How do you really feel about this election? I'm listening to Anderson 360 now,

[napi21]

and they're arguing about the Ayers stuff. The one guest said voters don't care about that crap.

I'm trying to ignore all the BS I hear on TV, radio & the net and I have the strong feeling THIS election is different than 2000 & 2004. I guess a lot of it has to do with my personal feelings, but in 2000 I really liked Gore and I voted for him, but I was afraid he might not make it because he was such a stiff personality at the mike. In 2004 I voted for Kerry, but I was afraid he projected the wrong image. Wind surfing and a wife who, although I love her attitude, turned off a lot of voters.

This time is different. Barack is very likable, honest, kind, and relates to people. His wife is also a very likable person, attractive, and speaks like the ordinary person in America. There's really no FAKE STUFF anywhere!

I'm a realist. I honestly believe we're going to win this time!

[amitten]

1. You're right--no "fake stuff" in sight. And that is one reason I

really, really like the Obamas.

I've never seen people involved in politics behave so genuinely.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

2. Tomorrow nights debate will be very telling.

Obama must win. I can't imagine this country if he were to lose.

[napi21]

4. I really doubt tomorrow night's debate will make any dramatic changes.

McNuts has been warned that he can't lose it on air, and Obama is simply not the radical they're trying to paint him to be. Of course we'll have to wait and see what each candidate says and does tomorrow, but I can't believe McNuts is going to be able to pull any rabbit out of his hat, and that's what he would have to do to actually win this thing!

[EmeraldCityGrl]

5. He's expected to manufacture a economic plan

and press it at the debate. He's incapable of competing with Obama in the economic arena and it will show.
So far he has offered to buy up distressed mortgages and told us to say goodbye to Social Security.

Oh, and let's not forget the fundamentals of the economy are strong. Obama will wipe the floor with him.

[napi21]

6. OF that's true, I suggest he go for it! His new "economic plan" is

just foolish. Reduce capital gaines taxes when nobody has any capital gains? Reduce retirees tax rate to 10% when MOST of them don't earn enough to pay any taxes at all.
The only part of his plan that made any sense at all was his suggestion to help people who were duped into taking variable rate mortgages when they qualified for std. 30 year fixed ones by renegotiating them. Even then, his idea is stupid! It would be insane for the feds to buy those mortgages at face value, renegotiate them, and have the taxpayer eat the loss!

McNuts already said he doesn't understand the economy and he was for onec honest!

[Bicoastal]

3. You know why Ayres is having ZERO impact?

Because the only people who are "concerned" about it are people who already believe the worst about Obama: that he's a terrorist, a radical Socialist, an angry black man, etc.

But the more McCain tries to bring it to Independents and Moderates, the more they recoil in dismay. If William Ayres is such a threat to the civilized world, why is he teaching at the University of Illinois? And if Obama showed "bad judgement" in meeting with a "known terrorist," how come until this year, few people in the country could tell you who he was when they heard his name? And above all, how radical can this guy be today when he was on the board of the Annenberg Foundation, founded by a Republican friend of Reagan's?

Only the converted are convinced. To all others, it sounds exactly like it is--a cheap political smear.

[Omnibus]

8. But these smears used to work!

Willie Horton was a smear, and so was "Invented the Internet", and the Swift Boat veterans, but they all worked.

The miracle that might save our country is that, this time, the majority has something more important to worry about than trivial bullshit smears. It's a sudden outbreak of common sense!

[KharmaTrain]

7. People Want Change...

In 2000, things were going pretty well...the biggest "issues" were about who lied about sloppy blow jobs and who you wanted to have a beer with. It was an election based on prosperity and thus personalities and fringe issues made the difference...and many didn't think booooosh would be as awful as he's been.

In '04, it was a "war" election...and is usually the case, people don't like change during a time of conflict. Kerry ran a poor campaign that got bogged down in a lack of money and focus and easily bit into the traps set by Rove. The Mighty Wurlitzer was at full volume...we were still close to 9/11 and many were still not sure about Iraq. People didn't want to hear straight talk, they wanted to be assured...even if it meant being lied to.

This year is a whole different animal...and thank goodness. The years of GOOP abuse has not only destroyed their credibility with a majority of American voters, it's begun to destroy the party from inside. The bench is thin...and Gramps was the only real viable candidate they had...surviving a demolition derby of fringe candidates. He won by default and has never really had his "base" behind him. Every time he moves too far to the right, his numbers go down with the critical independents and moderates...when he tries to go for the middle, his "base" erupts. Sucks to be him...but he deserves it.

Obama has run one of the most efficient and focused campaigns I have ever seen. They've had a clue and an eye on the prize since day one and the results are starting to show. He's built a very solid team and organization...based on the 50-state philosophy...that has reached out to millions of new voters and assured millions of others. Obama has won every vote he's getting...and its because he's been true...true to himself, his supporters and his country. People can relate to that.

Cheers...

[AzNick]

10. Agreed... and Obama is in command of his campaign

McCain had to compromise with different groups of people, even take advice for RW talk radio hosts (Hannity pushing the Ayers crap).

That's also why indies are moving away from him: if that's the way he runs his campaign, or is run for him, imagine how he will run the country.

Even if we cannot agree on every point in Obama's gameplan, at least he has a gameplan and will stick to it.

[Two Americas]

9. the public has changed

The main difference is the radical shift in public attitudes. You could see it in the midterms, especially in the Midwest and Plains states, but also other places, notably New Hampshire. Even in the Deep South the Dems are consistently making significant gains. A big shift has been going on, largely overlooked by people on the coasts.

I think the right wing Reaganomics era is dead. What we do with this once-in-a-century opportunity remains to be seen.

[enigmatic]

11. Obama is going to win

There's not going to be an October Surprise big enough to throw the election to McCain at this late stage; it's not going to happen. Watch the Senate; that's where the true drama will be on election night. If the Democrats get 60, it's going to be the bigger win in the near future.