our tax dollars" thinking. The republicans spent, but no one was paying, unless of course you count our grandchildren.

dbw:

To be fair, the head of Haliburton doesn't want this war over ; )

BioWolff: No, you cannot be ambassador to Mexico. You live close to water, which qualifies you to be Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Oh, wait! Maybe it's the guy that lives closest to the airport that is qualified to be NOAA Administrator. Oops! I've lost my secret spy decoder ring for the McCain cabinet qualification cheat sheet!

In a Palin administration, you have to have gone to school with her, or be her BFF...Oh wait. That's Bush's policy too! See, they are the same!

Posting this twice was apparently not enough for those supporting Obama for PRESIDENT:

- had 1 year of Senate experience before he began campaigning
- 8 years as a part-time state senator before that.
- has never led anything.
- has never even been the chair of a committe in the Senate.
- never ran a company.
- never ran a town, city, county, or state government.

dbw, just for the record, even Bush claimed repeatedly that war should be the last option...even if he didn't mean it.
You apparently like war.
FWIW I wrote an essay predicting the horrible, bloody and unproductive outcome that we now see in Iraq. See, I don't oppose all wars, just dumb ones (as some smart guy once said).

To dbw: Your pathetic attempts to deal in microscopic semantics don't prove anything. The reality is that this country is sick of this war, and the percentage has been as high as 68% at times. Seven percentage points does not a difference make. This country is still as sick and tired of Bush and his failed Iraq War. Try dealing with the realities of this world, instead of sniveling about semantics.

And for your information, all war is wasteful. There has never been a war that wasn't wasteful. Wars waste human life ... the most precious commodity we have.

OK dbw, If you're going to be an insufferable pedant, we can all play that childish game.

You say - "No one likes war when it's happening". Not true. I'm sure there are plenty of professional soldiers that LOVE this war.

You say - "Everyone, including myself, would love for this war to be behind us and over". Again, not true. As has been pointed out, profiteers such as Haliburton don't want any war to EVER be over.

Finally, you say - "But only naive persons such as yourself would ever stoop to calling a war "a waste"". And only mind-numbingly awful pedants such as yourself would claim that there is a difference between declaring that something was "NOt worth it" and that it was "a waste.

Grow up you total DB.

OK dbw, If you're going to be an insufferable pedant, we can all play that childish game.

You say - "No one likes war when it's happening". Not true. I'm sure there are plenty of professional soldiers that LOVE this war.

You say - "Everyone, including myself, would love for this war to be behind us and over". Again, not true. As has been pointed out, profiteers such as Haliburton don't want any war to EVER be over.

Finally, you say - "But only naive persons such as yourself would ever stoop to calling a war "a waste"". And only mind-numbingly awful pedants such as yourself would claim that there is a difference between declaring that something was "Not worth it" and that it was "a waste".

Grow up you total DB.

Fake JakeD post at 2:37 PM

Palin is better qualified to be Energy Czar than Dick Cheney was in 2000.

dbw:

Still no answer? I'll repeat. If President Bush is responsible for no major terrorist attacks in the U.S. since 9/11, then he is responsible for the thousands of Americans who have been killed overseas in terrorist attacks since 9/11. True or false? Thanks, sweetie.

Give Dobbs a break. Yesterday all the Repubs were defending him for calling out Obama on a grammer error, now you say he is in the tank for the Demos. It is tough to be a fact checker for McCain/Palin, they lie with such consistency and repeat the lies aggressively even when called out. Every day for Dobbs has to be hard, "which lie do I expose today."

LOL!!! I didn't hear ANY Republican defending Dobbs for calling out Obama on a grammer [sic] or grammar error. As an Independent, I noted there were much more serious "lies" by Obama and Biden that Dobbs has failed to "Fact Check" yet.

"Palin is better qualified to be Energy Czar than Dick Cheney was in 2000."

Good point! That's like saying she is better qualified to be Energy Czar than "Brownie" was to head FEMA. In short, they're both disasters; maybe one disaster is better than another, but they're both disasters nonetheless. Heckuva job, JakeD!

What I love most about this lie about Palin's energy credentials is that it's a response to a question about Palin's national security credentials. She's so grossly unqualified in the realm of national security, they can't even spin a lie about it and have to start spinning lies about other topics!

Fake JakeD post at 2:47 PM

LOL!!

to dbw:

There's that fuzzy math repugs have adopted. Maybe we can begin by drilling for oil in your skull. You repugs are responsible for the dire straits and now purport to have the solutions? If we we're daft enough to vote for you pukes again it would be the equivalent of putting out fire with gasoline (pun intended). The only drilling we should be doing is on your teeth. After we finish with your skull of course.

Fake JakeD post at 2:54 PM

M.R. in L.A.:

If you are unaware of the connection between oil and national security (i.e. "Middle East") please don't vote.

Fake JakeD post at 3:00 PM

Keep it up, fake JakeD; I get paid for every post (whether you or I write it ; )

The McCain-Palin campaign did not respond to a request for an explanation.....
Now why am I not shock.Let's face it McCain has told Palin not to talk to the media and most likly the more she talks the more bs will come out and it will cost McCain votes.All these people that are smitten by her isn't a bell ringing asking themselves "why is she the only one in years that doesn't sit down and talk to the media".Why is she repeating everything in every State of what she said at the Convention?It's like an entertainment show.

That is, we go to war for oil, so there is a connection. That's why I won't be surprised when Palin, after knocking off McCain, invites a war with Russia. Her mentor (and baby's daddy) Putin will start with Alaska in a Georgia-like move. By the way, I like to educate people on little known facts. Did you know Sarah and Todd Palin were both members of AIM, which wants Alaska to be a separate country and has connections to Russia?

How exactly does Gov. Palin "oversee" 20% of the domestic supply of oil and gas. What is her role exactly? She's not running the oil companies. She's not setting energy policy. She DID raise taxes on oil companies - which of course get passed along to us - so that Alaskan residents could get a free ride and a substantail cash kick back. But even though oil taxe mean her residents pay no income or sales tax, she didn't have any problem trying to raid the US Treasury - where the rest of us contribute - with tens of millions of dollars in earmarks for Alaskan projects - resulting in a positive cash flow for Alaska citizens!

So how exactly does she "oversee" all of Alaska's oil and gas - did she mean to say she "sees over" these resources because they lay in the ground beneath her feet? Sort of like gaining foreign policy experience because she can "see Russia" across the Bering Straight? Just goes to show that osmosis really is the great teacher.

On a side note - if you are a creationist and believe the Earth is a few thousand years old, then where do you believe all of these fossil fuels come from? I guess they aren't fossil fuels - maybe "creationist fuels"? Just wondering...

What does Delaware produce?

Oh, yeah. Corporate lawyers.

Republicans put party before country, that much is obvious. And they work out of their own dictionary. When they say that they will create jobs, that does not mean in the U.S., it means anywhere including China and India. When they say that they will reform, it actually means that they improve the way Republicans favor corporate profits as opposed to personal wealth. They believe up is down and that if lies are repeated enough times, that they turn into facts. Facts are not open for debate. When some one claims that they say, "thanks, but no thanks", it means they turned something down, not that it was already dead and that they still kept the money. Republicans: You have screwed this country up enough, sit down, shut up and let the Democrats drive. You can't argue that the past 8 years were better than 1992-2000.

Judith (just a few of the "lies" I documented, emailed to, but haven't "received any response from" Dobbs):

Obama re: his vote on the Illinois "Born-Alive Infants Protection Act" and the number of abortions not declining during the Bush Administration. Biden re: the crash that killed his wife.

Don't you think that McCain and Palin are just a little busier than someone who took TWO MONTHS off up through Labor Day? Or, did Obama tell Dobbs not to "Fact Check" anything worse than his present/past tense slips?

Finally, you don't consider Charlie Gibson part of the "media"? You've never heard Obama's stump speech?

Terry B.:

I am not a Republican, but I can still argue that the past 8 years were, in fact, better for unborn children than 1992-2000.

P.S. to Judith -- are these members of the Media?

"Do you think the recent stock market collapse or troubles in the banking system are good news?

Well, according to CNN's Candy Crowley, the Obama campaign does.

On Monday's "Anderson Cooper 360," after CNN senior political analyst David Gergen said "what happened over the weekend with the economy and the bottom falling out of the financial markets...is the opportunity for Obama to seize the momentum back on his side," Crowley actually said, "[J]ust as foreclosures were showing up on B-17, or in the real estate section, along comes this horrific headline out of Wall Street...I mean, this is what they wanted."

http://media.newsbusters.org/stories/cnns-crowley-obama-team-wanted-horrific-wall-street-headlines.html

Fake JakeD post at 3:03 PM

Fake JakeD post at 3:14 PM

What good does it do for McCain to have 26 years of experience in Congress ... if all it leaves him capable of doing is playing party politics, capable of being more vicious than his opponent, and not caring about this country to the point where he picks someone who even he cannot defend as a good pick?

"Interviewer: What experience does she have in the field of national security?

McCain: She knows more about energy than probably anyone in the United States of America ..."

That is the sort of answer you give when you have nothing good to say about someone in response to the question asked. McCain couldn't even muster any energy to address the question. McCain is proving his dishonesty in trying to tout Sarah Palin as a competent potential VP.

Kay,

At least he didn't answer that question by pointing out that he was a POW.

dbw: "I find it interesting that whenever I have called out the mathematical implausibility of Obama's economic "plan", not one Obama defender has even tried, much less succeeded, in showing how Obama's plan can really work as it is laid out in campaign promises."

Ok dbw, I'm game. What specifically is the "mathmatical implausibility" you're looking for a response to?

I'm not an economic expert but I do know failure when I see it. McCain has pledged to make the Bush tax cuts permanent. The same tax cuts that led to last week's announcement of Bush's record budget deficit.

Let's assume you're correct that there is a "mathmatical implausibility" as you assert. How is it inferior to PROVEN FAILURE?

Can you answer me that? Or any McCain supporter?

Thank you Michael Dobbs.

More evidence that Palin is a secret Russian agent: Palin. Putin. What letters differ in their last names? A-L-U-T. Alut. The word Aleut -- referring to an Alaskan native -- was coined by Russian explorers in Alaska; it is derived from Alut, the name of a coastal village in Kamchatka, Russia... Be very wary of this woman. She scares me, I just don't trust her.

Bring me more minority infants! I hunger...

Fight the real injustice, and allow my nephew and I to express ourselves freely!

http://www.nambla.org/stories.htm

End discrimination!

http://www.nambla.org/stories.htm

Kay Decker:

LOL - thanks for posting the exact Q & A that elicited that feeble response from McCain. It's either senility or obfuscation