31. To Paul, I can't believe that you think that because McCain is wealthy he must
have a clue about economic theory... McCain got his wealth from his
family and his wife's family. He didn't become wealthy using his
vast economic knowledge. You are yet another example of the
ignorance train that enabled this country to be driven off the tracks
over the past 8 years and will continue to do so if people like
you prevail at the polls. God help us all.

EducatedAmerican at 11:03PM on Sep 25th 2008

32. Botts...You need to do better homework.

This is according to CNN (and there are other sources if you need them):

"Under mounting political pressure over pork projects, Congress stripped the earmark -- or stipulation -- that the money be used for the airport, but still sent the money to the state for any use it deemed appropriate." (CNN Report on the Gravina Island Bridge -- September 22, 2007)

Note that CONGRESS still sent the money with permission to use it in ANY WAY DEEMED APPROPRIATE. And the amount wasn't $300M...it was $200M (again, given with Congress's blessing.)

Paul at 11:05PM on Sep 25th 2008

33. Isn't it great the way Harry Reid, Botts and the rest of these "Carnac the Magnificent" Wannabee Democrats who think they know everybody else's motivation and continue to spin John McCain's stated and very real concern for the possibility that the country might fall off a financial cliff as completely fraudulent, concocted and a political stunt.

Gosh, which do you think is more important, a Presidential candidate's political debate or preventing the downward spiral into the economic abyss known as the second Great Depression? Well, duh.

Meanwhile, Barack Obama really did look like a lost little puppy today. Suddenly he seemed to realize that he is dangerously under qualified to make big time decisions about the economy with very real stakes on the line and became strangely quiet. McCain acted like the leader he is today. Obama simply said "me too". Not good enough.

I know making these observations will likely be sufficient to have me branded a Klansman by all those aforementioned benificent lefties, who run around spectacularly misquoting Jesus and lecturing everybody else on judging, but I'll have to live with that, I guess.

Dave at 11:08PM on Sep 25th 2008

34. Question posed to Reverend Botts and reply
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Reverend Botts, still waiting for you to show me proof or something substantial that shows Hussein Obama was a Christian and not a Muslim during the early part of his life up to when he moved to Hawaii."

Robert, how does anyone prove their faith, let alone a little boy? It's a bullshit question, and you know it.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bull Shit question, Reverend Botts, that's is a bull shit question only if your do not have an answer. Is it bulll shit or a lie that Hussein Obama says on his web site that he was never a Muslim, that he was never raised as a Muslim. I say up to about 10 yrs old, even in Hussein Obama's book, Obama was born and raised as a Muslim. No proof otherwise. If it is such a bull shit question, why does Obama even have his denial on his web site? So Obama lies.

Reverend Botts, so Obama lies about ever being a Muslim, and anyone who says different is a "bigot".

So your answer to my question is that the question was bull shit. Reberend Botts, your answer is bull shit.

Put your money where your mouth is. Prove Obama's first 10 years of his lfe was as a Christian and not a Muslim.

PS why would a rich Prince in Saudi Arabia, a Muslim, and a successful businessman, a Muslim, pay for Hussein Obama's college bill at Harvard if Hussein Obama was a Christian?

Robert OKane at 11:09PM on Sep 25th 2008

35. Purely a stunt, and a stunt that has backfired. No surprise. The man is desperate, and he looks anything but presidential.

Botts at 9:57PM on Sep 25th 2008

I think it's become hard for some of us to scratch through the surface of what we see & hear in the media. Everyone except the respected parties that have been accused of political theatre have spoken out on their intent.

Jockeying for position is certainly part of the game, but when the stakes are this high a hands on approach is hard to second guess. It would be refreshing if "we" could lay down the cheerleading long enough to understand the current issue will have a great impact on each & every one of us.

If we think it's entirely about showmanship 100% of the time, why bother to vote at all?

Bobby at 11:10PM on Sep 25th 2008

36. Educated American...

You're an idiot...

McCain earned his wealth through his military pension, his book sales (from which all the proceeds go to charity), his Senate pay, and Social Security. His estimated worth comes in at around $36 million, which is separate from Cindy's worth of around $100 million. They file separate tax returns.

Yeah, you're right though...at a net worth of some $36 million dollars after working for the government all his life, John McCain knows nothing about economic theory and wealth.

He's probably been sitting around his Senate office over the past 30 years reliving his memorable stay in the POW camp.

Y'know, the idle rich and all...

Paul at 11:18PM on Sep 25th 2008

37. Paul,

Geez, $300 Mil./ $200 Mil.

The point remains, she continues to lie her ass off saying she said "thanks but no thanks", and as you just pointed out, that isn't the case.

Thanks for validating my point.

Botts at 11:44PM on Sep 25th 2008

38. >>>"Under mounting political pressure over pork projects, Congress stripped the earmark -- or stipulation -- that the money be used for the airport, but still sent the money to the state for any use it deemed appropriate." (CNN Report on the Gravina Island Bridge -- September 22, 2007)>>>

Speaking of pork. If I'm not mistaken, Sen. Lindsey Graham of SC I think said this evening that 20% of this bailout package was earmarked for ACORN. This is why the Republicans threw such a hissy about rewriting it.

I caught the end of it & could be wrong but if this is the case, the Dems got a lot of 'splainin' to do....

Bobby at 11:44PM on Sep 25th 2008

39. Robert/Judy/Terry/Bigot,

This is the very last time I'll engage you regarding Muslim talk.

"Bull Shit question, Reverend Botts, that's is a bull shit question only if your do not have an answer. Is it bulll shit or a lie that Hussein Obama says on his web site that he was never a Muslim, that he was never raised as a Muslim. I say up to about 10 yrs old, even in Hussein Obama's book, Obama was born and raised as a Muslim."

A faith is what someone states. It's a choice. It's not forced. It's a bullshit question or assumption. It's predicated off of your hatred and bigotry of Muslims.

"No proof otherwise. If it is such a bull shit question, why does Obama even have his denial on his web site? So Obama lies."

Obama has never been a Muslim. He has never lied. He has never in his life made the choice or stated his faith as a Muslim.

"Reverend Botts, so Obama lies about ever being a Muslim, and anyone who says different is a "bigot"."

No. YOU are a bigot. You've proven this point over the months. And he never lied.

"So your answer to my question is that the question was bull shit. Reberend Botts, your answer is bull shit."

Your question is bull shit and remains bull shit. How does someone prove a faith let alone a little boy? Answer this question.

"Put your money where your mouth is. Prove Obama's first 10 years of his lfe was as a Christian and not a Muslim."

It wasn't as a Christian and never I have said it was. He didn't announce his Christianity until his later in life, when he made that CHOICE.

"PS why would a rich Prince in Saudi Arabia, a Muslim, and a successful businessman, a Muslim, pay for Hussein Obama's college bill at Harvard if Hussein Obama was a Christian?"

Gosh, is this going to ever end with you? Rumors, rumors and rumors. You've got nothing, and you can't prove anything. When you have something substantial, let me know.

Botts at 11:45PM on Sep 25th 2008

40. "He's probably been sitting around his Senate office over the past 30 years reliving his memorable stay in the POW camp. "

No Paul, that's entirely too harsh.

A better description would be that he's been there long enough to be at the heart of the First Savings and Loans Scandal, and despite this, still preached deregulation and unrestrained free enterprise that have led us to a second crisis during his term and a crisis that threatens us like we haven't seen since 1929.

And on top of this, his Campaign head was still receiving $15,000 a month from Freddy and Fanny up until last month.

Give me a break.

Botts at 11:53PM on Sep 25th 2008

41. "The point remains, she continues to lie her ass off saying she said "thanks but no thanks", and as you just pointed out, that isn't the case." --Botts
________________________

Again, Botts, you don't do your homework. Even the Democratic Party's website in Alaska reported that Governor Palin killed the Gravina Bridge Project because they intended to use the project against her in the next election campaign.

What's more, in 2005, Barack Obama voted for the final Highway Reauthorization Bill that included $223 million for the "Bridge to Nowhere."

Obama has a longer record of support for the bridge than Palin has. And all the available newspaper articles on line (from Alaska) have headlines that read something like, "Governor Palin Halts Gravina Bridge Project". In fact, I challenge you to find anything that actually states how Congress completely axed the project BEFORE Palin did. I don't know...maybe I missed those articles.

Paul at 12:00AM on Sep 26th 2008

42. "...a crisis that threatens us like we haven't seen since 1929." --Botts
__________________

Yes, a crisis created by the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, passed by a Democratically controlled House, and Democratically controlled Senate, and then signed into law by a Democratic President. The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, which pressured lending institutes into loaning money to people who couldn't pay the loans back.

Yup...all McCain's fault...clearly.

Paul at 12:05AM on Sep 26th 2008

43. "Again, Botts, you don't do your homework. Even the Democratic Party's website in Alaska reported that Governor Palin killed the Gravina Bridge Project because they intended to use the project against her in the next election campaign."

But the facts continue to dictate otherwise. Do your homework.

"What's more, in 2005, Barack Obama voted for the final Highway Reauthorization Bill that included $223 million for the "Bridge to Nowhere.""

Wait a second now. Obama has never said he's against earmarks. What he's done, is write laws and pass laws that make all earmarks public.

But Palin has been saying she will reform this earmark stuff because that's her core principles. But her experience indicates otherwise. She hired a lobbyist when she was mayor of a town of 6,000 to secure millions in earmarks. Some reformer.

I don't have a problem with earmarks if there for good causes. Just don't lie about it.

"Obama has a longer record of support for the bridge than Palin has. And all the available newspaper articles on line (from Alaska) have headlines that read something like, "Governor Palin Halts Gravina Bridge Project". In fact, I challenge you to find anything that actually states how Congress completely axed the project BEFORE Palin did. I don't know...maybe I missed those articles."

Again, you're making a point that doesn't go with what we're talking about.

She has stated that she was against the Bridge to Nowhere without mentioning the fact that she was all for it until Congress axed. You even admit that Congress axed it. She never said thanks but no thanks. Never happened. If Congress didn't ax it, she would have used it for the Bridge.

Botts at 12:08AM on Sep 26th 2008

44. Again, Botts...

I challenge you to produce ONE impartial source that records how Congress halted the project BEFORE Sarah Palin axed it.

Where did I say that Congress stopped the project before she did?

And I don't see where Palin's "lying" about anything when it comes to earmarks. She's changed her political views of such things.
I know, you'll call that flip-flopping. I'll call it flexibility with an open mind to fresh ideas.

Paul at 12:13AM on Sep 26th 2008

45. Botts...

Read the ENTIRE article whenever you do your homework.

Sarah Palin stopped the project when her administration realized that the bridge just wasn't feasible. (By the way, Obama was for the bridge as well. And you really don't want to get into a comparison of who has received more money from special interests. Obama's figures DWARF both McCain's and Alaska's.) And by the way, it wasn't exactly a bridge to nowhere. The project would have linked downtown Ketchikan with its International Airport, as well as providing a link to desperately needed real estate for commercial and residential development.

Paul at 12:20AM on Sep 26th 2008