ChooChooCharlie

No seriously man -- calm down....

Bush's people orchestrating the distributing of flyers reading that McCain fathered a black baby out of wedlock the day before a primary election, and then denying doing that, is far worse than liberal blogs unconnected to Obama and this site speculating about Palin's pregnancy (2 months before the election), when there was some very compelling evidence. I would show him how tenuous the Ayers connection is to illustrate his paranoia. On second thought, that may not be best for the friendship........

Exactly. "A lot of people" like Republicans never hesitating to spout off self-righteous indignation at Clinton or Edward's affairs. They argue its important because it reflects their judgment. Although not a perfect analogy, they are both private issues made public because they reflect the judgment of public officials. I don't think either example (Dem's affairs or Palin's odd birth circumstances) is determinative on the judgment issue, but they both should factor.

Personally? No. But, McCain did invite this level of attention with an historic, unknown candidate (I hate Romney, but you know what you're getting, he's more experienced, offers much needed economic credibility, and helps w/Michigan -- as an Obama supporter, I'm glad he didn't pick Romney). And, although I'm not sure, I think Republicans have slung some mud in their days as well -- I'll have to check around. I'll start in Carolina in 2000.....

yeah, i guess..........but none quite as gratuitous! now there's an apples to apples comparison. I thought they only killed Vince Foster......

you don't honestly believe there were no risks in an 8 hour flight home w/o a doctor, hours after her water broke? i haven't read anything about any dr. signing off, but even if that happened, her judgment will be in question for me unless more facts come out.

There have been multiple reasons that people have questioned her judgment in regard to this pregancy. The fact that "everything ended up perfect FAR from proves it wasn't reckless. If I speed, while driving drunk, w/o a seatbelt, in the wrong lane -- and arrive at my destination w/o incident -- does that prove my actions weren't reckless? Some serious fallacies in your logic.

Yeah, we are. They were extreme circumstances that say a lot about her judgment. Her judgment is highly relevant; maybe the most important thing to evaluate for someone so close to the presidency. Below, and other posts, have elaborated as to why this is a valid discussion point.

No one presumed it was "highly reckless." People have been debating whether or not it was reckless, and if so, how that effects our perception of her judgment. That "doctor she trusts" was not on that 8 hour flight. She has been quoted as saying she took the flight to ensure her child was "Alaskan born." It appears she endangered her child for political reasons. Her judgment is in question in my book. Haha -- yeah, we're probably a rare demographic. We should start a group that doesn't vote soley based on their abortion beliefs (whether pro-choice or pro-life).

I do not think this is terribly important, but for the purpose of throwing another log on the political discussion fire, this just in: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/ We are just getting to know the Palin's. I'm starting to love this choice by McCain -- I'm a bit ashamed to say it is extraordinarily entertaining.......I can't wait for SNL.

Kwall -- I'm actually with ya on this one. I'm a pro-life Obama supporter -- and like the vast majority of those pro-life, I support an exception when the mother's life is in danger. I don't see this as hypocritical. Only one life will survive in this situation, supporting an abortion here, merely decides which one. That choice will always be my wife.

Most of the debate has concentrated on what potentially reckless decisions she made before and while giving birth say about her judgment. Few, if anyone, is saying she isn't qualified for that one reason -- but that judgment is certainly one of many important elements in debating her qualifications.

I don't hope to defeat anyone. Also, I don't think anyone on the left hopes to "defeat" her with any one issue, and certainly not this one (I never said it would "disqualify" her, as you suggest above -- I agree it wouldn't). However, it is relevant in regard to her judgment, and one piece of the puzzle. My last post merely attempted to illustrate why the analogy you made was not a fair one.

ok........care to offer an explination? This is a discussion board, so to plainly disagree isn't very productive. Its clear no logic will change your positions, but I would still hope you have a reason for disagreement. Again, I'm pro-life (just don't let abortion alone dictate who I vote for), but you wanted to debate "recklessness." Specifically, the recklessness of Palin's choice to fly home 8 hours after her water broke with a special needs child, and to go to a smaller, less-equipped hospital, vs. the recklessness of aborting that baby. If you fundamentally believe abortion doesn't e

Bill Maher posts on VC!!

Kwall, I'm actually a pro-life liberal -- but the points in your post can be distinguished. Palin's "reckless" decisions while in labor with her special needs child reflect her judgment. As a candidate for arguably the 2nd most powerful position in the world, her judgment is relevant. If she were pro-choice and made a decision to abort the baby (as you analogize), this would reflect a political and moral fundamental belief -- not a reckless lapse of judgment. It would be fair to debate her pro-choice stance, but not "reckless" judgment.

More invasive than manic speculation her son is her grandson? If it were me, I'd rather release a modest and happy picture -- I see nothing innappropriate with that. I strongly disagree that "all that matters is it is out there now" and "it doesn't matter if it's true." Since its untrue, those rumors will now end and so will the questions about her judgment (in accepting the nomination), and the judgment of McCain in selecting her. If it were true, those would be relevant topics that would persist through the election. Now, the rumors of faked pregnancy will end with anyone not a partisa

I read a story that Palin wanted her child to be "Alaskan born". It struck me as an insufficient reason to delay medical care (its not like her son wouldn't have been an American citizen if born in TX). But hey, its her child, her life. Yeah, this is on CNN too. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/ WTF?? Is this not the craziest story? Rumors about the fake pregnancy apparently not true.......but NOW she's pregnant? Wouldn't those many rumors about Bristol in the past, her religion, and her mother's job serve as an extraordinary deterent not to conceive a child? And if Palin is r

This just in. GOP Vice-Presidential candidate and gun-toting NRA member Sarah Palin can be seen on the Zapruder film firing shots from the grassy knoll on Nov. 22, 1963 -- Dallas, TX.

I think its pretty clear that picture was photoshopped by the vast right wing conspiracy.

I agree this story is likely untrue and operates on the lowest common denomonator. If it were true, it would say more about McCain's judgment in rushing the vetting process (and the fact that he only met her once), and Palin's judgment in accepting the nomination with this hanging over her head (arguably, if she did hide this, its an admirable thing she did for her daughter). But I agree that this highly unlikely story will more likely benefit Republicans than hurt -- and I feel horrible for that 17 year-old girl. This bothers me expeonentially more about Palin: http://politicalticker.blo

I'm in the YHF & AGiB > SBS or A.M. crowd, but any review that extensively references The Band, and contains this line: "[Cline's] guitar lines skedaddle and scamper across bridges and refrains, refraining from nothing" can't be the "worst music review ever." I disagreed here and there, but enjoyed the read.

Discussing Michael Moore is about as appealing to me as waking up with my head sewn to the floor. He's as polarizing as abortion, and not a politician, so an extended convo about him seems pointless and off-topic. I was hoping to get some of your input about the below post. I'm genuinely curious how this will play out....

Absolutely. Let's focus on the issues. I was so inspired, I clicked right on the link you provided about Sarah Palin faking her pregnancy.

One would hope. Obviously, the safety of Gulf residents is the first, and only serious concern. But since this is a thread about the ensuing election, it also interests me how this storm will affect that election. At first blush it would appear the timing couldn't be worse for Republicans -- taking media attention away from the convention, and reminding voters of a major Republican failure of the last 4 years in Katrina. But now, Bush may not speak at the convention as planned -- in order to take some bullshit photos to pretend he really does care (this time) about minority hurricane vi