Metropol

If you were hoping for a thread about oven chips, sorry to disappoint on this occasion.

This is a dedicated thread for that scary little man that is running for president.

What a speech.

I heard a bit of that thing he called a speech last night.

It wasn't any such thing. It was a series of unconnected sentences punctuated by applause and shouting. I don't see how it could sway anyone who wasn't already a Republican voter. An award winning orator he is not.

I do feel sorry for the boyfriend of Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter who seems to be being forced into marriage. Specially as his MySpace page said (according to the Telegraph):

"I'm a fuckin' redneck" who would kick ass if anyone gave him trouble. I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing," he said on the social networking the site.

Poignantly, in the one part of the site where it asks about children, he wrote, "I don't want kids."

What's even more worrying is that at the age of 72, McCain could drop down dead and the gun tooting, anti-abortionist, Anne Robinson wannabe Sarah Palin automatically becomes president.

Sarah Palin , now that is a real SHE devil! she could put the fear into god himself

I have a bad feeling that he will get in to power. its just some parts of the south will....... KKK is still around! If obama loses then of course we all know Hilliary will be white office by 2012 and of course we will have riot like we have never seen!

but one the worse things he said was this:

and force families into a government run health care system where a bureaucrat stands between you and your doctor.

I can't take him seriously. Ignoring his politics for a moment, it's just his face. It's been niggling me for many a month just what cartoon character he looks like. It only struck me today.

Square Eyes wrote:If you were hoping for a thread about oven chips, sorry to disappoint on this occasion.

Bugger.

lukey wrote:I can't take him seriously. Ignoring his politics for a moment, it's just his face. It's been niggling me for many a month just what cartoon character he looks like. It only struck me today.

Linus? Hm, might have a point there.

Well, there's no denying that McCain does not match Obama in oratorical skills. To my mind though, personality and presentation are not exactly the most important characteristics when it comes to electing leaders. Frankly, of the two candidates, I genuinely believe McCain has the better policy platform. I certainly don't agree with him on everything - in order to placate the Republican base, I fear he's had to swing too far to the right on some social issues. Yet when it comes to the critical areas of economic policy and national security, I feel he's offering much more compelling positions than Obama is.

I have serious reservations about a Democratic-administration in the US trying to slow or reverse removal of trade barriers. It would be an especially foolish move given that economic growth in the US is currently being underpinned by trade with the rest of the world. I would like to see the next US President push Congress to unscramble the current mess in housing and financial markets, which has come directly as a result of poor regulation and excessive government intervention. The Democrats, however, believe that more direct control and regulation is what's needed. Importantly though, I want to see the significant US budget deficit cut and ideally brought into balance. American taxpayers are not getting value for money at the moment, both as a result of Republican and Democratic intransigence and incompetence. The US needs a President with a proven track record of reaching across the aisle to fix problems. With great respect to Barack Obama, his campaign is based on rhetoric alone - he has not demonstrated an ability to work in a truly bipartisan fashion. Indeed, he has yet to even unite his own party.

I also make this point of caution. Eight years ago, there was a candidate who campaigned on being an outsider and bringing change to Washington DC. He claimed to be "a uniter, not a divider". Yet many would argue President George W Bush has ended up being perhaps the most divisive leader in US political history. McCain has the respect of both Republicans and Democrats alike (and at many times has won more support from the latter than the former). I'm not saying McCain's perfect. Indeed, I wouldn't be the first to suggest that the McCain of years gone by is preferable to the one campaigning for the Presidency today. Yet even 'new' McCain still offers the best hope for challenging the American political establishment and resolving some serious policy issues facing the US today.

Chie wrote:What's even more worrying is that at the age of 72, McCain could drop down dead and the gun tooting, anti-abortionist, Anne Robinson wannabe Sarah Palin automatically becomes president.

McCain is in excellent health given both his age and his horrific experiences during the Vietnam War. I don't think it's helpful to discuss the prospect of him dropping dead, any more than it is to suggest that Obama faces a greater likelihood of being assassinated for being black.

Sarah Palin and our very own Iris Robinson would get on like a house on fire, though Iris has more political experience.

http://www.slate.com/id/2199362/ has a the Palin FAQ.

It doesn't contain the news that she only got a passport last year and has made one foreign trip.

Edit: Today I realised. Sarah Palin is Bree van de Camp from Desperate Housewives.

I think Sarah Palin is FAB. I have nothing more to add to this thread.

all new Phil wrote:I think Sarah Palin is FAB. I have nothing more to add to this thread.

that right to quote the son himself: sarah Palin is Ronald Reagan with a dress

marksi wrote:Edit: Today I realised. Sarah Palin is Bree van de Camp from Desperate Housewives.

I spotted the resemblance the first time I saw her on TV. I still think she comes across as more 'Anne Robinson' like though.