63 responses so far ↓

• Emma // Aug 29, 2008 at 4:05 pm

  I was surprised to see a political post on your site but your right this is a brilliant choice. I wonder what Grizz thinks about it?

• Conray Knox // Aug 29, 2008 at 4:45 pm

  “If there is oil in this country I want to go get it”

  But with all this Save the Planet shit do you think they would actually do it?

• Amanda // Aug 29, 2008 at 4:57 pm

  What an embarrassment to the Republican party.

• patrick // Aug 29, 2008 at 5:20 pm

  that is what america needs another super conservative person that is a woman but against womens rights but so is mccain and i cant wait until they put a judge on the supreme court and they start ruling with their bible you know evrybody has to believe like the religious right or you are going to hell and gays are going to hell and they shouldnt be able to get married
  you know what fuck the religious right and fuck the republicans and fuck the dems they suck too nobody is going to fix this country none of these people so go vote for mcbush and the beauty queen

• barry // Aug 29, 2008 at 5:46 pm

  Palin provides something else.

  If McCain wins, Palin will be the nominee in four years. She should pick someone like Bobby Jendal to nail the deal.

  If McCain loses, then Palin could be the Republican nominee in 2012, again possibly with Jendal.

  If McCain wins, Hillary would face Palin in 2012, and Hillary could face the charge that she torpedoed Obama. Would the Dems nominate Hillary? I doubt it.

  If McCain loses, Obama goes as the Dem nominee in 2012, and may face Palin. No Hillary.

  Either way, it looks like Hillary is out for good.

  Palin was a brilliant choice for the Republican party and the nation.

  I have been a big Sarah Palin fan for 6 months and have been emailing everyone I could think of touting her for VP, but I think those emails had fewer readers than LDIHW. .

  Barry

• dave // Aug 29, 2008 at 6:29 pm

  How old are you? You write like a moron and it makes your opinion and blog invalid. Your everything that is wrong with the US and its your ignorance that makes you blind to the entire situation. Palin is a big publicity stunt. That’s the bottom line. She is Mcain’s hype. You fell for it. Hopefully the rest of the US can see this sad attempt for attention and remove it from their mind. MY THOUGHTS ON SARAH PALIN | I THINK YOU SUCK.

• Brian // Aug 29, 2008 at 6:45 pm

  Well Palin actually praised Obama’s energy plan, that is up until today. Official page is now scrubbed, here’s google cache version.

  http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:wbCGTUeD1r0J:www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php%3Fid%3D1384+http://www.gov.state.ak.us/…&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a

  I also don’t see what was wrong with Obama mentioning proper inflation of tires to save on gas. If every car owner did this, it would save as much oil as proposed oil drilling would produce. It’s just too easy of a thing for us Americans to do I guess.

  At any rate, I could go on about Palin being a horrible candidate but I have enough respect for your space not to do such. I’m not really in Obama’s camp either but I’ll be damned if I vote for McCain.

• Splork // Aug 29, 2008 at 7:30 pm

  Interesting comments. Always fun to get people’s ire up for voicing an opinion. I never really wanted to wade into the political morass that this country has become but I had ideas about the choice. It was fun to voice my opinion. This country is so politically divided these days. It’s fairly sad.

  Emma - thanks for the comment. I doubt Griz cares one way or the other.

  Conray- the Dems promised cheap(er) fuel. The only way to get it is with more supply. We can send all our money to Iran and other countries that don’t like us or find our own until we can use alternative fuels. The American people expect them to do something. Either they do it or they won’t hold the majority in 2010.

  Amanda - please explain.

  Patrick - I will not debate abortion. I respect both side’s point of view. But I agree that both Dems and Repubs both suck. Either side only cares about power and getting re-elected. There are very few statesmen involved in our government.

  Dave - I’m honored that you think so highly of me to think that I am responsible with what is wrong with this country. I’m not ignorant and my opinion does not paint me as such. I believe if you would have taken the time to read my opinion you would have noted that I was not very complimentary of either candidate. I think they both suck. Perhaps it is you who has been blinded by the hype…Obama style.

  Barry - Damn that’s some interesting analysis. I look forward to getting to know Palin. She may be around for a long while.

  Brian- I’m cool with your opinion but I appreciate the respect given anyway. I agree that every American should check their tire’s air pressure. There are many little things we can do. But why can’t we do EVERYTHING. Why do we have to settle for one or the other. Let’s do it all. Find more oil. Invest in solar and biofuel. Hell, mandate free tire air stations. Just do it all. Now. Both candidates are playing a clever game of politics. I’m not surprised that anything complimentary said about Obama from Palin has been washed. I bet Biden would love to take back that he said Obama wasn’t qualified. But the way it read to me was that Obama was climbing on board with energy concerns that was part of Alaska’s plan.

• Splork // Aug 29, 2008 at 7:32 pm

  Heh, I think I went a little far with the “I Think Obama Sucks” title. I do think he sucks but it was a little too much baiting I think.

• Sunshine // Aug 29, 2008 at 8:02 pm

  This whole political system sucks. Especially John McCan’t. But as you’ve said, you’re entitled:)

• dave // Aug 29, 2008 at 8:16 pm

  Palin is the answer to the Hillary supporters. The split decision. If you had Mcain off the record alone sitting in the easy chair next to you and you asked him “What is the best VP for the American people? ” would his answer be Palin?

• Splork // Aug 29, 2008 at 9:31 pm

  Sunshine - this is the greatest political system in the world. Our founding fathers were incredibly brilliant to create it. Unfortunately like Jefferson said “every generation needs a revolution”. We are long overdue.

  Dave - doubtful. Though neither is Biden. Then again neither is Obama or McCain. But it’s what we have to deal with.

• barry // Aug 29, 2008 at 9:45 pm

  Lots of invective and name-calling. Very little analysis.

  Stick around, this will be interesting.

  From what I’ve seen, McCain has an edge on actionable proposals and Obama has the edge on pie-in-the-sky let’s-spend-and-feel-good. Time will tell what the American people want.

  With congress at a 9% approval rating and Bush at about 20%, I have the feeling that these candidates may be the last in a long line of the one-party system. Watch Sarah Palin, Jim Webb and Bobby Jendal the next time around. Three good people, regardless of party.

  I smell a bit of blood in the streets before this is all over.

  Barry

• katie // Aug 29, 2008 at 10:24 pm

  are you retarted? you sound like it. grow a brain moron.

• Surprised // Aug 29, 2008 at 11:39 pm

  “Up to now I couldn’t have cared less about the US presidential election. ”

  It shows.

  You writing about politics is a lot like a 2-week noob who heard about this Adsense thing and who happened to read a Rich Jerk sales letter trying to write about how to make money online.

  Politics is NOT your niche. You’re entitled to your opinion. You have a right to waste energy and space.

  You’re also better off if you don’t. At least at this point.

• zania // Aug 30, 2008 at 12:22 am

  Hmmm… the political right have tried the same thing in Spain recently to drag themselves out of the mire with a pretty woman. Hasn’t worked for them yet. Or maybe the Spanish have more sense

  Not that there is anything wrong with women leaders (apart from Thatcher…). But the correct ones are never chosen.

  And I remember a long ago quote from Hilary Clinton that there would be an African American man in the Whitehouse long before a woman could become US President.
  I think that still stands. There is too much misogyny in American politics for a woman to get past Vice President.

  I’ve just seen this photo slideshow:
  http://www.daylife.com/topic/Sarah_Palin
  Watch the body language between McCain and Palin and then say this is not a partnership of convenience only (although no one was sayng it wasn’t I know).

  Gettng all that oil from Alaska? Do you really think either party will be able to push that issue to its conclusion?

  But what do I know, I am not a US citizen… just one of millions all over the World who feel the pinch because of US policies.

• Credit Zen // Aug 30, 2008 at 8:03 am

  Until our vote fraud problem is fixed, the “republocrats” will continue to be placed in office by the elite power brokers. Until then, It’s Time for Some Campaignin’ - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adc3MSS5Ydc

• girlonthestreet // Aug 30, 2008 at 8:06 am

  wow - i typed in ’sarah palin excellent choice’ to see who in the world could possibly say that and i found you. check out the facts on my blog that make for one terrifying profile. http://www.girlonthestreet.wordpress.com. you make me really sad. how can anyone really think obama is all splash and still breathe eat think and see? i don’t get how you can delude yourself this way. you and i must have had very different lives to lead us to these insanely opposing ways of viewing words and actions around us.

• Splork // Aug 30, 2008 at 8:44 am

  Holy cow. If you really want to be insulted then say something about politics that other people don’t agree with. I find many of the comments above extremely sad. I have some person infer that I am retarded. That’s kinda pathetic.
  Anyway, thanks to all for taking the time to respond. It says a lot about where we are as a country.
  Surprised made me laugh though. Like I ever said that politics was my niche. For someone that insulted my right to post it was sure interesting that they took the time to respond to it. That’s awesome. I must have done something right to get this attention.

  And no I still don’t care for either Obama or McCain. I think that I have said that a half dozen times. I simply think that choosing Palin is an interesting political choice. And I may still vote Libertarian because I think both parties are bad for this country.

• Frank C // Aug 30, 2008 at 8:51 am

  The choice of Palin is designed to both energize the conservative base and appeal to Reagan Democrats, the infamous ’soccer Moms’ and some other moderate voting blocs.

  One of the most galling things about Palin for the Obama camp is that on several key issues she’s been there and the “out of touch” message doesn’t work.

  On the hot topic of abortion, she made a tough choice and chose to give birth to a baby with Downs Syndrome.

  Her son is in the Army and is set to deploy to Iraq. No playing the “Fortunate Son” card there.

  On energy policy she’s been proactive in seeking solutions, even if they come from the political opposition.

  Foreign policy isn’t particularly strong on either side. Obama/Biden has a Jimmy Carter 2.0 approach, which means certain disaster given Iran and a new, aggressive Russia. McCain/Palin I see as strong on the military side of things but may be lacking on the diplomatic side.

  I’m concerned with Free Speech from both of them as well. Obama’s campaign has been using a number of very questionable tactics to try to shut down dissent and has expressed an interest in bringing back the “Fairness” doctrine to further muzzle those who disagree by government fiat. McCain’s overreaching campaign speech codes and support of some Patriot Act and related stuff are also bothersome.

• CreditZen // Aug 30, 2008 at 9:34 am

  As for voting Libertarian or Independent, I’m with you Splork. Reagan was the last mainstream president I voted for… ever since then, I voted for a Libertarian or Independent as my protest to the BS we’ve been getting from the Republicans & Democrats (aka: RepubloCrats).

  Mark

• Elliott // Aug 30, 2008 at 9:51 am

  I think Palin is a dumb choice simply because of what it says about John McCain. If his presidency will be marked by decisions like this–that are supposed to excite the masses but are substantively empty–then he is perhaps a bit too senile to be in government anymore, let alone running for president.

  On the day that he turns 72, his bad judgment was revealed. This choice speaks volumes about the competency of his campaign, his advisers, and John McCain himself. As a Democrat, I’m pleased with the decision, because it means that John McCain no longer takes this election seriously.

• Kristin Watkins // Aug 30, 2008 at 12:38 pm

  Perfect pick and look forward to Obama losing as he should. He is a fake!

• Splork // Aug 30, 2008 at 1:42 pm

  Frank - Yea there are many reasons why Palin should make the Dems nervous. They are trying very hard to play this down in the media as a bad choice but McCain could have chosen either Clinton and the followers of the Messiah would still have an issue with the choice. American politics is quite interesting, huh?

  Elliot - You didn’t explain why this was a dumb choice or why it makes McCain senile. You’ll have to take another stab at your argument. What makes Palin a bad choice specifically?

  Kristin - I do not believe that McCain/Palin will win. I actually look forward to four years of Democratic govern. I think the Obama/Reid/Pilosi team will further the collapse of this great nation by even more tax and spend policies and over reaching entitlement programs. The Dems will have their chance at “change” and will have no one to blame but themselves when they fail. They will try to blame others but they will have to suck on their failure. The Repubs had their chance and blew it. The nation is (stupidly) willing to give the Dems another chance. I personally believe they will screw things up royally and maybe then the people will wake the eff up and realize that the Dems and Repubs have each ruined this great nation. This country needs a revolution…within the boundaries of our constitution, of course.

• Elliott // Aug 30, 2008 at 2:16 pm

  Sorry Splork, here you go:

  Specifically, she has very little experience in government, and zero experience at the national level. While Obama has been in the U.S. senate for 12 years, Palin has never been in a national office. She has been governor of a state for under 2 years, and before that, she was the “mayor/manager” (her words) for a town of 9,000 people. Oh and by the way, she grew up, went to high school, and won a beauty contest in that town, so it would be hard to say the voters were unbiased in that election.

  She may be smart, fine. She may have a 90%+ approval rating, fine. But I sure don’t want her in the oval office if something happens to McCain. She just doesn’t have the experience that Obama (or Biden) has.

• Splork // Aug 30, 2008 at 3:42 pm

  Obama has been in the US. Senate for two years. He was in the Illinois state senate for 8 years. Neither position is enough experience to run a country. Particularly if you use the same judgment that you use on Palin. See obamasresume.org

  That said, I agree with your assessment about Palin. But at least she was in leadership of a town then held leadership for a state. When she became governor people said she didn’t have experience because she was mayor before that. When she ran for mayor people said she didn’t have experience because she was only a beauty queen. So far she’s proved everyone wrong.

  Neither Palin or Obama has the experience to lead this country.

• Elliott // Aug 30, 2008 at 4:05 pm

  I’m sorry; I was misinformed and totally wrong about his time in the Senates. He’s been a U.S. Senator since January, 2005, and he was in the Illinois State Senate for 8 years before that. See obama.senate.gov/about

  (I’m not sure that obamasresume.org is all that reliable, since it is a wiki, which means it editable by anyone at any time. )

  My point about experience is that Balin’s jump from manager of a town to governor to potentially president is much, much larger than Obama’s U.S. Senator to president. Obama also has experience in Senate Committees; he serves on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; Foreign Relations Committee; and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He also served on the Environment and Public Works Committee in ‘05 and ‘06. He does have experience in Washington, where it matters, which is also forgetting about eight years in Illinois in the Senate.

  My point about Palin and the beauty pageant is that she essentially had the road to the mayorship (?) paved for her. And, admittedly, she did a good job there, and potentially deserved to be governor. Alaska just doesn’t seem to me to be comparable to Chicago or Washington in terms of being in similar positions in government.

• Scott // Aug 30, 2008 at 5:10 pm

  Hi Splork,

  ….If that is indeed your real name. Stay true to the cause my Libertarian brother.

  Bite the bullet and vote for Bob Barr, even though he used to be a complete A-Hole and for some reason has changed his stripes.

  OR write in Ron Paul, if that’s possible. I’m not certain.

  Real Change has to start somewhere and the Demopublicans aint it. Make your voice heard. A wasted vote is one you don’t fully believe in.

  Though this Palin chick is truly a MILF, there’s no doubt.

  Also go see IOUSA. For your daughter’s sake.

• LPF // Aug 30, 2008 at 5:36 pm

  So the one with more experience and wisdom will get elected? Bull! It never works out that way.

  The team with the better PR gets elected.

  It is only AFTER the elections that the American people find out about the so-called experience, or lack thereof. But by then it’s too late.

  Well, at least you get another chance to bitch for the next 4 years. After which, you can pick yet another bright shining change-monger with “experience”.

  Revolution sounds about right. But in the Land Of The Free? It’ll never happen.

• Splork // Aug 30, 2008 at 5:56 pm

  Elliot- we won’t change each other’s mind about Obama but I understand what you are saying. My cynical point of view though is the man has been in the US senate for two years and during that time has spent the majority of it campaigning for the executive office. That is troubling to me.

  LPF- Good point. It is a PR race. And I’ll go one further. The brightest and smartest in this country, sadly, would never consider running. That ended probably somewhere around the time of Lincoln.

  Scott- ironically I was all set to go see IOUSA, until it landed on a night that my daughters had softball practice. As important as that movie ultimately is, the life experience of coaching my youngest’s team and watching the oldest practice ball was much more important to me.

  Barr was my representative when I lived in the Atlanta area. He’s an asshole to some because he says what is true and what no one care to hear. I liked him but I’m a cold-hearted bastard who expect people to take some responsibility for themselves instead of requiring the gov’t to provide. It galls me to think that Obama or Bush or Pilosi think they can run my life better than I can. I want the gov’t to stay the hell out of my life. Vote for Dems or Repubs and you get more gov’t intrusion into your life. Enjoy.

• Mason // Aug 30, 2008 at 10:09 pm

  Splork - you negative prick. You don’t bring any substantial reasons why you dislike Obama.

  He’s whiter than your pasty sunburnt ass!

  Get over it bitch!

• Marlow // Aug 31, 2008 at 12:03 am

  Wouldn’t joining McCain mean that this woman, despite any good she has done, has decided to put that aside to be on this man’s ticket? Yes. She has sworn a blood oath to the neocons, Wall Street, and the military industrial-complex, to be Vice Sauron in Mordor. Then there’s Obama, who revealed his true colors about “change” by choosing the consumate establishment, war-mongering insider - Biden. Elections are BS anyway, whereby the plantation owner lets the slaves choose between two handpicked overseers. The slaves are so gleeful over being able to choose who lashes them. ALL functions of government that have any merit can be performed more efficiently and more morally by the private sector . The real choice is Free market anarchism, characterized by volunteerism vs. government, characterized by compulsion and prohibition.

• barry // Aug 31, 2008 at 7:43 am

  Two interesting points.

  First, Palin, with a thin resume, is the VP choice for the Republicans. Obama, with a thin resume, is the Presidential choice for the Democrats. Palin would be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office in a McCain administration. Obama would BE in the Oval Office in an Obama administration.

  Second, and this is something no one has brought up because it’s funny. Palin is the governor of a state that is 3 miles from Russia and shares a very long border with Canada. She also has to contend with administering a very large international fishery. She’s been there and done that whereas Obama has just flown around to various countries.

  All of a sudden her resume isn’t looking so thin.

  Barry

• Splork // Aug 31, 2008 at 1:36 pm

  Mason - you are clearly an awesome fella. Thanks for the insults. But most of all thanks for taking the time to post no matter how distasteful it was. I’m totally a free speech kind of guy.

  Obama - this was really about Palin but since you asked so nicely: 1) I don’t think he’s experienced. 2) I do not agree with his policy of redistribution of wealth, I do not think that the government needs any more money 3) I prefer gov’t inaction which would occur with the executive branch republican and the Congress democratic 4) I do not believe in his answer to the health care issues. I do not care for entitlement programs as they are bankrupting this country (fact. look it up) 5) I believe we should do everything and anything for energy, he does not. 6) He has no plan except get the eff out for Iraq 7) He wants to slow development of military weapons systems…you know like the one that shot down the satellite. I fear he may dismantle our military edge 8 ) I think he is mostly style and no substance. My opinion here. 9) He attacks big business instead of embrace it. Where exactly does he think people are going to work? I think profits area good thing. I don’t wish to penalize it like he does. 10) The dems have held power for two years and promised many things. They lied. (look it up) He was part of the change of 2006. It has been a failure. I can’t imagine it to improve if he becomes the President.

  How’s that? I can go on but I won’t. There is enough there to get flamed for and frankly I’m a little tired of the topic.

• barry // Aug 31, 2008 at 2:11 pm

  Change — it’s all you’ll have left if B. Hussein O. is elected.

• Freddy // Aug 31, 2008 at 3:10 pm

  Splork:

  I disagree that the US electoral system is the best in the world. The “First Past The Post” system has been clearly demonstrated to be weaker than other modern systems.

  Anyway, here is a quote:
  “if history is a guide, an Obama victory in November would lead to faster economic growth with less inequality, while a McCain victory would lead to slower economic growth with more inequality.”

  This is brilliantly delineated in a new book, “Unequal Democracy,” by Larry M. Bartels, a professor of political science at Princeton University.

  He examined US economics and politics back to 1948 to paint a rather poor picture of Republican time in office over that longer period.

  Interesting.

• Jack // Sep 1, 2008 at 3:07 am

  I bet this is the last political post you make for a long time

  You have the problem that both your main parties are under the control and influence of big business and their lobby groups. In the UK we have a similar situation but fortunately we have a rapidly-growing alternative, the British National Party.

• Tom // Sep 1, 2008 at 4:01 am

  I only skimmed the comments, but I read the original post, and I agree with a lot of what you wrote Splork.

  I don’t see anything wrong with Palin. I like that she’s not a Washington insider. Washington is all but completely broken, and it needs some fresh blood.

  Now all of a sudden the media is worried about experience. They sure weren’t worried about Obama’s experience, or lack thereof. But of course there are different standards depending on whether you have a D or an R by your name.

  I’m going to vote McCain simply because I think Obama is wholly unqualified for the job.

  Actually, I doubt I’ll ever be able to vote for a Democrat unless the media loses the double standard. Dem candidates don’t get properly vetted by the media. If a Repub with conservative views was running, and the background and experience of Obama, he wouldn’t have passed the laugh test for the media. He would be savaged from day one.

• Splork // Sep 1, 2008 at 7:09 am

  Jack - Yea this will probably be the last. I’ll need to get back on topic. Whatever that is. But it did serve an interesting study on how to get traffic to your website. I may not politicize Lost Ball again but I may create some other websites to bait people into commenting and get traffic. My stats were almost double over what they usually are over the last few days.

  Tom - Thanks for reading. Yea if Obama was running as a Republican he would be getting hammered for his lack of experience and a host of other issues. But the media wants a dem in the White House. I watched a few ofthe Sunday morning shows and I loved the back and forth. “Palin isn’t qualified.” “Yea well neither is Obama.” It was awesome.

• barry // Sep 1, 2008 at 2:25 pm

  Sounds like there’s a lot of reflection going on, mostly reflecting the biases of the posters.

  Freddy’s comment about electoral methods is interesting. There is so much right with ours and so much wrong with theParliamentary/Prime Ministeral system that it’s not worth discussing.

  The other point is that there is a huge body of mathematical scholarship that proves that the “other” methods, run-offs, etc., are frequently — maybe mostly — used to thwart the will of the people that no one who has studied the systems carefully is willing to support any alternative to ours. Ours may not suit all the people all the time, but it’s better than the alternative, unless you lose, that is.

  Google on Alabama Paradox and voting mathematics.

  Barry

• Frank C // Sep 1, 2008 at 3:17 pm

  Well, one thing for sure, Palin is certainly a better shot than Cheney. Who would you feel more comfortable around when hunting?

  Her outdoor skill can even be a diplomatic plus. She can go non-lethal tiger hunting with Putin.

• Mason // Sep 1, 2008 at 10:29 pm

  Leadership is OVERRATED!

  name me a high school educated, failed failed farmer and a failed businessman

  who…

  ascended to the Senate via stuffed ballot boxes

  who…

  was named VP because he was a “safe” pick

  who…

  became PREZ and DROPPED A BOMB ON JAPAN and ended WW2!

  who…

  had no intention of ever being President.

  Truman. Experience. Overrated.

• Internet Marketing Badger - Jennifer // Sep 2, 2008 at 11:57 am

  As a woman, I’ve been vomiting quietly in my mouth for the whole past year - first over Hillary, now over Palin.

  This is the best we can come up with as far as allowing a “token” woman to perhaps get close to the White House? (In a capacity other than First Lady, I mean! I mean, at this point we’re still at the token stage unfortunately with women leaders, but at least a few of them are breaking some barriers. And there are so many wonderful gals out there besides these two clowns!

  Palin is going to prove to be a mixed choice. Although she’s pro-life, the more rabid branch of the pro-lifers is going to be placing very harsh judgment upon her. This is because in the minds of the religious Right, celibacy is the only option for any young unmarried person and obviously Palin is a “bad parent” for not instilling the proper “values” in her daughter. YUCK. When are people going to be dealing with the fact that most ten year olds are having oral sex (if not worse) now? Get with the program, people.

  You can’t transform a culture by denying what is going on or hiding your head in the sand like the religious Right keeps wanting to do. Meanwhile, their children keep popping out babies at 14, 15, 16 because those celibacy vows aren’t easy to keep! Or they enter into stupid marriages at 17 due to parental pressure. I would NEVER allow my 17 year old daughter to marry another 17 year old. C’mon! Talk about f&*(ing up your life!

  As far as Hillary goes, she was too Eva Peron for me. It would be really nice to see more women in leadership positions who AREN’T riding on their husbands’ coat-tails.

  I would have liked to seen a more moderate Republican woman like our former NJ governor Christie Todd Whitman in the race - she would have been a nice choice.

  Jennifer aka Internet Marketing Badger

• Tracey // Sep 2, 2008 at 8:08 pm

  Splork, I do not agree with most of your views–no need to detail, many have already done so here.

  BUT, I am impressed with your willingness to post opposing views–even the crass ignorant answers–and I appreciate your class in how you respond.

• Dinheiro // Sep 3, 2008 at 2:25 am

  This is a sad world, politics is the same in every place. In the us are obama and mccain, in my country is socrates and manuela. At least the Russians are only putin and always putin, lol.
  Politics sucks, and the first goal of every politician is to put the money in their pockets!!! We’re the sheep, we’re the fouls, who still believe that politics as something to give, IT’S NOT!

• Splork // Sep 3, 2008 at 7:30 am

  Jennifer - The more I read about Palin, the more impressed I am with the people of Alaska. They wanted change and embraced it wholeheartedly. They chose a woman. They chose someone who fought the shit in her own party. They grabbed an everyday woman. They voted in someone who was like them. I don’t know if the woman can be president. But at least she appears to be the least political of the crew.

  Tracey - Thanks for reading. And thanks for saying so.

  Dinheiro - It really is a sad world. Economically I have no idea how my children will survive. I’m afraid that the generation of my father has put the future of this county in jeopardy with spending. The national DEBT. Not the deficit that the politicians like to yammer on about. The freakin debt is around 10 trillion dollars. This country owes 10 trillion dollars. You, my friend, personally owe 30,000 of that. That is each man, woman and child’s portion to pay back. Why has people like McCain and Biden mortgaged our children’s future? Our future? No one wants to tackle this problem. They want to keep spending. It pisses me off. There is zero financial accountability with the people we’ve elected. And it will eventually have to be paid. Our kids and their kids are going to be really pissed off.

• Freddy // Sep 3, 2008 at 5:14 pm

  Barry:

  One of the longest, most detailed studies of electoral methods occurred a couple years ago in British Columbia, and the large body of people doing the research chose the Single Transferable Vote system as the winner.

  Unfortunately, at voting time, the public was scared, and it lost by 3%…. 57% in favour, but not 60%.

  See
  http://www.citizensassembly.bc.ca/public

• Splork // Sep 4, 2008 at 8:31 am

  She did an outstanding job in her acceptance speech. Even the Dems and liberal media grudgingly admitted as much.

• barry // Sep 4, 2008 at 1:22 pm

  Freddy,

  The study by the good people of BC was not one of the longest, most thorough examinations of voting systems. It was an attempt to cloak their preconceived choice in legitimacy. It they had been interested in a detalied analysis, they would have more than one book in the sources section of the technical report. I’d give them a D- or F for their effort, was did the people of BC.

  Kenneth Arrow got the Noble Prize for his dempnstration that there is NO, repeat, NO, fair voting system.

  STV has just as many flaws as the other systems.

  The analysis that was done was as intellectually flawed as Bartels’ book which you cite.

  There is abundant statistical evidence that raising taxes and increasing government size, scope and intrusion into citizen’s lives reduces the level of economic activity and decreases individual well-being. This was the whole point of the Reagan attack on government.

  If you want to continue this, email me at johnfrum@optonline.net; there’s no sense taking up Splork’s bandwidth.

  Barry

• BeauFla // Sep 5, 2008 at 6:27 am

  I thought twice about posting here as i am an ardent Obama supporter.

  What is being missed here is that Republicans, in general, represent social oppression, fear mongering, political divisiveness, and pandering to the elite.

  If you say that you support palin then by extension you are saying you support eliminating a womans right to choose. Palin supports denying abortion in all cases including rape, incest and if the mothers health is at risk.

  If you say that you support Palin, then you are saying that you support teaching the religiously tainted theory of creationism to our children. Palin supports and has pushed this.

  If you support Palin then you are saying that you believe in censorship and banning books that are counter to her religious beliefs. in her short tenure as governor Palin has attempted to ban a laundry list of books.

  If you support Palin then you are saying that you support cromieism and nepotism. Anyone that places pressure on a public official to remove someone due to seeking revenge is unethical and should be likened to Karl Rove and Cheney.

  If you support Palin just because she is a woman then you are saying that gender matters and you are a sexist.

  If you support Palin then you are saying that you are willing to ignore the flaws of john mccain.

  Despite Mccain’s marketing himself as a “maverick” his is connected to some of the largest lobbying firms in the country.

  Most of Mccain’s election staff are either lobbyists or former lobbyists. when Mccain’s campaign almost went bamkrupt earlier this year he turned more heavily to lobbyists for support.

  If you support Mccain then by extension you support people like Phil Gram who was a senior advisor to McCain.

  Republicans are NOT about change and have never been about change. Republicans by definition are conservatives and conservatives DO NOT LIKE CHANGE.

  Do not be fooled….McCain will be the worst thing that ever happened to our country….If you like to have your rights repressed and you like to see income inequality continue, and if you like to see corporation continue to be insulated, and if you would the US to continue to have a go it alone attitude, if you would like to see our children NOT get the proper education, and you would like to see our infrastructure continue to crumble4 and you would like to contimnue to be lied to like sheep about how oil and drilling now will help us now

  THEN BY ALL MEANS VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN

  If you are weak minded and addle brained enough to believe that john McCain will help YOU then vote for him.

  sorry this is so long. Put it pains me to see people close their eyes to the truth about an old guard politician that will take our country back to the 1950s.

  whether you think I am full of it or not, whatever you decide to do….VOTE

• Splork // Sep 5, 2008 at 7:13 am

  BeauFla lots of truth in what you write but then again you can see glimpses of what type of person she is by how she governed Alaska. She took on corruption-in her own party, She took on wasteful federal spending. She balanced the budget and managed a surplus. There are a lot of good things there. I could regurgitate every flaw you see in Palin and do the same with Biden/Obama. I simply don’t care because there is nothing that anyone is going to say or do to change the mind of an Obama supporter.

  I challenge anyone to tell me what the hell Obama has done. He is a member of his party’s majority held Congress. Yet they have done nothing for this country. Nothing. They blame the Repubs for everything yet they have stood by and done nothing. What exactly of their many promises in 2006 have they accomplished? Nothing that I can see. And certainly Obama has not risen to any occasion in the Congress.

  I say again. NONE of the candidates that we have before us to lead this country are worth a shit. Out of all the great people in the country this is the best we can do? It is pathetic. It is sad. The issue that I am MOST worried about is finance. This country is broke and getting broker. And nobody cares. But I guarantee my children and their children are going to care. If we weren’t 10 trillion in debt maybe we could meaningfully reform health care. Or social security. Or education. Maybe we could develop a substantial energy policy. Obama or McCain will continue to tax and spend us to death and contribute to the downward spiral of this nation.

  It pains me too to see people stand for someone that has no qualifications and has done nothing. I’ve quizzed numerous people online and off about why they want Obama. They give the party cheer “change!” Ask them what that means to them and they have no idea. They just know that they want change. That’s fine. But it has to mean something. Maybe Obama will the greatest president in history if given a chance. All I know is a lot of his rhetoric is about taxing and spending. On the face of it it won’t effect me until he manages to get a health care plan in place which will bureaucracize me going to the doctor. More government intrusion into my life. Why the hell do the politicians think they know better how to run my life? My money?

  Both parties suck. I will not be a supporter of either. I will vote Libertarian like I generally do protesting against what will continue to be business as usual in Washington no matter which asshat happens to win. We all lose in this country no matter who wins.

• BeauFla // Sep 5, 2008 at 9:17 am

  —-
  She took on corruption-in her own party,
  —-

  In my opinion palin’s corruption fighting credentials have been way over hiped. If she had truly taken on curruption in the Alaskan Republican party then Ted Stevens would not have been allowed to run for reelection as a member of the Republican party.

  —
  She took on wasteful federal spending. She balanced the budget and managed a surplus.

  –

  It is easy to balance a budget when you only have a population of 670,000, little relative crime — read geographic location — and most of the states income comes from a guaranteed source, oil revenue and oh ya Federal earmarks of which Alaska gets more per capita than any other state.

  Palin’s economic and fiscal credentials just aren’t there.

  —-
  He is a member of his party’s majority held Congress. Yet they have done nothing for this country.
  —-

  this is marketing hype by the republican party. most major issues in congree require more than a simple majority to pass. Yes, democrats control committee chairs, which is a lot but their majority is very slim. Moreover, the Senate is the true accilies heal here. The house has attempted to do a lot…there is a commanding majority there. democratic control of the Senate is by one. and, that one is Joseph Lieberman….who it is obvious leans more republican than Democrat.

  It takes both the Senate and House to pass a bill. So unless there is a clear commanding majority in both houses you cannot truly say that “Congress” is controlled by the Democrats. The reality is that Congress is split to a point of stalemate.

  we have a republican president that is corrupt and has been taking advantage of this stalemate to work his own agenda.

  where does control truly reside. believe it or not…it is with the Republicans. Why? Because the President of the United States can Veto any bill. A veto over ride requires a super majority (2/3 majority) vote in both the house and the sente.

  So who really has power! The Republicans because they have the Presidential trump and with it are able to block most actions.

  —-
  I challenge anyone to tell me what the hell Obama has done
  —-

  I will try to do just that. Now i did not do this research myself but here are a few links for where this info cam from.

  http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/obamas-senate-accomplishments/

  and

  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/21/164117/783?new=true

  and

  http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Obama_s_accomplishments_as_Senator

  now i guess I could try and find more academic level stuff but this only took me a few minutes. I’ll let those articles stand for themselves.

  —-
  Obama or McCain will continue to tax and spend us to death and contribute to the downward spiral of this nation.
  —-

  i can not answer to this as no one really knows what anyone will do when they enter the Presidency. But, the reality is that government is necessary and taxes are as well. what matters is how that money is spent. Of the last 4 presidents oly one has balanced the budget and that was a Democrat.

  Does that mean because Obama is a Democrat that he will balnce the budget….uh…no. I just hate republican bluster about being fisically responsible. i as well believe we need a simplification of the tax code. i believe in a flat tax across the board zero loop holes. Simple and easy… to change the percentage would require a super majority of both houses. And changing the percentage taxed would be the only thing changeable….so there would be no more hiding of the little sneaky changes that occur.

  —-
  On the face of it it won’t effect me until he manages to get a health care plan in place which will bureaucracize me going to the doctor. More government intrusion into my life.
  —-

  you going to the doctor is already beaurcratized. Uh the insurance companies are worse than the government. I am not sure what a nationalized health care system would look like. But, we are the last western industrialized country to nationalize health care. I am not sure about this but i think Canadians are happy with their health system. I think Brits are happy with their health care system. We could ask just about any European from the tip of Finland down to Portugal and i think they would all say they would rather their health system than the American system

  Do not fear change of the health care system. Do you really think that Americans would stand for the health care system becoming like the Iraqi health care system…maybe for a short while but not for long.

  —-

  All I know is a lot of his rhetoric is about taxing and spending.

  —-

  on both sides. But, you have to spend and earn. That is a fact of life…even for goverments….The question is whi is going to make the right decision of how to tax and where to spend. Would you prefer the top 5% of Americans to pay on avrage less than the bottom 20% of Americans or would you rather a system that more equal.

  Do not be fooled by arguments of wealth transfer. This is a wealthy persons argument. When you tax someone that is poorer it is still a transfer a wealth just like it is with a rich person. Flat tax with no loop holesiIs the answer to that. Evens the tax playing field.

  i agree both parties suck but Democrats at least do not want to invade my privacy, tell me how to think and which god i should worship!

  —-
  I will vote Libertarian like I generally do protesting against what will continue to be business as usual in Washington no matter which asshat happens to win.

  —-

  Voting libertarian is your choice and i commend it. But, consider one thing…we are truly at a crossroads both generationally, economically, and socially. this year’s vote will affect the rest of your life and your chidrens life and very likely your grandchildrens life

• Splork // Sep 5, 2008 at 1:17 pm

  Let’s see:

  Your opinion stands on the corruption. If it had been Obama I would imagine your opinion would not be so dismissive. Obviously I think it’s noteworthy.

  “Only 670,000″. Democrats love to trot that one out. It sounds insulting. As far as more FEDERAL earmarks heading to Alaska, I don’t think Palin can control that. I believe federal money is doled out by the US Congress.

  Congress not controlled by Democrats. Pelosi and Reid won’t even let the things they don’t want to vote on get to the floor. Better than 60% of Americans want to drill off shore. More than that want at least a vote. They won’t allow it. And there is nothing the Repubs can do about it.

  “Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.

  Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.”

  Sure. Co-sponsoring is easy. Didn’t list how many he sponsored. Plus only one I believe was signed into law anyway. The Republic of Congo appreciates the effort.

  Health care. I doubt any country would prefer their own health care to America’s. I have no facts about that but I have read that some Canadians choose to have procedures performed in the US instead of having to wait their turn in Canada. Though Americans are perfectly happy to give up their freedom for entitlements.

  Obama promises me that my taxes will not go up under his system. I can believe that right? So what do I care?

  I hope Obama will stop the interfering into my privacy. So far the Democratic congress has not done much in that regard. They will apparently hold majority and the Presidency from 2009 until at least 2012. Let us see what that gets us.

  If this vote is so critical to the United States then why didn’t the people insist on getting qualified, experienced and great people to lead this nation? Each year that votes are cast affect the rest of my life and the nation we leave my kids and theirs. This is not different. And change is not going to happen IMO. I actually look forward to the next four years. It will be very interesting to see what promises were kept and what wasn’t. So far the dems haven’t done what they said they would in 2006. They will have NO excuses come January 20th. Let’s see if job growth returns. Gas prices are lower. The debt is lower. The deficit is lower. Credit markets repaired. The country at peace and safe. Those are the standards we should hold these people accountable. Maybe the Dems can achieve that. I just hope that if they aren’t successful that the sheep following their Messiah will recognize that better things are warranted than just empty promises. If change is promised then change should be delivered that improves this country.

• BeauFla // Sep 5, 2008 at 2:51 pm

  i am not saying that Palin can control earmarks just that her so called “balanced budget” benefited from them.

  —-
  If this vote is so critical to the United States then why didn’t the people insist on getting qualified, experienced and great people to lead this nation?
  —-
  Well we are careening towards a new cold war with the same old hot spots of Russia, Iran, and north Korea…We are currently in two wars that are costing us 10B a month. We have 10 Trillion budget deficit that’s about 31K per person…we are facing huge challenges in foreign trade that were not there 8 years ago…etc. etc.

  Uh the president only makes 300K a year. There are not many people willing to do the job for the price. i think if we offered a few million dollars a year for the salary we would get a lot more takers for the job.

  —-
  I have no facts about that but I have read that some Canadians choose to have procedures performed in the US instead of having to wait their turn in Canada.

  —-
  This is a very old argument. If this occurs it is statistically anomalous.

  —
  They will have NO excuses come January 20th. Let’s see if job growth returns. Gas prices are lower. The debt is lower. The deficit is lower. Credit markets repaired. The country at peace and safe. Those are the standards we should hold these people accountable.
  —
  Agreed.

  just remember that some of the issues you mentioned such as the credit market fiasco and to some extent oil prices are due, in part, to deregulation that occurred under the Bush Administration of which Phil Gram and McCain were proponents.

  —
  If change is promised then change should be delivered that improves this country.
  —
  Agreed.

  We will see what happens.

• Marlow // Sep 5, 2008 at 11:18 pm

  Obama/McCain. Tweedledum/Tweedledee. The most important issue is war and peace - real life and death, blood and guts stuff. Yet we see Obama trying to out tough guy McInsane on the issue. Both are surpasing the war criminal, Bush, in hostile rhetoric towards Russia, Iran, Pakistan.

  The truth is the US had no legitimate business invading Iraq or Afganistan. (Nor does it have any business interfering elsewhere). Neither of those governments were involved in 911. Only Ron Paul, Kucinich and Gravel spoke the truth - the the US government is an imperial warmonger.

  The demoncrats, with their control of Congress - which they do have - could have stopped this mass murder of mid-easterers simply by cutting off funds for Bush’s corrupt war. But they didn’t. And why? Because the same elite owners of the military/industrial/major media complex control both the elephant and the donkey party, and they make massive profits off war and other special interest legislation.

  Splork, you’re comments on the debt that will destroy the future is a vast understatement. When future liabilities for US bread, war and circuses are factored in, experts who have studied the debt have come up with liabilities of about 100 Trillion - that’s 100 Trillion with a T. This debt will never be honestly paid off. All that can be done is appear to pay it off with the FED creating trillions out of thin air (which only Ron Paul warned about), debased currency, which means massive inflation, which means the savings of the average person will lose nearly all value, which means the impoverishment of most of the citizenry - who, nonetheless, will demand a strong leader to “do something”, utterly ignorant that strong leaders of the past are responsible for for the impending catastrophe.

• barry // Sep 6, 2008 at 10:19 am

  BeauFla,

  Glass-Steagall was repealed in 1999, under Bill Clinton and his SecTreas, Bobby Rubin. The full name of the act is Gramm-Leach-Bliley.

  Rubin left to “help” Citi and Gramm is now at a Swiss Bank. Payoff? Oh, heavens no!

  Rubin has collected $150,000,000 so far, and Citi is on the ropes due to the sub-prime and mortgage derivative mess, which he didn’t see coming.

  You make some good points. Let’s see what happens and hope the people prosper, probably in spite of our leadership.

  Barry

• Splork // Sep 6, 2008 at 6:52 pm

  People are showing up to see Sarah Palin. It may or may not last. She may get hammered in the debates. She may grow old in the next two months. But people want to know more and she is bringing excitement to the Repub party. I talked to two ladies at the ballfield during practice today. They were beside themselves with excitement over this woman.

  This is a quote from a random lady in the news:

  “She’s the draw for a lot of people,” said Marilyn Ryman, who came to see her at the Colorado rally inside an airport hangar. “The fact that she’s someone new, not the old everything we’ve seen before.”

  That should be scaring the shit out of Dems. Obama screwed up big time as he chose an insider who has hung around the Beltway for thirty years. If he wanted change he should have had the balls to go after it. As it is he is showing that he is just the same ol same ol politician with the same ol Democratic platform. Looks like the Repubs have tilted the change mantra to their side.

  This is getting good.

• Frank C // Sep 6, 2008 at 9:10 pm

  Splork, thanks for reminding me why I don’t do political blogging or political forums anymore.

  To quote from the movie Tombstone, “I’m not gonna fight you, Ringo. There’s no money in it.” There are plenty of other people out there who’ll say “I’m your huckleberry. That’s just my game.”

• Splork // Sep 6, 2008 at 11:32 pm

  Yea, this is the last…here. I’ll go stir some shit up somewhere else though. The traffic is ridiculous. Does me no good on here except waste bandwidth. Hell, I don’t monetize Lost Ball effective, or at all really, with the 11 people who visit as it is. Crank up people with opinions and it’s a shame I can’t make something of it.

• Wholesale Products Guy // Sep 16, 2008 at 10:41 pm

  Thanks for your level headed honesty about Palin. The beat down of her character has gone beyond the “Pale” in terms of various New York Times articles, various other publications, and under assualt by feminists.

  I have never seen any VP candidate receive the scorched earth treatment she has. I guess you are not a feminist if you are pro-life, pro-gun, or pro-family.

  If Barry is elected, he will have the wind at his back in terms of the Congress. Forget about divided government, at least for his first term. Socialism in the form of wealth distribution is all but on it’s way.

  I love the tag line for the Obama campaign that 95% of the people in the US will get a tax cut, and only those making 250,000 will get their taxes raised.

  That is horse hockey. It won’t even begin to cover the billions of new spending he is proposing for his “goody bag” political promises.

  There are not enough people in the so-called “rich” bracket to pay for it all. He will have to raise taxes on everyone - eventually.

  I never understand taxing small businesses, corporations, or anyone who has means. Sorry, but don’t the rich create jobs? And what about incentives?

  What happens if you want to be rich, knowing that Barry’s Raiders will have their hand out for over 50 percent of your money? Good buy to investment and job creation.

  I am poor, so it is not my ox being gored. But, I still don’t want anyone to pay more then the current rate.

  It should be lower still. The government wastes 50 cents of every dollar. Until they act responsibly, then they should ask us to sacrifice.

  In the scheme of things, it will be business as usual in Washington. As you mentioned, promises will be made, and then broken.

  This is a time in history were we need the 21st century equivalent of Washington type leadership, and an Edison type mind to (while we are drilling for oil) to find, marketable, realistic, alternative energy sources.

  Unfortunately, no one like that is too be found in Washington.

  Robert - The Wholesale Products Guy

• Splork // Sep 17, 2008 at 7:21 am

  Yea I watched that Gibson interview with Palin and it was amazing the utter contempt the man seemed to have for the lady. I like that she has energized the boring GOP. I like that she is scaring the hell out of the Dems. I like that the Dems continue to try make her out to be the same ol same ol yet the American people continue to reject that characterization. I like that she is different than the 30+ years each of Biden and McCain gov’t experience and the go along to get along leanings of the 2 year junior Senator Obama. I like that they try to make her out to be inexperienced yet their own guy has only been a federal senator for two years himself…something that every liberal media outfit likes to conveniently ignore. I like how the liberal females hate her because she is conservative. I like how average women speak highly of her wherever I start a conversation about her.
  Interesting times.

• The Wholesale Products Guy // Sep 17, 2008 at 8:16 pm

  Splork Writes..

  “I do not believe that McCain/Palin will win. I actually look forward to four years of Democratic govern.

  I think the Obama/Reid/Pilosi team will further the collapse of this great nation by even more tax and spend policies and over reaching entitlement programs.

  The Dem’s will have their chance at “change” and will have no one to blame but themselves when they fail. They will try to blame others but they will have to suck on their failure.

  “The Repubs had their chance and blew it. The nation is (stupidly) willing to give the Dems another chance.

  I personally believe they will screw things up royally and maybe then the people will wake the eff up and realize that the Dems and Repubs have each ruined this great nation.

  This country needs a revolution…within the boundaries of our constitution, of course.”

  Robert Responds..

  Just wanted to say, dam, Splork - your good. I could not have said it better myself. I would not even try.

  The above post, without a doubt, puts an exclamation point on our future state of our governmental affairs.

  I, too, do not think that McCain will make it. I want to see how the agent of change, the messiah of motivation, the pontificator of peace, will lead this country toward his vision of the promised land.

  After all, he is the one we have been waiting for.
  Today (Sept 17 08) Congress passed an offshore drilling bill. But, if truth be told, part of the bill will allow exploration 50 miles away from where the oil or natural gas is.

  So, you can drill offshore, just not where the resources are. This bill is just designed to show the general public that democrats passed a bill, and Republicans rejected it. Once again, political power.

  And, even if the Senate were to give it it’s blessing - it is then up to the states that have the oil and gas whether or not they want to drill. If the state is predominantly liberal, forget it.

  And, if by devine interventions, states did take a bold step and allow drilling where the oil or gas is, they won’t share in the revenue. The Feds will get it.

  Throw in the hard core “Enviro’s” and you won’t get anymore refineries.

  Ah yes, the change, I have been waiting for..

  Interesting times - indeed..

  Robert..

• Gaz // Nov 13, 2008 at 5:29 am

  Well, Osama got in. Sweet. we can only hope to live in interesting times. Voting in Osama has made things even more interesting than they were before.
  Its cool he’s black. well, half black, anyway.
  Tax tax tax baby!
  America was fucked whoever got in. Ya see, the US is in just too big a dodo to ever get out of it. All ya can do is try and slow the certain slide.
  it happened to rome, the british empire. now its the US’s turn.
  might take a few more decades, but the US is toast baby.
  but boy do ya dude’s know how to do a thrilling election campaign.
  it was actually comical to see how slanted the media was with osama. and throwing all that money at advertising. wow.
  don’t get me wrong. i like the guy., i just fucking hate his name. yuck. it reminds me of bid laden and saddam.
  the next 4 years r gonna be totally awesome!:)

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