Do people really believe this stuff....???

[rappites]

My best friend believes it. (http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/antichrist.asp) I had to stop myself from laughing at her because she was so serious when she told me this.

Then my local paper said this:

THIS is almost funny. My favorite part is the claim that the Bible says the Antichrist will be a man “of Muslim descent.” But there were no Muslims until hundreds of years after the Bible was written.

People will believe in anything their preacher tells them to believe in. Don't eat pork on Fridays....Why? Obama is the "anti-christ"...Why?? Because someone said so....Well, I say that all fat women are beautiful and skinny women are the "anti-christ".....Their.....and....:(

[mckracken]

oh well ...people really ought to actually read Revelations and find out what it really says.

i have a friend that sends me emails (not like this but) and one email he cited the Our Gang curse and all the bad things that had happened to the Our Gang actors, then at the bottom he cites that Spanky was actually Robert Bake, the actor that killed his wife. a little research proved that Spanky wasnt Robert Blake and yet emails such as this continue to float and drift around the internet, causing people to beleive all sorts of nonsense and garbage.

also as far as Nostrodomus, I have never actually seen any of his predictions written in his own hand writing, mostly its just "Nostrodomus predicted the Loma Prieta Earthquake on such and such a date and time and he was RIGHT!" ...uh yeah, back it up and prove it.

I dont beleive Barrack is the anti-christ, he's another polititian that wants the White House. even if he lost the democratic nom (God forbid), I'd still vote for Hillary over McCain and I'm a Republican.

[tstone]

If people can convince themselves God hates the same people they do, they don't have to question it or feel guilty about it.

[Still Crazy]

Ah part A.27432 of my plan is working perfectly I see. Good to know, now on to part A.274333 of my plan, the convincing of the European banks that their money is safe.:eyebrow:

[Daltons Chin Dimple]

But God doesn't exist, therefore neither does the Anti-Christ.

[WhiteKnight]

I know nothing of the Muslim religion, but I'm willing to bet that if Obama were a Muslim, he wouldn't have a former Pastor, The Rev. Wright, out there seemingly doing all in his power to destroy his campaign. Maybe some of our Muslim posters could tell me, do you refer to your spiritual leaders as Reverends or Pastors? No?! Shocker!!!

Oh, wait, I just did a google search and found an article claiming Wright is himself a former Muslim. Clearly since it is in print it must be true, and that means Obama must be a closet Muslim.

I guess if you pile enough bullshit on top of bullshit it eventually overwhelms the weak minded into believing whatever you say. If we could discover how to successfully employ this tactic for ourselves, we could get one of us nominated for President. I nominate myself since I'm the most intelligent and charismatic poster on Mania, and I don't have to offer a shred of credible evidence to support that claim. :D

[mckracken]

think about this Whiteknight, what if we converted all of Hillary's bullshit into energy and used that to fuel our cars? we could call it Hillargy: the new fuel source for the next Generation!

[Bill_the_Pony]

How many miles a dookie? :confused:

[Kaeos]

How many miles a dookie? :confused:

"Bullshit."
"Pigshit."
http://www.prisonflicks.com/images/btMaxAunty.jpg

[WhiteKnight]

No doubt Hillary has come up with some pretty good bullshit. The Bosnia thing was by far the best gaff since Al Gore inventing the Internet or Dan Quayle correcting that kid's spelling of potato.

Still, I've heard her, her hubby and her brat speak in person, and all of them have spoken not only about the need for alternative energy sources, universal health care, lowering the cost of higher education and ending the war in Iraq, but how she intends to pay for all of those things.

At the Obama rally I attended he said he wants those things to change as well, but he gave no information on how he plans to get them done. That's why I went with Hillary in the Primary.

I will not, however, be one of the completely pig headed people who says they'll vote for McCain if their Primary Candidate loses. We've had eight years of Republican rule. It hasn't worked out so well.

[mckracken]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/2457414866_a3dfaed6fe.jpg

amen WhiteKnight, amen.

[Jakester]

I think McCain would be a large improvement over Shrub. Heck, an actual shrubbery would be an improvement. Plus, the uber Republicans don't like him. That counts for something. I think that any of the three candidates would perform markedly better in the office than the individual that's been mucking up our country for the last 8 years.

It took the Bush Administration FIVE YEARS to realize that "Mission Accomplished" was premature. FIVE YEARS!! I'm an average Joe, and I knew RIGHT THEN that the Mission was NOT Accomplished.

Hillary's got the baggage that the numerous Clinton haters latch onto, and I think she's often percievably disingenuous (all politicains are, but she's already been caught, ie - "sniper"), but she, like Obama, preaches change. Unlike Obama, she actually has a plan. Plus, if she wins, Slick Willy's back in the White House. That means "First Gentleman can haz cheezberger?" fun! Unfortunately, if she wins, it'll be another bush in the White House.

I just don't think that Obama has the experience, or the political clout to actually get things done and make the nebulous and vague changes he's professing.

Still, when we elected Bush, we knew he would suck at foreign relations and foreign policy -- his grasp of geography wasn't very good, and he was an epic failure at naming prominent foreign heads of state. Then, after he PROVED that he sucked at the job, we gave it to him again.

[neglet]

I might have voted for McCain in 2000, had the Bushies's sneaky tricks not undercut his campaign. McCain in 2004? He has flip-flopped too many times (even on his own bills!) for me to trust him to be the maverick, not-totally-Republican independent guy he used to be. Certainly he'd be an improvement on Bush, but who wouldn't? My other issue with McCain is his age. Five years as a POW couldn't have helped his health any, so if he gets some evolution-denying right winger like Huckabee as his running mate, that's zero chance I would vote for him.

Clinton ... well, she's a Clinton. I don't completely trust her, but I think she'd get things done. Obama doesn't talk a lot about his policy proposals (or the media just prefer not to cover them), but from what I've read about his positions, he's the candidate who most closely suits my personal views. I think he could be a consensus builder, and pretty effective if he gets a Democratic Congress, which is feasible.

[Nostromo]

Surely the last couple of weeks must be driving Democrats loco. The Obama / Clinton slugfest is shredding the party. It's so bad that today, a bunch of super delegates - some Clinton loyalists - some Obama and some uncommitted - called for both candidates to go on record, leaving no doubt that if elected, the troops are coming home pronto. It seems like the Democrats are so divided internally, by November they may not be electable.

Just last week - Clinton sounded like she was getting fitted for the "football" pledging to "obliterate" Iran if it attacks Israel. After everything America has been through since 2001, it's difficult to believe voters will cast a ballot for any candidate that sounds even more bloody minded than Bush.

And yes I know - it's easy for me to chuck rocks from my armchair in central Canada.

N

[mckracken]

yeah they are railing Hillary for her tough talk "obliterating" comment, but honestly Iran's nutjob president was first to say they'd "wipe Israel off the map", if those words arent talk of nukes I dont know what is. I dont fault Hillary for that comment, I think she's taking too much flack over it.

The Iran guy is a nutjob whacko. Hillary just said out loud what we're all thinking about Iran or Siria attacking Israel with nukes.

Make no mistake, we'd blow them into a huge crater if Iran actually used nukes on anyone in a first strike, if we didnt, we would appear passive and weak.

its just that in this day and age of being so P.C. you cant say that during an interview and run a decent campain for President at the same time.

[Woodwraith]

I've been pondering over universal healthcare. In a free market society how is that going to work? IF it sounds like a crock then it probably is. So what insurance company is going to make out big on this? Is it one or a conglomerate of a few that the government bids out? That also mean that anytime this insurance company decides to raise rates, then our taxes will raise. Of course, they'll also probably dictate how much doctors are allowed to charge as well. Maybe this sounds like far fetched conspiracy mumbo jumbo. Someone must be pulling these strings. Like some insurance company or special interest group could be financing this idea in Hilary's campaign. Or perhaps I've become conditioned to doubt any politician's sincerity. Obama seems more down to earth. I trust Hilary at the same level as I trust Bush. Something is not right about her. Why does each election get tougher and tougher?

[mckracken]

because we only have two choices for president... and they are usually rich, white and corrupt...usually.

[fastcar]

I can't believe life is imitating art for once, since the "2006 Presidential election" of The West Wing's universe is almost a mirror to what's happening now.

I think we are beyond religious rhetoric and have moved backwards to race. Frankly, I liked Obama's ability to command a room and his manner of speaking is natural. Hillary always feels forced. She should take tips from Bill.

However, I feel Obama is a bit of an elitist snob and fear that he won't make decisions that reflect his constituents (i.e. Democratic blue collar workers who cling to guns and religion.)

Small mindedness will get in the way of issues and politics and Obama may be perceived as, of all things, an Uncle Tom over the Sean Bell and Wright debacles. It's sad that, in this the biggest and probably most important Presidential election of our generation, we may revert to previous generations mindsets and discount a candidate for their skin and not the content of their character.

[WhiteKnight]

Hillary's plan for universal health care as she has described it is that everyone who already has it and is happy with it can keep it. Those who don't have or want better may purchase the same plan available to members of Congress and Federal Government employees at a rate they can afford. She's defined that rate as being no more than a "small percentage of their monthly income."

Will she get it done? Dunno, but at least I know she has a plan. Obama has gone all across the country claiming Hillary's plan will require people to purchase Insurance they can't afford, a claim Clinton has said is simply untrue, and has said nothing about how his own plan would be better.

I just heard about Clinton's comments on Iran last night and thought to myself that she was, again, not doing herself any favors. I decided a long time ago the only way to get the Middle Eastern nations to stop fighting with each other is to nuke them all so thoroughly that you can see them glow in the dark from space, but it's probably not a good idea for Clinton to come out and say so. It doesn't do much to support her claims that her administration woulld be less arrogant than that of President Dingbat.

McCain's age isn't the deal breaker for me, but it certainly doesn't inspire confidence. Go look at pics of Slick Willy or Dubya before they were in office and what they look like today. They look like shit after even four years in office, so it is just possible that McCain could kick over before the end of his first term if elected.

[neglet]

I don't get why people think Obama is elitist. (Okay, I guess I do, it's the media.) This is a guy who was raised by a single mother, and although he attended Ivy League schools, after graduating he didn't go work for a fancy firm at a big salary, he went to organize poor neighborhoods in Chicago. But because he doesn't talk to us like we're idiots, he must be an elitist. Why is that such a bad word, anyway? Don't we want someone smart? Although more people, when given a list of positions, agreed with Gore over Bush, a lot of them voted for Bush over Gore because he seemed like more of a "regular fella." Look how well that worked out.

The race thing bugs me, too. Because his skin is brown and his pastor said stupid things, Obama must be an angry black man out for revenge on whitey. Never mind that he was raised by his white mother and grandmother, and grew up in the scary "ghetto" neighborhoods of Hawaii. If anything, I think Obama's background gives him more insight into more kinds of Americans than anyone else in this race. He certainly seems freer of special interests than either McCain or Clinton.

[Bill_the_Pony]

I don't get why people think Obama is elitist. (Okay, I guess I do, it's the media.) This is a guy who was raised by a single mother, and although he attended Ivy League schools, after graduating he didn't go work for a fancy firm at a big salary, he went to organize poor neighborhoods in Chicago. But because he doesn't talk to us like we're idiots, he must be an elitist. Why is that such a bad word, anyway? Don't we want someone smart? Although more people, when given a list of positions, agreed with Gore over Bush, a lot of them voted for Bush over Gore because he seemed like more of a "regular fella." Look how well that worked out.

The race thing bugs me, too. Because his skin is brown and his pastor said stupid things, Obama must be an angry black man out for revenge on whitey. Never mind that he was raised by his white mother and grandmother, and grew up in the scary "ghetto" neighborhoods of Hawaii. If anything, I think Obama's background gives him more insight into more kinds of Americans than anyone else in this race. He certainly seems freer of special interests than either McCain or Clinton.

And what's more, most Americans ARE bitter and cling to guns and religion. :)

[neglet]

Except for those of us who cling to TV clickers and cynicism. :D

[fastcar]

It's not that I don't want a smart person. I do. I definitely want someone who is smarter than me. But I also want a person who is logical and can balance pragmatism and idealism. Blue sky where we want to be as a nation and be realistic on how where going to get there. Sometimes, I think I'd rather have an atheist in the white house.....that will never happen. But, I think that a candidate who makes the statement that he/she will never give into special interests or lobbyists is either a liar or an also ran. Getting into office on the backs of the people alone is a hard sell.

[Kaeos]

The political landscape of America right now is dominated by 2 things. 1)Party Line Perceptions and 2) The News Cycle

Every time I turn around I hear people's opinions of the candidates parrot either what they heard from their favorite pundit or what they heard on from Reports on one of the major and cable networks.

It's frustrating to see people forming their opinions based on "what they heard" It's all buzz words that are hammered over and over and over and over by the media and the talking heads until "we" accept it as fact.

Here's my buzzword free assessment of the candidates, at least in terms of domestic and economic policy. Foreign policy is another matter all together and right now I couldn't care less about foreign relations. The middle east can sit tight for a few years while we fix whats wrong at home.

McCain IS the same old same old same old Republican. Tax cuts for the wealthy, spending cuts for the poor. Free market capitalism to the extreme. Deregulation and tax cuts for corporations. Which is supposed to spur competition and opportunity, but instead leads to CEO's being indicted and walking away from their failed companies or illegal activities with Mega Million Severances. McCain's policy statements so far point to 4 more years of the same economic decline we've had for 8 years. Nothing McCain says is new.

Clinton IS the same old same old same old Democrat. Spend every single penny we can find on growing government agencies to "take care of us" Bloated Government Agencies don't work. And her attitude toward "punishing" Corporations can only lead to higher consumer costs and the losses of additional jobs over seas. Now, all credit to Bill Clinton and his economic policies, the nation was in better shape financially than at any time since the 50's. But I see too much of the same old same old democratic party line rhetoric that smacks of the Carter years.
I have a hard time believing she's actually in it for us, instead of for herself.

Obama IS nothing like either of them. Granted he is not as specific as the other two when he talks about his policies. But looking back over the past 3 Presidential Election cycles, he's not being any more or less vague than Clinton or Bush Jr were when they ran for the first time. In fact, I have heard quite a few specific ideas from him on how he will deal with things, but no one wants to listen to what he has to say because they are too busy looking for the smoking gun that will bring him down.

What I hear from him is continually talking about is getting liberals and conservative to work together on issues instead of the constant battles and bitterness that revolve around issues. Again, I say it. We as consumers are always willing to sit back and soak up whatever buzz word the media and the pundits give is today/ Unelectable. Maverick. Muslim. Blah blah blah on so on.

Frankly, I will say that the media IS giving McCain a free pass in this cycle. Yet the media and the commentators are doing everything to make each and every one of us wonder if we should hate her because of who she is or if we should be afraid of him because he's black and has an Arabic middle name.

It's all crap and any Hillary or Obama supporter who says they will vote McCain if their candidate loses is a fool. Despite what I said about Hillary above, I will support her all the way if it means defeating McCain. Sadly if they don't figure this out quick, it won't matter History shows that every time a party has taken the primary race all the way to the convention has lost the genreal election. every time, both parties.

[Nostromo]

Kaeos wrote:The middle east can sit tight for a few years while we fix whats wrong at home.

I'd like to believe that's true K but as long as the U.S. is dependent on middle east oil exports - the region's security is a foreign policy priority. If just one tanker goes up in the Strait of Hormuz or Ahmadinejad decides to plug the pipe and send it all to China - crude is going to double in price and wreck the western economy. Alaska and the Alberta oil sands can't be developed fast enough to ignore the middle east.

N

[mckracken]

Sadly if they don't figure this out quick, it won't matter History shows that every time a party has taken the primary race all the way to the convention has lost the genreal election. every time, both parties.

wow is that really true? i have never seen it this bad before, usually the primaries one bows out kinda quick like Huckabee bowed out to McCain.

[fastcar]

Yeah, McCain must be loving his freedom to build up his campaign while the Dems are fighting amongst themselves. I wonder if he'll make it a point to bring up the fact during the general election full court press.

It's amazing how the news outlets depict the Presidential Race in graphics like it is a three person race. John on the left, Hillary on the right, and Obama in the middle. A more clever person would have reorganized the order in which they are facing.

[neglet]

Sadly if they don't figure this out quick, it won't matter History shows that every time a party has taken the primary race all the way to the convention has lost the genreal election. every time, both parties.

That may be true, but I don't think it really applies in this instance. In the past, nominations have gone all the way to the convention because there was a deep conflict with the party. Segregation divided Republicans in 1948, The Vietnam War split Dems in 1968. Geez, in 1924 it took the Democrats 103 ballots before they finally compromised on John W. Davis. He couldn't unite a deeply divided party, and in fact was much more conservative than most Democrats.

This year, I don't think anyone can quickly articulate any substantial policy differences between Clinton and Obama. It's more about character and style, to my mind. If people don't get their noses out of joint because "their" candidate lost, they'll come together because they don't want four more years of Republican mismanagement.

[Woodwraith]

With either McCain or Clinton, it'll only be same ol' politics as usual. Also, it seems to me that Clintons is only in this for the sake of vanity not so much for the people. Obama may not have the political experience, but he may bring a new set of eyes and talent into the white house. Yeah, i guess it sounds like I already chose. Oh well. :Dunno:

[mckracken]

this election, like all past elections, would be far easier with a working 2-way time machine.

[Jakester]

I believe in Crystal Light, 'cause I believe in me!

[rappites]

I like Loreal because I'm worth it. (I think that is their slogan?)

[WhiteKnight]

The 1992 Primary went into June, and the Dems still pulled of the victory, and they did it with a third candidate on the ticket to worry about. I really am not that worried about the Donkey coming together for the General Election in November. Democrats may say they're going to vote for McCain if their candidate in the Primary loses, but that's because they're not yet listening to the garbage spewing out of McCain's mouth. Garbage such as staying in Iraq for the next 100 years while our econcomy and infrastructure spirals into the abyss.

[JuneGirl]

If you give people enough time to think...they can think of the most outrageous things! Thats my argument...sticking to it! :-p

[Jakester]

Do you use that tongue for anything else, Junie? (some things, I think about a lot.)

[mckracken]

I try not to think about things... it hurts.