NorthSideSox72

This is one ugly thread. Good questions (how progressive is too progressive on tax structure) have been asked, and the answers have ranged to amazing extremes on both ends. Its just like that goofball interview with Biden than everyone is talking about... Karl Marx? End of American power? Really? Is hyperbole all we have left? By the way, has anyone seen that TV person's response to the hubub yet? She says she is shocked that people are upset by her being "aggresive" and "asking tough questions instead of "softball" ones. LOL. She has completed missed what went on there. Softball question: Does it make you feel good to be helping all those poor people with your new tax plan? Hardball question: Is it such a good idea to be raising taxes on the economy's biggest engines (the rich and large corporations) in a time of recession? Wild pitch into the dugout question: Are you actually Karl Marx?

QUOTE (Texsox @ Oct 28, 2008 -> 01:24 PM) I'm happy with either, which is a nice departure of not happy with neither. I agree, and so do most people I know. Actually, I've seen a lot of people on here say something similar, especially those who've been through a number of elections. Then there's Kap.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Oct 28, 2008 -> 12:29 PM) Don't forget the Vote at Home folks, moving to battleground states and trying to claim residency, the Ohio officials trying to push 200,000 potentially bad registrations all atg once, and the Virgian AG invalidating military ballots, while pushing to get felons and inmates registered to vote. A lot of this same kind of crap happened on the margins in 2004 too. Except it was the Dems making the same sort of complaints you are right now. Some of these are real issues, that need to be investigated and addressed. Others are just conspiracy fodder. In any case, they aren't likely to make or break the election.

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Oct 28, 2008 -> 07:43 AM) OK, I'll give it a shot. Here's some of the transcript of this interview. About 10 minutes before the really "juicy" pieces you've brought up, here's the context of what he means by redistribution of wealth http://www.foxnews.com/urgent_queue/#50041ecb,2008-10-27 So he's talking about government providing equal funding or better funding for things like school districts. Not about being a governmental Robin Hood. Obama is talking like a constitutional law professor here, but I guess we should view an interview about constitutional law from seven years ago as clear language about what Obama wants to do in the next four. This "October Surprise" is as stupid as the reveal of Bush's drunk driving arrest in 2000. Pointless and doesn't really say anything about anything. And like the Bush arrest, its something most people paying attention already knew. Obama wants more equity in school funding. CAVEAT: I have read this transcript but have not yet watched the video. I suppose there may be some other "bombshell" in there, maybe. But the discussion quoted above, I see no issue with at all.

Tony Hillerman died yesterday. His novels have always been a sort of guilty pleasure: not great literature, nothing fancy... just very good, unadorned yarns. He was just a gifted story teller. Anyone else read any of his novels?

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Oct 26, 2008 -> 06:15 PM) This election is going to prove a bigger sham then 2000. Think about it. Please explain.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Oct 25, 2008 -> 04:00 PM) I have the exact opposite opinion. Maybe I'll follow up on this my MSM media critique thread. I don't dislike Obama, I don't care if he wins. Regardless of party or candidate, each election cycle in my lifetime has had more digging into every possible corner of the candidates' lives, looking for skeletons. This election it has gone even further than the last, and the same each cycle back. Obama and McCain have been more scrutinized than Bush or Kerry, Kerry more than Bush or Gore, Bush and Gore more than Clinton or Dole, etc. Now, if you are saying that these candidates are being asked fewer and fewer substantive, salient questions, then I agree. The media, in general, has shied away from the issues and qualifications and leadership, and chosen to instead dig into their personal, professional and financial lives. That's the differentiation I am trying to make here.

QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ Oct 26, 2008 -> 10:06 AM) I watched that entire video, and still don't see anything like "race baiting". Can someone point it out for me?

QUOTE (Gene Honda Civic @ Oct 25, 2008 -> 04:23 PM) Wow. Those were some of the most idiotic questions I've ever heard asked of a candidate. I mean, the THEMES are good themes to ask about. But... Karl Marx? The end of American world power status? Really? I thought Biden actually handled that as well as anyone could have. And I've been one to point out Biden's verbal gaffes before.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 25, 2008 -> 11:39 AM) Illinois is home to the most corrupt city (Chicago) and state government in the United States, and it's really not even close. You can call it "building themes", but it's reality. I don't believe every person in government in this state is bad, but the government overall is as fraudulent as it gets. No, its not anything like reality. I can name any number of cities that are FAR more corrupt than Chicago. Hell, I lived in one - Memphis. Another good example is New Orleans. Your hyperbole is ridiculous. Also, even in what actually are the most corrupt governments, there are people who are not. To see corruption in some and apply it to all is just the easy way out. Further, think about this for a few moments. Obama has been scrutinized more deeply than any Presidential candidate before, except maybe McCain. Digging gets deeper every election. And the only "corruption" anyone could find was that real estate deal involving Rezko, which wasn't illegal, but probably was an inappropriate "favor". If there was worse in his past, it would have been found. It wasn't. That tells me what I need to know.

We voted today - that's 2 more for Obama in IL. Also voted... US Senate, IL-1: Durbin (D) US House, IL-4: Lopez (G) State House, IL-11: Fritchey (D, and he was running uncontested) Metro Water: I voted for the 3 Green candidates Judges: all confirmations uncontested, so I didn't bother voting on those NO on Constitutional Convention YES on Recall amendment --- I should note that I would like to, in general, have voted for a Republican at the state level. But my rep was running uncontested, and the state senate seat isn't up until 2010. I guess I should have run for state house.

The rosters for the PR league aren't up yet, but, Sergio Miranda tells me that he will be playing in that league.

I tend to side with my GOP friends here, that IF the Obama campaign chose to turn off address verification, and these B.S. donations are coming through, then that is borderline fraudulent. I don't know the campaign finance laws with enough exactness to know if its truly illegal in some way - probably not. But its awfully sketchy. I don't think its the difference maker in the election, but, I think we need to make major changes to campaign finance, and this yet another good example as to why.

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 09:48 PM) Everybody knows that, however 90% of people wont acknowledge the significance that has in the current election. They seem to think that Obama got his feet wet in Chicago politics without corruption. QUOTE (mr_genius @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 09:55 PM) Good sir, how dare you question The Great Leader. USA! USA! USA! QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 10:39 PM) Yeah, for all the reasons you hear about why you should be afraid of Obama, the only REAL reason I think you should legitimately worry about him in power is the fact he's a product of the machine. I don't think most people outside of Illinois have any idea how bad the Chicago and Illinois governments are, and although I don't like playing guilt by association, I am forced to do so with ANY politician from this area, regardless of political affiliation. I see the GOP is already building its themes for after the election. Daley's machine is corrupt, no doubt about it. And there is plenty of corruption elsewhere in Chicago politics. Look at our governor. But I can tell you, from personal experience, that not EVERYONE is corrupt and evil. You can take the cop-out route and believe that if you want, because its easier. But it just isn't the case. In fact, in terms of state reps and senators, I am confident that the majority of them in IL are pretty clean, and truly want to do things for their districts and their state.

I wasn't sure where to put this, but, seems worth noting... Joe the Plumber is mulling a run for Congress in 2010.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 06:08 PM) Hmm, I was just thinking of applying to ISU for their part-time MBA program? Was it "easy?" What was so bad about it? I think you misread my post. ISU is a very good school, and I donate to them. I got my MBA elsewhere, at a school I won't name for various reasons.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 01:13 PM) Typically, at least at the universities I've been at, contributions/dues to the alumni association do not actually go to run the university. For tax purposes, alumni association funded events have to be kept separate from moneys that go to fund the actual university itself. ISU Alumi Assoc does fund events and administration for itself, but most of its money goes to the university - buildings, programs, etc. Unless they are out-and-out lying.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 01:14 PM) Out of the supposed swing states, aside from PA, VA polling has Obama having his biggest lead anywhere. Bigger than OH, CO, FL, MT, IN, etc. Not from what I have seen. Last couple I've seen are +2 and +6. And remember, I'm a believer in unreflected fear and bias, and VA has a deep conservative streak. I am thinking McCain takes VA, IN and possibly FL. Obama takes OH, CO, NM, NV. MT is right on the fence. ETA: PA goes Obama.

QUOTE (Soxy @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 02:00 PM) In order: 1.) Snakes 2.) Spiders 3.) Birds 4.) Milli/Centipedes Birds? Interesting. How do you feel about scorpions?

QUOTE (lostfan @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 01:34 PM) Pat Buchanan asked what would happen if SNL mocked Michelle Obama. My response would that would be... what would happen if Michelle Obama was in a debate and spoke the whole time in "South Side" slang and gave a shout-out during a debate? Good post.

QUOTE (longshot7 @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 01:53 PM) Kerry States + Iowa + New Mexico + either Colorado or Virginia = Obama victory. Why is this math so hard to comprehend? Which of these states is not going for Obama? VA won't, IMO. But CO will. And OH. And possibly MT and/or FL and/or IN. So yeah, that's why I think its Obama to win, though by closer margins than the polls indicate.

I make a small donation once a year to my undergrad school, which makes me a member of the alumni association. I do this because of what the school did for me, and because I believe it is an excellent university that should be well-funded. Education is just so very important, and good schools need funding to continue to be good. I do not donate to the school where I got my MBA, because I feel the school is poorly run and doesn't deserve another dime from me.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 12:11 PM) If this were true, we'd see this bias against polls again and again. If this effect is real, the pollsters make attempts to correct for it. Just to throw this out there... it could be real, but offset by other factors.

QUOTE (Nokona @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 12:44 PM) http://kdka.com/local/attack.McCain.Bloomfield.2.847628.html What a f***ing idiot How did she get the bruises? Did she have someone beat her up? What a lunatic.

QUOTE (knightni @ Oct 24, 2008 -> 11:24 AM) I don't have direct evidence other than last year's election results versus the poll results. A lot of times, the conservative church people and the over 65 contingent, avoid political interaction until election day. I know this because I'm surrounded by them over here. Plus, you'll be surprised how quickly a normally Dem-leaning older person will vote for the old white guy with the military record when he's going against a minority. The EARLY exit polls were off by a few points, but the final ones were nearly dead-on, as it turned out. And the pre-election day polls were quite close as well.