New York in play?

[Jesda]

http://www.newsday.com/news/lo...story

McCain is closing the gap on Obama. I seriously doubt NY will go with McCain, but its now more vulnerable. What a strange election year.

[HashiriyaS14]

I will admit to being somewhat amazed by this.

I guess "guns and religion" comments don't play any better in Upstate NY then they do in rural OH.

You'd think though, that this would have arisen sooner if it was caused by that. My only guess is that this is a Palin phenomenon, and I continue to struggle at being able to figure out why she has so much appeal.

For me, someone believing that dinosaurs coexisted with humans is an automatic disqualifier to them ever holding high public office, but maybe for others, not so much, lol.

[WDRacing]

Dude...for being a smart kid you sure are dumb. Everyone knows that humans killed all the dinosaurs. All this meteor crap and other natural disasters that are 99% proven are all lies from the radical non believers trying to destroy the planet!!!!

On a serious note...definitely an odd election year for sure. 2 women close the the big chair and our first African American with real potential to take the seat. What a good year to start the Politics forum aye

[Jesda]

For me, someone believing that dinosaurs coexisted with humans is an automatic disqualifier to them ever holding high public office, but maybe for others, not so much, lol.

I rank that pretty low. Even if Bob Barr banged sheep and ate nothing but Grape Nuts, I'd still vote for him. I would only be concerned if he was interested in turning beastiality into a government-mandated program, or signed an executive order requiring all people to eat 2lbs of Grape Nuts a day.

All the weird things these candidates believe in... I can tolerate what stays out of public policy.

[HashiriyaS14]

I can tolerate what stays out of public policy.

And I guess I always have precious little faith that any of it will.

If someone gets elected while publicly declaring these views, I can only assume that they got elected BY people who share them and who expect that the candidate will vote in such a way as to placate them and thus get re-elected.

I mean, look at GWB. I honestly don't believe that he's the most ardent born-again crazy out there, I really don't, but then he goes and nominates wacky justices because he knows it'll buy him votes.

I have a lack of faith in people's pragmatism and will to resist the extremes, I suppose. It probably exerts undue influence on my voting practices, but I stick to it.

[SteveTheTech]

For me, someone believing that dinosaurs coexisted with humans is an automatic disqualifier to them ever holding high public office, but maybe for others, not so much, lol.

Seriously, I find it frightening for people to think this whole heartedly. You are free to have your religous beliefs but this is not a theocracy. The middle america security moms are coming out in force and their little home schooled brats are going to be the next generation to take over the country. I have very low hopes for our collective future.

I find the strictly two party system we have here is not a true voice of the people, it's more a voice of a few. I don't personally fit into either category and I know many other people that are the same way. How about someone middle of the road, why is there so much polarization?

Radio Carbon Dating is a lie,it's a test of faith which I have failed. (There needs to a band your face on the wall smiley)

[mtcookson]

For me, someone believing that dinosaurs coexisted with humans is an automatic disqualifier to them ever holding high public office, but maybe for others, not so much, lol.

http://www.bible.ca/tracks/tracks.htm

[SteveTheTech]

Louis Jacobs, Southern Methodist University ,Former President of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, "co-occurrence of men and dinosaurs. Such an association would dispel an Earth with vast antiquity. The entire history of creation, including the day of rest, could be accommodated in the seven biblical days of the Genesis myth. Evolution would be vanquished." (In Quest of the African Dinosaur, p.261)

I noticed a reoccurring theme in all of the things stated there the use of the word "would".I know that I trust scientific information from religious institutions.

[Marenta]

(There needs to a band your face on the wall smiley)

The only difference between science and math is the fact that they each use differing methods to reach the same conclusion. Scientists ask "How?" While the religious ask "Why?" Yet, the same answer is reached.

This election has put a sour taste in my mouth. I'm not sure why I'm really voting anymore other than to have a justifiable reason to ***** about the government.

[SteveTheTech]

OMG that's awesome

I share your sentiment about the election there is no candidate that fit's me.. It's a shame that it has come to the point were we are only voting to have the right to complain about it later. I am sure that is exactly what the founding father had in mind.

I grew up in a pretty religious house and always found myself asking the why and how though, thus all the broken radios and "experiments". I always found myself on the science side, there is something about rational answers I like.

[Jesda]

And I guess I always have precious little faith that any of it will.

If you believe personal ideologies always become public policy, by your logic you are voting for a socialist. Thanks for supporting free enterprise.

I hate these candidates.

[SteveTheTech]

What's the lesser of two evils here though.



It's a long steep road back up.

[Rev_D21]

I wouldn't pay the polls too much mind. Don't forget that many of the Obama voters have been foreclosed on so they no longer have landline phones. Plus if NY goes McCain I am going to start shooting people in the taint.

[SteveTheTech]

You are right the Electoral College makes the final decision. Let us not forget 2000.

[SmithSR]

For me, someone believing that dinosaurs coexisted with humans is an automatic disqualifier to them ever holding high public office, but maybe for others, not so much, lol.

At least your guy admits to never actually listening to his pastor's sermons.(the alarmist rhetoric is well-documented)(Destroy the 'White Enemy')

For twenty years.

All face, no substance.

It is possible that because of the Wright affair Obama will suffer for what he pretended to be, rather than for what he really is."-worldnetdaily

Vote for that self-serving, no experience having, new guy using race as a stepping stone for political gain? Never.

Maybe don't mention religion or personal beliefs on either side.

[HashiriyaS14]

At least your guy admits to never actually listening to his pastor's sermons.(the alarmist rhetoric is well-documented)(Destroy the 'White Enemy')

For twenty years.

All face, no substance.

It is possible that because of the Wright affair Obama will suffer for what he pretended to be, rather than for what he really is."-worldnetdaily

Vote for that self-serving, no experience having, new guy using race as a stepping stone for political gain? Never.

Maybe don't mention religion or personal beliefs on either side.

Neither Obama NOR McCain are really ardently religious guys. BOTH of them played to religious institutions to buy votes and credibility.

McCain did it with Rod Parsley to buy credibility with the religious right as he was deemed "not conservative enough".

Obama did it with Jeremiah Wright to buy credibility with the black church establishment as he was deemed "not black enough".

Both men later renounced their associations as they had become embarassing, neither had a history of deep religious conviction. They both understood that religious associations buy votes. It's not great that they went and did this, but I understand that it's necessary. You can't be a successful politician on the national stage in this country and be too openly secular. I happen to WANT public officials who are a little detached from organized religion, so I'll let it slide on BOTH sides in the interest of getting them elected.

Palin is something else, her religious associations are with groups that I consider to be borderline crazy, and they pre-date her public office aspirations. She was an evangelical/Pentecostal nutjob WAY before she was ever a mayor or a governor, it is her defining characteristic, IMO.

I also don't happen to believe that ODrama is a socialist. He's definitely not Clinton, unfortunately, but having read both of his books, I have concluded that while he obviously supports some new regulation, it's well thought out and not explicitly designed to falsely engineer an egalitarian state. I have become increasingly disillusioned with "trickle down" economics in my old age, in that I believe that while it does indeed trickle down, it will no longer necessarily trickle down to Americans, but rather to Indians and Chinese. Maybe we should have a separate thread for this topic, as I think it'd be a robust discussion.

[96Qowner]

Both men later renounced their associations as they had become embarassing, neither had a history of deep religious conviction. They both understood that religious associations buy votes. It's not great that they went and did this, but I understand that it's necessary. You can't be a successful politician on the national stage in this country and be too openly secular. I happen to WANT public officials who are a little detached from organized religion, so I'll let it slide on BOTH sides in the interest of getting them elected.

But I disagree about Palin. I have seen nothing yet to indicate that she believes it's appropriate to bring religion into governance. The dangerous ones are the ones whose whole life revolves around telling everyone how Christian they are, and then insisting that others bow to their Lord as well. To each his own. Bravo to anyone who has a strong Faith, whatever that might be. Shame on anyone who seeks to weaken another's Faith. But we'll each deal with it in our own way, thankyouverymuch.

As far as New York, if Obama doesn't carry NY, this election will be another repeat of the McGovern fiasco - not likely, unless enough people decide that experience is important in a President, after all.

Some of us can Hope.