Friday Open Thread

Just one quibble, on the depression angle- a lot of experts believe that he suffered from manic depression or bipolar disorder, so that's not the same as developing depression due to external circumstances. Bipolar individuals often do extraordinary things but then they also often suffer the downside, depression, as the opposite pole to their manic highs when they experience bursts of creativity, heightened intellect, and extremely high energy.

to silence critics is disquieting, to put it mildly. I take the NRa and AIP ads with a grain of salt of course, but the rule when people smear you is to correct the record, not to use the government, and vague ethics and election laws to shut them up. The NRA casts Obama as a foe of liberty. Kinda hard to prove them wrong when you try to hamper their free speech rights. Just sayin'.

Not to mention that Obama's strategy predictably backfired, as more people will see the ads.

"In the world you will find tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

Obama got caught on Pakistan but the Press will take a day or two to fathom that...LOL. Obama reversed himself on missile defense so I think he clearly lost the foreign policy argument. Pakistan was a big point as Obama tried to link Afghanistan to Iraq whereas McCain was right in linking problems to Pakistan.

On the economy, what viewer didn't notice that Obama had zero programs he would cut in the face of a bailout? Obama still wants us to think he is for tax cuts. As usual an empty suit Raf, whereas McCain looked far more authentic. He did well to distance himself from Bush and show he can be relied on as Independent and a leader.

Obama wants us to think leaving Iraq will save us big bucks, but look at what he is suggesting for Afghanistan. Had he held any meetings of his sub committee, he might understand the lack of NATO and events in Pakistan are the real culprits as well as a lack of a Patraeus strategy. McCain spelled out exactly what we should do. Certainly renounce any responsibility to Syrian bombing. Obama's defense of not voting at all on the Kyl Bill was silly. Yep, let's reject Quds role in Iraq. Obama called the "Revolutionary" Guard of Iran a terrorist group but he didn't favor the McCain approach on tougher sanctions now. He joked that Ahmadinejad is not incharge, but then Barak, who is? Do you want to hold direct talks with this religious nutjob too?

The biggest Obama joke was that invading Iraq has enabled Iran. First, with Saddam in power there would have been a justification for Iran's nuke program. Second, our invasion of Iraq made Iran blink (see NIE Report) and slow their program. The real fact that has enabled them of late despite the surge, is the hope of an Obama administration and the very call by Obama to talk to Ahmadinejad which Obama now denies he made. McCain did not drive this point home enough nor did he blast Obama on his conversion yesterday to missile defense. This is exactly what McCain was talking about in Iraq that "could" happen on a wider scale and he set up Patraeus for taking issue with McCain before the election. Did Obama utter one word in distain for the General? No. And do we all remember the support Obama threw the Betrayus Ad? Mullen also stated a policy on Pakistan that differs with Obama. Barak tried to sound like Mullen, Kissenger and Patraeus support him, but once again media failed to vet that this is not true. Had Hillary said such things, media would be tarring her today.

I was surprised that McCain didn't explain why getting the bailout right is what polls demand. This is a bit like the amnesty battle. This week I think people will side with the GOP making sure the plan isn't another Dodd repeat and throw some points towards McCain. People demand an investigation and Obama laying the blame on Bush over looks even Clinton?s review of the history. McCain missed the chance to hold Congress to blame. Perhaps the "experts" will take apart Obama's foreign policy ideas and even fact check how we got into the bailout mess in the first place..

By the way, our military thinks Hizb'Allah is the greatest present terror threat, but Obama clings to AQ in some cave. Kissinger released a statement saying Obama got it wrong. McCain is right. This time Obama gets nailed using the GOP against McCain. CNN was a round table attack on McCain. I listened as they defended Obama AFTER admitting certain statements were false. They took a ?this is what he really meant? approach and I was rather surprised they showed so little journalistic objectivity with several talking heads all chiming in like a pro Obama party.

The truth is that Obama shows the same stubborn myopia that Bush does. McCain nailed him on that. I have been saying this for a while; do we want another ideologue pretending to have a grip on facts, or a more bipartisan independent who can adjust to reality? Our reputation in the world isn't going to improve if we stumble economically, go into Pakistan, cut defense and decide treaties aren't worth the paper they are written on. Consider Obama/Pelosi and then consider divided government.