They found a gaffe, but Greg, have you heard anyone else refer to it as "game-changing?" If not, that strikes me as a bit of hyperbole. It's only a gaffe as far as McCain can keep the focus on the surge anyway.

As long as Obama says, "I'll fix the economy and they won't," he'll win.

http://strategy08.wordpress.com

Any day the focus is on the Iraq war is a good day for Obama.

these people really give me heartburn...at some point someones got to ask them what they plan to do besides promise not to be obama, right? is that really enough for them this year? to promise that electing them means not electing a black man?

they have such and empty house in their heads.

To some sounds good now! Will she continue to tour with McCain?

Oilbama needsd to stress that he is the one who voted for his buddy Dick Cheney's Big Oil Energy Bill and that McCain voted against it. He needs to stress that he is a much bigger lightweight empty suit than Sarah Palin. He needs to stress that he is the one that is friends with Racists like Rev Wright, Terrorists like William Ayers, and Slumlords like Rezco. He needa to point out that while facing a true American Military hero he did not serve in the Armed Forces and has a bitchy wife that was not proud of America until people started fawning all over her cult leader husband.

Oilbama needsd to stress that he is the one who voted for his buddy Dick Cheney's Big Oil Energy Bill and that McCain voted against it. He needs to stress that he is a much bigger lightweight empty suit than Sarah Palin. He needs to stress that he is the one that is friends with Racists like Rev Wright, Terrorists like William Ayers, and Slumlords like Rezco. He needa to point out that while facing a true American Military hero he did not serve in the Armed Forces and has a bitchy wife that was not proud of America until people started fawning all over her cult leader husband.

Does anyone have a shred of evidence that the public gives a single crap about "the surge"?

The surge could be the best thing in the world, but it wouldn't have been necessary if we weren't in the war in the first place, and a plurality of people think we shouldn't have been.

If you come up with a clever plan for putting the fire out in your living room after you fell asleep smoking a cigarette, at the end of the day you're still a dumbass who burned his living room down.

This counts for exactly zero with anyone outside of the dead enders.

I thought Sarah was heading back to Alaska?

If she's still on the trail, surely she can find some time for an interview with the press.

Kind of ironic for Palin to be harping on something Obama said in an interview, since she hasn't, ya know, sat down for one of those yet. Even with the Loofa.

I love to hear Sarah Palin talk about how she remembered the events of the surge being played out. She doesn't remember a damn thing about it because she wasn't paying any attention to it.

Too bad Palin doesn't know what she is talking about, as usual. I can't blame her though, foreign policy isn't her forte. The Surge had some effects, as we all knew it obviously would, but the vast majority of the decrease in violence (are you taking notes Sarah?) was due to three other major events, not related to the Surge, namely:
1) Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr declared a unilateral ceasefire to regroup, which had a dramatic impact on the fighting.

2) "Successful" ethnic cleansing has also had an impact on violence. Obviously when you've killed or scared away most opposition, you run out of people to kill or scare away. Yes, and this all happened under our watch.

3) The US cut deals with many Sunni (pro-Saddam) tribal groups, supplying them, our "former" enemies with weapons to use to go after al-Qaeda. Oh yeah, and the Shia-dominated Iraqi government is now antagonizing these US-armed groups. That'll end well.

http://www.thepersonalispolitical.com/2008/06/mccain-says-bringing-troops-home-not.html

Now I'll let you take your notes to Joe and have him explain all of those words to you. Take your time, I know it is a bit more complicated than supporting the Bridge to Nowhere, before you were against it of course.

Which is why we need to snarl right back at her. Dammit.

I am not sure of the logic of this attack. Setting aside the nuance in Obama's statement, if they spin it that he admits the surge was a good idea, I can't see it hurting him much with anyone who has not already decided to vote against him. Doesn't seem like such a negative attribution to me even distorted as it is.

On another topic, I am a little surprised that Gallup hasn't moved much at all.

It's so nice that McCain has found a spokesmodel to speak for him.

I have to disagree with Obama. It is NOT CLEAR that the SURGE has worked to accomplish anything. Maliki walks around handing out 8k to people on the street. The Insurgents were hired as security guards. The Army is teaching job skills to unemployed Iraqi men. There are many, many causes of the cooling down of violence--with has not entirely disappeared--but the country is still gripped by political gridlock. To say that all of this was achieve by men with guns is to give service to wish fulfilling thinking.

The surge didn't do shit. Get real, people.

The point of the surge was to create the conditions necessary for the assumption of control by the Iraqi government so we could get the out.

Why can we not just ask McCain this very simple question:

If the surge has been a "success" - in other words the conditions are now such that we can pass control to the Iraqi government - why are you still arguing that we need to stay?

Palin doesn't know what in the hell she is even talking about with these quotes. She didn't even concern herself thinking about the war as late as 2007 because she was focused on Alaskan business. Of course what did she concern herself with in the four years before she was in office?

With news that Lieberman is giving Palin a crash course in foreign affairs, I think now would be the opportune time to bring out the "Sunni/Shia" confusion with Lieberman whispering the corrections in McCain's ear spot.

Ok, this is hilarious. The Daily Show's take on rambo of the North's speech. I love the lead in, its so . . . . republican. Take that you islamo-fascist commie pinkos.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184095

I still can't believe that pundits claim that her speech was good? Terrible delivery. It obviously wasn't written with her input, but her delivery totally sucked. And yet the wingers in the media are giving her an "A," knocked it out of the park, homerun, etc., etc. Were they watching the same speech?

TROLL ALERT...

Be aware of the following Asswipes: BillC and Matthew Weaver who's probably the same person.

Gaffe? that was not a gaffe. Obama has always said if you add more troops, violence would go down. He said the surge did not accomplish political reconciliation. If taht was really a gaffe do you really think Bill Oreilly wouldve pounced on Obama. Instead Oreilly was left dumbfounded because Obama cleaned his clock.

Interesting critique for someone who didn't even know what the surge was.

Gaffe? that was not a gaffe. Obama has always said if you add more troops, violence would go down. He said the surge did not accomplish political reconciliation. If taht was really a gaffe do you really think Bill Oreilly wouldve pounced on Obama. Instead Oreilly was left dumbfounded because Obama cleaned his clock.

I know Obama has been saying for quite some time that the surge succeeded militarily, but he probably should have left out the "wildest dreams" part.

As for Palin, I believe that other than her speech the other night, this is the first time I've heard of her addressing the surge or Iraq publicly. Wonderful that one of our veep candidates didn't really have an opinion or publicly state position on Iraq until about a week ago. Whatever...these facts won't stop the Palin bounce.

From a polling perspective, we'll be back to where we were before the conventions - a statistical tie. Undecideds will almost certainly decrease but it will still be a 1-2 gap between the candidates in the national polls. (I'd bet McCain gets a short-term 2-3 point lead, starting this weekend.) The conventions, as usual, serve mostly to consolidate the base/party.

From now until 11/4, this thing is going to be decided by the debates, the ad wars, and the ground game. My guess is that candidates will cancel each other out in the debates and in the ad wars. That leaves the ground game. Obama has had a clear advantage in that area all year but with the Palin pick, McCain is sure to catch up. While there are only 60 days left, the religious right can mobilize in a heartbeat. Heck, they just need to make a announcement every Sunday at church, maybe something as simple as saying that parishoners should remember McCain and Palin in their prayers.

Don't discount Palin's appeal in the West. If the male indies/undecided crowd out there falls in love with her (hot chick with glass and a gun - woo hoo!), Obama can probably forget about Colorado and Nevada. (and Montana, and the Dakotas) Given the Latino population and increasingly blue tendencies, New Mexico should remain in his corner. And Iowa. That gets him to 264, assuming he holds off McCain in NH and MI. (not a given) And that means that we'll all be up in the early morning hours of 11/5 waiting to see if one or more of Ohio, Florida, or Virginia, end up in Obama's Corner. Just can't shake the OH/FL trap. If all three go to McCain - game over...in more ways than one.

Given the types of folks to whom Palin appeals and doesn't appeal, could it be that Florida is actually Obama's best shot out of the three key states I mentioned above?

Beyond the ground game, the key the rest of the way is to make sure this remains a contest between Obama and McCain, not Obama and Palin. But at the same time, they can't completely ignore Palin - people have taken a shine to her. The surrogates have to get out there and paint her as the radical she is. Don't focus on the experience factor, focus on the policies she supports. Do moderates really want a goofball like here a heartbeat away from the presidency? Doesn't matter if she has 2 years governing experience or 20, she's a goofball no matter how you slice it. Just have to be able to say that in a nice way.

Obama's team has gotten this far by sticking to their strategy. I have faith in them. I'm still optimistic about our chances on 11/4. But am I still worried. Shit, yeah!

Interesting critique for someone who didn't even know what the surge was.

The Pit-Bull is going to be spade and neutered pretty soon.

Andrew Sullivan and NEQ are trying attain the divorce records of Todd Palin's former business partner regarding the alleged Sarah Palin affair. I tell ya...this keeps getting interesting.

That wasn't a gaffe. Obama has said similar stuff before.

Again this election will NOT be won on the "surge" but on the economy.

Obama needs to hammer the economy every single day until November 4th.

Re: server errors and double posts.

Based on my experience, if you get a server error while trying to post a comment, it's likely the comment did post. Go back and check before trying to repost. I only say this because I've been seeing a lot of double posts and I've actually fallen victim to this a few times myself.

McCain didn't predict success:

McCain made it clear that he supports Bush's plan to send more than 20,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq as the only way to prevent that country from slipping further into chaos. "I cannot guarantee success, but I can guarantee failure if we don't adopt this new strategy," he said.

Presidents decide to go to war, generals decide if a surge is necessary.
Obama got it right on the war,
The violence is down because we bribed the warring tribes, yes payed them to kick out Al Qaida

Anyone knows Palins position on invading Iraq

McCain/Palin have their job description backwards. Can we please invade Iran so we can proof the surge works?

And by the way which war has McCain ever won?

How can she get away with this comment? She remembers it a little differently? I thought she said recently that she hadn't paid much attention to Iraq.

McCain didn't predict success:

McCain made it clear that he supports Bush's plan to send more than 20,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq as the only way to prevent that country from slipping further into chaos. "I cannot guarantee success, but I can guarantee failure if we don't adopt this new strategy," he said.

It would be cool if McCain got caught hitting on Palin.
Oh, come on, you thought of that too . . .
:-P

BIDEN, THIS IS WHERE YOU STEP IN...

Is she slated to debate Biden? If not, they have to say let her know that anything goes unless she agrees to come out and play like a big girl - along with everyone else. The very fact that she plays by her own rules i.e. hit and run and tatttle telling (like a little girl) - is itself worthy of attack e.g. she can't expect to get away with this in D.C. much less with world leaders.

Play ball.

HusseinTenaX,

No, but I do plan on quoting you and your ilk as prime examples of the caliber of writers here on TPM and supporting Obama online. Obama's 15-minutes are up and so are yours. It is really incredible the continued gutter talk you all devolve to rather than undertake substantive discussion. But what is to be expected? First, you call any critic a troll, then you spew forth every derogatory rant, racist comment, and foul mouthed language you can muster. Wow, must make you proud.

And hiding behind your anonymity so your own family and friends won't know what low life you are online. If you're old enough, does your employer know this is you?

Until this woman gives an interview I will continue to treat her as nothing more than a wind-up toy. Pitbull with lipstick. Nauseating.

We are really living in a Banana Republic right now.

O goody!

Please be sure and let me know where you make my statements public.

And what you say -

Cause I'll be watching you - and you better be careful.

O goody!

Please be sure and let me know where you make my statements public.

And what you say -

Cause I'll be watching you - and you better be careful.

Go get 'em Tena...

Learn at the feet of the master? From the same guy who keeps confusing Sunnis and Shiites?

She better find a new master.

From:

Head of State

http://tinyurl.com/65hxld

Saturday, September 06, 2008

What Are The Duties of The Mayor of Wasilla?

Given that Sarah Palin has been Governor of Alaska for less time than John McCain has been running for President, and that, given McCain's age, she could well become President, it is important that we look at the duties that she had in her major position in government--Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.

Here, direct from the City of Wasilla, are the entire duties of the Mayor of Wasilla (population 9,700). These are the complete duties, as listed by the city:

The duties of the Mayor of Wasilla can be found in Wasilla Municipal Code 2.16. For your convience, the duties are outlined below from WMC 2.16:

Chapter 2.16 MAYOR

2.16.020 Power and duties of mayor.

A. The mayor is the chief administrator of the city, has the same powers and duties as those of a manager under AS 29.20.005, and shall:

1. Preside at council meetings. The mayor may take part in the discussion of matters before the council, but may not vote, except that the mayor may vote in the case of a tie;

2. Act as ceremonial head of the city;

3. Sign documents on behalf of the city;

4. Appoint, suspend or remove city employees and administrative officials, except as provided otherwise in AS Title 29 and the Wasilla Municipal Code;

5. Supervise the enforcement of city law and carry out the directives of the city council;

6. Prepare and submit an annual budget and capital improvement program for consideration by the council, and execute the budget and capital program as adopted;

7. Make monthly financial reports and other reports on city finances and operations as required by the council;

8. Exercise legal custody over all real and personal property of the city;

9. Perform other duties required by law or by the council; and

10. Serve as personnel officer, unless the council authorizes the mayor to appoint a personnel officer.

B. The mayor may appoint a person to the position of administrative assistant and deputy administrator. If appointed, the positions may not be eliminated during the mayor’s term of office without prior consent of the mayor. (Prior code § 2.16.010)

From:

Head of State

Cite: http://tinyurl.com/65hxld

I guess when you turn out to be profoundly wrong on a vital national security decision, maybe it's comforting to pretend that everyone else was wrong too.

This is not ironic at all.