Remember all the media hype about Obama bringing out tons of voters to cast ballots in the historic election of 2008? It didn't happen.

The share of eligible voters who actually went to the polls in November 2008 declined from November 2004, according to new U.S. Census figures.

A total of 63.6 percent of eligible voters, or 131.1 million people, cast ballots in the contest between Barack Obama and John McCain last November. The voter turnout in 2004 for the George W. Bush-John F. Kerry showdown was 63.8 percent.

While the total number of votes cast was higher by 5 million, the turnout was down, especially among older white Americans, according to the Census Bureau.

This is a case where people voted with their feet and none of the above resulted in Barack Obama as president. How's that "hope and change" working out for you now?

"The 2008 presidential election saw a significant increase in voter turnout among young people, blacks and Hispanics," said Thom File, a voting analyst with the Census Bureau's Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division. "But as turnout among some other demographic groups either decreased or remained unchanged, the overall 2008 voter turnout rate was not statistically different from 2004."

Read more from the new report, Voting and Registration in the Election of 2008, at the link below:

Voter Turnout Increases by 5 Million in 2008 Presidential Election, U.S. Census Bureau Reports

"There are really only four things I have a strong aversion to: unloaded guns, dull knives, banjos, and Republicans in Name Only (RINOs)," says Ted Nugent, rock guitar idol, hunter and conservative commentator.

Writing at HumanEvents.com, Nugent says it's time for the Republican Party to purge itself of so-called moderates who have turned their backs on basic GOP principles of limited government, strong national defense and lower taxes.

From his column:

RINOs are Fedzilla punks who feign support for conservative principles only when it serves their political interest. RINOs are also known for their moderate positions such as supporting tax increases, federal "bailouts", "comprehensive immigration reform", advocating more counterproductive gun control that guarantee more innocent victims, opposing the death penalty, and growing and sustaining Fedzilla and all its toxic mongrels by going along with the liberals. RINOs have forgotten President Ronald Maximus Regan's admonition that government is the problem, not the solution.

Nugent says the 2008 presidential race is a clear repudiation of RINOs, including John McCain.

From his column:

John McCain has been a RINO on campaign finance, immigration, global warming and other issues and look what happened to him. He had reached across the aisle so many times to cut deals with the liberals that he had to pick Governor Palin, a true conservative, to try and lure disenfranchised and disgusted conservatives back into the fold. Didn't work. Senator McCain was the wrong candidate at the right time. RINOs lose elections;
conservatives win them.

Read the full column at HumanEvents.com

Stop the presses! The Washington Post has admitted it slanted its 2008 presidential race coverage to benefit Democrat Barack Obama.

That revelation comes from Deborah Howell, the ombudsman for the newspaper.

Writing in today's edition, Howell says, "The Post provided a lot of good campaign coverage, but readers have been consistently critical of the lack of probing issues coverage and what they saw as a tilt toward Democrat Barack Obama. My surveys, which ended on Election Day, show that they are right on both counts."

Too bad Ms. Howell didn't get around to writing about the newspaper's biased coverage until after the election.

From Howell's column:

The op-ed page ran far more laudatory opinion pieces on Obama, 32, than on Sen. John McCain, 13. There were far more negative pieces about McCain, 58, than there were about Obama, 32, and Obama got the editorial board's endorsement. The Post has several conservative columnists, but not all were gung-ho about McCain.

Stories and photos about Obama in the news pages outnumbered those devoted to McCain. Reporters, photographers and editors found the candidacy of Obama, the first African American major-party nominee, more newsworthy and historic. Journalists love the new; McCain, 25 years older than Obama, was already well known and had more scars from his longer career in politics.

The number of Obama stories since Nov. 11 was 946, compared with McCain's 786. Both had hard-fought primary campaigns, but Obama's battle with Hillary Rodham Clinton was longer, and the numbers reflect that.

McCain clinched the GOP nomination on March 4, three months before Obama won his. From June 4 to Election Day, the tally was Obama, 626 stories, and McCain, 584. Obama was on the front page 176 times, McCain, 144 times; 41 stories featured both.

I'm glad The Washington Post has admitted what any reasonable person would conclude: The American media has lost all objectivity and is an advocate for the Democratic Party and the far-left agenda. Almost every large American newspaper can make the same confession.

The interesting thing now is how will the mainstream media cover the Obama administration. Will the media help cover up Obama's mistakes? At what point will the American public get fed up with the fluff coverage of Obama?

Can a newspaper like The Washington Post provide the same kind of coverage of the White House that it did during Watergate?

Read "An Obama Tilt in Campaign Coverage," at the newspaper's Web site.

President-elect Barack Obama has women to thank for his election.

A new survey finds that nationally, 56 percent of women (who were 53 percent of voters) voted for Barack Obama compared with 49 percent of men (who were 47 percent of voters, according to the Institute for Women's Policy Research

Follow the link below for more:

Women's Vote Clinches Election Victory: 8 Million More Women Than Men Voted for Obama

An excellent editorial today in Investor's Business Daily that makes the argument that when it comes to a successful presidency, experience does matter.

From the IBD editorial:

Of all our presidents since World War II, the three who ranked highest among all American presidents in a 2005 survey of scholars by the Wall Street Journal were:

• Ronald Reagan: No. 6 of 43 presidents, inaugurated within weeks of his 70th birthday.

• Harry Truman: No. 7, inaugurated at age 60.

• Dwight Eisenhower: No. 8, inaugurated at 62.

The three youngest presidents since WWII were:

• John Kennedy: ranked No. 15, inaugurated at 43.

• Bill Clinton: No. 22, inaugurated at 46.

• Jimmy Carter: No. 34, inaugurated at 52.

Our next president will face a resurgent Russia run by Vladimir Putin and his KGB friends, Iran and its nuclear program, and al-Qaida and other terrorists who want an atomic weapon. Do we want to elect another young president, possibly a Carter or a Neville Chamberlain type, who will get fooled by our dangerous enemies who are masters of deceit?

American voters have a clear choice to make on Nov. 4: The most inexperienced candidate to ever seek the White House in Barack Obama or a tested and proven leader in John McCain.

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.

There are plenty of reasons to elect John McCain, but perhaps one of the most urgent is to prevent a liberal takeover of U.S government.

From The Wall Street Journal:

Perhaps the best case for the McCain candidacy -- apart from national security -- is that he would be a check on what is likely to be an emboldened and dangerous left-wing Congress. He would surely work with Democrats on some things -- for the better perhaps on immigration, for the worse on energy "cap and trade" regulation. However, unlike President Bush, Mr. McCain wouldn't wait four years to use his veto pen.

In this difficult year, Mr. McCain has had the harder sale to make. His admirable personal tenacity has been better than his variable political argument. We'll find out Tuesday if biography trumps hope.

Read the full editorial, "McCain's Honor," at the newspaper's Web site.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has endorsed Sen. John McCain for president.

From its endorsement editorial:

We first endorsed Mr. McCain for president in February, long before we knew Sen. Obama would be the Democrat nominee. But our words then are even more apropos now.

John McCain is fiercely independent. And he makes no apologies for the principles he holds dear, even if they be at odds with the traditional party base. But he has never wavered in his core belief of what Republicanism (with a capital "R") and republicanism (with a lower-case "r") are all about:

Small government. Fiscal discipline. Low taxes. A strong defense. And a judiciary that does not legislate from the bench.

Compared with Barack Obama's long and dangerous statist laundry list of the ever more expansive role government should play in our lives, John McCain sums it up quite succinctly, quite effectively and quite nicely, thank you.

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.

The Trentonian newspaper in Trenton, N.J., has endorsed Sen. John McCain for president.

The choice was an easy one, according to the newspaper's editorial board:

It's a contest between an experienced lawmaker of known and tested character, John McCain — a doer — and a neophyte lawmaker of unknown and untested character, Barack Obama — a talker.

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.

RNC Launches New Web Video: 'Slippery Slope'

A group of 357 leading American economists have issued a joint statement warning that Barack Obama's economic policies would be disastrous for the U.S. economy.

Here's is their statement, posted online, along with their names:

Barack Obama argues that his proposals to raise tax rates and halt international trade agreements would benefit the American economy. They would do nothing of the sort. Economic analysis and historical experience show that they would do the opposite. They would reduce economic growth and decrease the number of jobs in America. Moreover, with the credit crunch, the housing slump, and high energy prices weakening the U.S. economy, his proposals run a high risk of throwing the economy into a deep recession. It was exactly such misguided tax hikes and protectionism, enacted when the U.S. economy was weak in the early 1930s, that greatly increased the severity of the Great Depression.

We are very concerned with Barack Obama's opposition to trade agreements such as the pending one with Colombia, the new one with Central America, or the established one with Canada and Mexico. Exports from the United States to other countries create jobs for Americans. Imports make goods available to Americans at lower prices and are a particular benefit to families and individuals with low incomes. International trade is also a powerful source of strength in a weak economy. In the second quarter of this year, for example, increased international trade did far more to stimulate the U.S. economy than the federal government's "stimulus" package.

Ironically, rather than supporting international trade, Barack Obama is now proposing yet another so-called stimulus package, which would do very little to grow the economy. And his proposal to finance the package with higher taxes on oil would raise oil prices directly and by reducing exploration and production.

We are equally concerned with his proposals to increase tax rates on labor income and investment. His dividend and capital gains tax increases would reduce investment and cut into the savings of millions of Americans. His proposals to increase income and payroll tax rates would discourage the formation and expansion of small businesses and reduce employment and take-home pay, as would his mandates on firms to provide expensive health insurance.

After hearing such economic criticism of his proposals, Barack Obama has apparently suggested to some people that he might postpone his tax increases, perhaps to 2010. But it is a mistake to think that postponing such tax increases would prevent their harmful effect on the economy today. The prospect of such tax rate increases in 2010 is already a drag on the economy. Businesses considering whether to hire workers today and expand their operations have time horizons longer than a year or two, so the prospect of higher taxes starting in 2009 or 2010 reduces hiring and investment in 2008.

In sum, Barack Obama's economic proposals are wrong for the American economy. They defy both economic reason and economic experience.

For more, check out the Economists for McCain Web site.

Salena Zito of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has an interesting post at her blog about where popular radio talk show host Glenn Beck stands on the 2008 presidential race.

Beck has endorsed Sarah Palin (and by extension, John McCain).

Beck says he considered all the presidential candidates (including third-party) and found them all lacking:

I don't see any of them that actually believe in you, who actually is you, except Sarah Palin. So I'm going to pull the lever for John McCain and let the Lord sort it out. I want somebody that just, whose compass points north. Even though all these candidates think their compass points north, it doesn't. It's pointing east and some places it's pointing south. In Barack Obama it is pointing south. He says that it's pointing north, it's to you, but it's not. It's to the government, it's to Washington, it's to the special interests. John McCain I think points somewhere maybe northeast. It's in the right direction but it's not right. Sarah Palin points to you. I'm casting my vote for Sarah Palin.

Read the full post at Zito's blog.

The Associated Press has been compiling presidential endorsement editorials from across the country. Here's a sampling of editorials about John McCain:

The Dallas Morning News:

In better times, America could afford to consider entrusting the White House to an appealing newcomer like Mr. Obama and giving control of the presidency and Congress to the same party.

But in this time of great anxiety, the American people need a leader of experience guiding the ship of state. Mr. McCain offers the continuity, stability and sense of authority people want, as well as a decisive break from the Bush years.

The Democrat talks about change, but only the Republican has made change happen. Only one candidate has a solid record of standing up to his own party on principle and working hand in hand with legislators from the opposing party to get things done.

That candidate is John McCain, a progressive conservative we recommend.

The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post:

John McCain likes to say that he has been tested. In this campaign, he has been. And he has come up short. He has sounded like a bitter, jealous old man who considers himself entitled to the presidency. Washington can break optimism the way dry farmland can break plows, but Barack Obama still sounds like the candidate who talked about change when he began his campaign. He was right then. He's right now. That's why he's the right choice for America.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Sen. McCain has a proven record of battling the drunken sailor culture so pervasive in our nation's capital. He has been an outspoken advocate for fiscal restraint, angering many of his colleagues by embarrassing them over their penchant for pork. Sen. McCain vows to veto any bill that includes earmarks and says he will freeze spending in many areas of the budget.

That would represent real change.

The San Antonio Express-News:

McCain brings a proven track record of fighting the bipartisan fiscal irresponsibility that prevails in Washington. ... McCain's understanding of the world and the nation's security needs is a crucial asset in these tumultuous times. ... The question comes down to this: Which candidate is best able to chart a new and secure course for a nation in perilous waters? John McCain is not a perfect candidate. In this tumultuous season, however, he is the best choice for commander in chief.

The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune:

Hard economic times, a disappointing Republican administration and the seductive promises of a master orator are pushing America toward a European-style social democracy. If you don't want that to happen, vote for Republican Sen. John McCain. ...

McCain brings a lifetime of useful experience, including his grueling captivity in Vietnam and long Senate service. He believes in federalism, a strong defense and disciplined self-interest.

McCain has been willing to cross party lines to work on tough problems. He co-authored a campaign finance law that failed to fulfill its objective, but he did muster the bipartisan support needed to try to control the buying and selling of public office. ...

(Barack) Obama's vision of hope shines like a rainbow, appealing but just out of reach. McCain's call to freedom and responsibility is less exciting, but you know it works. The Tribune encourages voters to vote what they believe, not what they wish were true. The nation needs a stable leader in these unpredictable times.

A peak into the future if Barack Obama is elected. Higher taxes and a cut in defense spending are in order. That means a return to the Jimmy Carter era. A weak economy and humiliation abroad from America's enemies.

Republican National Committee: They Said It! Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) on Increasing Taxes and Cutting Defense Spending

The Associated Press is compiling presidential endorsements by daily newspapers across the country. Here's a sampling of endorsements for John McCain:

The Chattanooga (Tenn.) Free Press:

"American voters have two very unlikely candidates for president of the United States this year. While the current polls indicate Sen. Barack Obama is ahead, a simple consideration of the candidates' relative qualifications should indicate we should elect Sen. John McCain president. Sen. McCain believes in keeping America strong, cutting taxes, limiting government and not surrendering to our enemies, and he has extensive experience in government that indicates far more stability and judgment than his opponent can offer. Sen. McCain's love of country and dedication to duty have been proved by his honorable military service for which he suffered torture by our enemies."

The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun:

"In an uncertain world, America needs a new president with certainty, fearlessness and proven leadership skills. That candidate is Sen. John McCain of Arizona. The nation faces some of the most trying times in its history. We are involved in two wars, the national and global economies are near meltdown, government spending is virtually out of control, the health care system is broken, Medicare and Social Security face bankruptcy, and partisan bickering has stymied progress in Congress. Who better to cross such a battlefield than a proven military veteran?

The New Hampshire Union-Leader:

"Barack Obama's call for 'change' has a certain appeal, to be sure. But this is no time to be rolling the dice on an untested leader whose rhetoric doesn't match his record when it comes to delivering actual change. John McCain has a long history of standing up to Washington's permanent political class, regardless of party, and pushing for institutional reforms to end business as usual. He is the right leader to restore trust in our government, confidence to our markets and prosperity to our country. On Nov. 4, do right by your country and vote for John McCain for President."

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in Texas:

"Sen. John McCain has a better understanding than his opponent of issues facing our nation ranging from national security to the economy to energy to immigration and many more, and he has a better vision for establishing solutions and a better chance of implementing them effectively."

Amarillo (Texas) Globe-News:

"Barack Obama mirrors the tax-and-spend philosophies of liberal Democrats, which is not the type of change the nation needs. John McCain has built a more conservative track record during his service in both the House and the Senate, with just the right mix of moderation, to lead the country in a positive direction."

The Associated Press has been running a daily list of newspapers that have published endorsements for president. Here's a sampling of endorsements for John McCain.

The San Diego Union-Tribune:

"In our analysis, Republican candidate John McCain has a documented record of enlightened leadership in Washington, leadership that often has run counter to the status quo and challenged the folly of senior members of his own party. McCain never has been a conventional politician. He thinks for himself and acts on what he believes to be in the best interests of the nation, and not necessarily in the interests of his party or his own political fortunes. In an era of dismaying partisan paralysis in Washington, McCain has stood out as a bipartisan force, best illustrated by his collaboration with liberal Democratic lion Edward Kennedy on a comprehensive solution to America's immigration dilemma."

The Daily Press of Newport News, Va.:

"In today's instant messaging, celebrity-besotted culture, such opportunities for thoughtful and emotion-free reflection are rare. But when the hopeful message of change is subjected to the glare of factual light, Obama does not emerge as the best candidate to lead the world's most powerful nation during a time of threats both domestic and abroad, both economic and military. John McCain is the better choice, and that is why the editorial page of the Daily Press endorses him for the presidency."

The Winchester Star of Winchester, Va.:

"Selecting a president this go-round matters even more, particularly as it seems certain that one political party will retain or even enhance its control of Congress, perhaps to the point of gaining a coveted 60-vote super-majority in the Senate. Thus, we ask the voter: Is entrusting total domination of the political process to one party in the best interests of America? One must consider the extremism such a possibility would invite: Two of the Senate's most liberal members would assume the presidency and vice-presidency, and the equally liberal leaders of the two branches of a dysfunctional Congress would remain in the presidential succession. Thus, the need for balance, for a leavening presence, is apparent, almost achingly so. Given what confronts us globally and inside the halls of Congress, America needs strong, seasoned leadership. In what truly is an important election, the choice for president could not be any clearer John Sidney McCain III."

The Daily Courier of Grants Pass, Ore.:

"Experience and the courage to do what's right, no matter the political cost, are what elevate Sen. John McCain above Sen. Barack Obama in the race for the White House. Republican McCain has pushed campaign finance reform and other legislation, even when his party has opposed it. On the campaign trail, he risked his presidential hopes by supporting the then unpopular troop "surge" in Iraq. The surge has led to a dramatic drop in violence and U.S. casualties. The Daily Courier editorial board thinks America needs this mentally tough maverick as its leader as it faces numerous daunting tasks abroad and at home, from terrorists to a tumultuous economy. Democrat Obama is a highly intelligent, well-spoken person who has managed against all odds to break through the racial barrier. However, he simply has not shown in his 11 years in politics (four in the U.S. Senate and seven in the Illinois Senate) the toughness or abilities needed to meet these challenges."

Joe Wurzelbacher, the plumber from Toledo, Ohio, who confronted Barack Obama about taxes, could end up swinging the election to John McCain.

Wurzelbacher asked Obama to explain how the liberal Democrat's plan to raise taxes for Americans earning $250,000 or more would not hurt small business owners.

Obama had no explanation other than to say that "When you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

Translation? Obama plans to take money away from small business owners through higher taxes and "spread" it around to people who don't pay taxes.

There's another word for Obama's scheme. It's called welfare.

That brief exchange between Wurzelbacher and Obama crystallized the basic choice in this year's presidential election.

Obama is pushing big government, higher taxes, protectionism, forced unionization and socialized medicine.

McCain says he will freeze government spending, eliminate pork and cut taxes for all Americans.

McCain made reference to Joe the plumber numerous times in Wednesday's presidential debate, saying he doesn't want to raise taxes on Joe or any other working American.

From The Associated Press:

Wurzelbacher watched Wednesday night's debate and said he still thinks Senator Obama's plan would keep him from buying the small business that employs him. About Senator McCain: "He's got it right as far as I go." Even so, Mr. Wurzelbacher declined to say who was getting his vote. He said he was surprised that he was called "Joe the Plumber" repeatedly during the debate. "It's pretty surreal, man, my name being mentioned in a presidential campaign."

If McCain pulls out this election, he may have to offer Wurzelbacher a job as White House plumber.

Do you like your job? Would you like to keep your job?

As we head into what many experts predict will be a painful and prolonged recession, many people are worried about their jobs.

If you'd like to increase your chances of bringing home a paycheck, then you should vote for John McCain for president.

That what 80 percent of chief executive officers surveyed by Chief Executive magazine say. That's right. Eight out of 10 support McCain's economic plans.

The CEOs believe McCain would do a better job of handling the economy and preserving jobs. The business executives perceive Barack Obama as anti-growth.

Obama's tax policies would sink the fragile economy deeper into recession and cut jobs, the CEOs believe.

From Chief Executive magazine:

It is clear jobcreating Business leaders chose McCain over Obama largely because his policies are seen as pro-growth, whereas Obama's policies are viewed as redistributive and anti-growth.

For some months during this Presidential election year, Chief Executive has conducted specialized polling of CEOs' attitudes on issues affecting national policy and the economy. In CE's most recent poll in September, 751 respondents, more than double the usual number of business leaders, made their voices heard on their Presidential choice. By a four-to-one margin CEOs support Senator John McCain over his rival, Senator Barack Obama. More to the point, a thundering 74 percent majority say they fear the consequences of an Obama presidency, compared to only 19 percent who fear a McCain presidency.

During this period CE also asked the people who create jobs what it will take to get our engine of job creation going strong. We first asked CEOs what policies and approaches would work best for business, energy policy and job creation. Subsequently, we asked CEOs which Presidential candidate's policies were best aligned with these prescriptions for growth.

Read the full story and review more polling results at the magazine's Web site.

You can't say this comes as a surprise. The National Rifle Association has endorsed Republican John McCain for president.

NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, who also serves as chairman of the NRA's political action committee, is planning to announce the group's endorsement at stops in key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Missouri, Colorado and Nevada.

McCain "cast more than 60 votes in the Senate in support of the Second Amendment," LaPierre said.

Contrast that with Barack Obama, who supports gun control measures and has said the Second Amendment is subject to interpretation. Obama criticized the Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that said the Second Amendment guarantees the right of citizens, not militias, to bear arms.

Along with the endorsement, the NRA's Political Victory Fund is planning newspaper ads and television spots to remind gun owners that McCain will protect their rights while Obama would restrict gun ownership if he's elected president.

Although McCain has not always supported legislation pushed the NRA, the fact that his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, is a member of the NRA, helped the group decide who to endorse in the 2008 race.

"She's a hunter, she's a Second Amendment supporter and she's a tremendous asset to the ticket," LaPierre told The Associated Press.

Palin received an A-plus rating from the group when she ran for governor in 2006.

LaPierre also noted that the NRA doesn't always endorse presidential candidates.

The group backed President George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 but did not support Bob Dole in the 1996 race against Bill Clinton or George H.W. Bush in the 1992 race against Michael Dukakis.

For more information, visit the National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund Web site at http://www.nrapvf.org/

A survey of 751 CEOs of major American companies conducted by Chief Executive magazine finds that Sen. Barack Obama's economic and tax policies would be disastrous for American workers.

CEOs surveyed said they prefer Sen. John McCain's economic plans by a 4-1 margin.

"The stakes for this presidential election are higher than they've ever been in recent memory," said Edward M. Kopko, CEO and Publisher of Chief Executive magazine. "We've been experiencing consecutive job losses for nine months now. There's no doubt that reviving the job market will be a top priority for the incoming president. And job creating CEOs repeatedly tell us that McCain's policies are far more conducive to a more positive employment environment than Obama's."

Some CEOs who responded to the survey went as far as to say this of Sen. Obama: "Some of his programs would bankrupt the country within three years, if implemented."

Obama's tax policies, which scored the lowest grade in the poll, are particularly unpopular among CEOs, Kopko said.

"Overall, many CEOs are concerned about the future of the U.S. economy and its ability to compete in the global market, but they look to John McCain and hope that this self-described political maverick may yet shake up established thinking and not give into to the tired policies of the past," Kopko said.

It's amazing that anyone with a basic understanding of economics would consider voting for Barack Obama. His plan to raise taxes on working people and investors and increase the federal debt while imposing government health-care on businesses is a recipe for disaster.

To read the full article and see more of the survey results, visit the magazine's Web site.

That Barack Obama sure is a smooth talker. It's a shame what he says often isn't the truth. The Associated Press analyzed Obama's debate performance Tuesday and found Obama didn't have command of the facts on several key issues.

OBAMA: "I believe this is a final verdict on the failed economic policies of the last eight years, strongly promoted by President Bush and supported by Senator McCain, that essentially said that we should strip away regulations, consumer protections, let the market run wild, and prosperity would rain down on all of us. It hasn't worked out that way. And so now we've got to take some decisive action."

THE FACTS: McCain has indeed favored less regulation over the years but supported tighter rules and accountability on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years before the start of a financial crisis prompted in part by those giant mortgage underwriters. Obama was not a leader in that unsuccessful effort. Some of the current problems can be traced to legislation passed in 1999 that lifted many regulations over the financial industry. That deregulation was championed by then-Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, a McCain supporter, but also by President Clinton, who signed the legislation, and by former Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, now a top Obama economic adviser.

OBAMA: Said McCain's proposal to give people a tax credit in exchange for treating employers' health insurance contributions as taxable wages amounts to "what one hand giveth, the other hand taketh away."

THE FACTS: Obama's suggestion that McCain's health care plan is a wash for families is misleading. McCain offers families a $5,000 tax credit to help them buy health insurance. The corresponding increase in taxable wages would result in a much smaller cost than the value of the tax credit, at least at first. Over time, the value of the tax credit may diminish as premiums rise. However, the Tax Policy Center estimates that McCain's plan would increase the federal deficit by $1.3 trillion over 10 years — mainly because it would lead to less tax revenue coming in, meaning it is a true tax break overall.

OBAMA: "Actually I'm cutting more than I'm spending so that it will be a net spending cut."

THE FACTS: Obama has many ambitious plans to spend more taxpayer dollars on a variety of federal programs, including clean energy technologies and job training. He's said he'll cut pork-barrel programs and the costs of the war in Iraq to pay for it — as well as raise taxes on the wealthy — but the specifics of his new spending plans greatly outweigh the few spending cuts he's identified.

With 30 days to go before the Nov. 4 election, the McCain Campaign opened a Berks County headquarters Saturday afternoon.

Berks County GOP Chairman Mark Gillen was on hand to open the headquarters at 5001 Perkiomen Ave. (Route 422 west) in Exeter Township.

The grand opening celebration ran from 3 to 5 p.m., with a steady stream visitors stopping by to pick up campaign signs, bumper stickers and literature for the McCain/Palin ticket as well as other GOP candidates, including Congressman Jim Gerlach, Steve Fuhs, running for the 11th state Senate District, and Dick Gokey, a candidate for the 130th state House District.

Gillen said the office will be staffed seven-days-a-week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Election Day.

Anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to stop by the office to sign up.

During a pep talk to volunteers, Gillen predicted McCain will surprise conventional wisdom (and the polls) by winning the presidency.

Gillen also announced that the Berks County office has free tickets to attend a Road to Victory Rally with John McCain and Sarah Palin scheduled for Lehigh Univeristy in Bethlehem on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Doors open 10:30 a.m.

Several GOP volunteers also discussed a growing problem of campaign sign thefts in Berks and Chester counties.

Berks Republicans are also promoting the party's annual "Berks GOP Newsmaker Dinner," scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17, at The Inn at Reading. The speaker hasn't been announced yet, but the entertainment will include country star Pat Garrett singing his tribute to Sarah Palin, "Moose Shootin' Mama."

Anyone interested in attending the dinner can call 610-374-1100.

For more about the Berks GOP, visit the party's Web site, http://berks.mygopsite.com/

PBS anchor Gwen Ifill is the scheduled moderator of Thursday's vice presidential debate between Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin.

Gwen Ifill has written a book about Sen. Barack Obama.

If the Obama/Biden ticket wins in November, Ifill could have a best seller on her hands.

If the Obama/Biden ticket loses, nobody will buy her book.

So who do you think Gwen Ifill will be rooting for to win the election? Will she throw softball questions at Joe Biden? Will she go on the attack against Palin?

Why is such an obvious partisan moderating the debate?

Columnist Michelle Malkin is wondering that too.

From Malkin's column posted at the Investor's Business Daily Web site:

Nonpartisan my foot.

Random House, her publisher, is already busy hyping the book with YouTube clips of Ifill heaping praise on her subjects, including Obama and Obama-endorsing Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick. The official promo for the book gushes:

"In 'The Breakthrough,' veteran journalist Gwen Ifill surveys the American political landscape, shedding new light on the impact of Barack Obama's stunning presidential campaign and introducing the emerging young African-American politicians forging a bold new path to political power.

"Drawing on interviews with power brokers like Sen. Obama, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Vernon Jordan, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and many others, as well as her own razor-sharp observations and analysis of such issues as generational conflict and the 'black enough' conundrum, Ifill shows why this is a pivotal moment in American history."

Ifill and her publisher are banking on an Obama-Biden win to buoy her book sales. The moderator expected to treat both sides fairly has grandiosely declared this the "Age of Obama." Can you imagine a right-leaning journalist writing a book about the "stunning" McCain campaign and its "bold" path to reform timed for release on Inauguration Day — and then expecting a slot as a moderator for the nation's sole vice presidential debate?

Yeah, I just registered 6.4 on the Snicker Richter Scale too.

Read the full column at the newspaper's Web site.

The national commander of the nation's oldest veterans' group, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, has issued a call to America's 23.5 million veterans and 2.2 million uniformed personnel and their families to make sure they are registered to vote for the Nov. 4 election.

That's a potential of 50 million votes up for grabs, says Glen Gardner.

Veterans understand better than anyone what's at stake in making sure the best person is elected president. In 2004, 74 percent of U.S. veterans cast ballots, compared to 63 percent turnout among the general population.

I'm not sure if this has national implications, but I've spoke to two veterans in the past couple of weeks about the presidential race. Both are registered Democrats. Both told me they are planning to vote for Sen. John McCain on Nov. 4.

I have a feeling that the majority of veterans, regardless of party affiliation, will support one of their own over a 47-year-old Chicago community organizer with no military experience.

McCain understands veterans and their families and I believe he is more likely to look out for their best interests.

Sen. John McCain today called on Sen. Barack Obama to join him in suspending their political campaigns for a few days to deal with the economic crisis facing the nation.

Obama has rejected McCain's offer.

Who is putting country first? Who is putting politics first? Americans should ask themselves those questions.

Remarks by Sen. John McCain:

America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, every corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.

Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns. This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward. I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.

It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration’s proposal. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.

Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.

I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.

We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night’s debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.

I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so.

Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now. Americans across our country lament the fact that partisan divisions in Washington have prevented us from addressing our national challenges. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.

This just in from the Craig Williams for Congress Campaign regarding a scheduled visit to Delaware County by Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

DREXEL HILL – Craig Williams said today that Monday's planned visit to Media, Delaware County, by Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain and his running mate, Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, has energized voters. His campaign headquarters has been flooded with local residents wanting tickets for the rally, as well as offering to volunteer for both the McCain and William campaign.

"The suburbs -- specifically Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery Counties -- are going to be key battlegrounds in this Presidential campaign," said Craig Williams, the Republican candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District. "If John McCain and Sarah Palin win Pennsylvania, it is virtually assured that they will be the next President and Vice President of the United States. And if he wins Pennsylvania, it will be largely because of the results here in Delaware County."

Williams said that this will be the first time he has met with Sarah Palin again since she was selected by Sen. McCain to serve as his running mate. He has had the opportunity to get to know Palin over the years and first met her during her run for Governor of Alaska when his brother worked on her campaign. Most recently, he sat down with her for a meeting during her visit in July to Philadelphia for the National Governor's Association meeting. A few days later he held a joint press conference with Palin during his visit to Alaska to promote increased domestic oil exploration on the North Slope.

"I think suburban voters – men and women alike – see a lot of themselves in Sarah. This is a woman who identifies with the needs of working-class families, who was involved in her own kids' education as a member of the PTA, who went and sat at her kids’ sports games. She's like us. She's middle-class America, and she brings those views of the average American to the job of government. She bucked the Republican Party leaders in Alaska over ethics and corruption issues. She cut waste out of the government budget. And she went after oil executives and companies who were not recovering oil on the land they leased from the state government. She's a straight shooter who stands up for what she believes is right."

John McCain and Sarah Palin will be appearing in Media this Monday, September 22nd, at the Delaware County Courthouse. Gates to the event are scheduled to open at 2:30 p.m. and the program is expected to commence at 4:30 p.m. Local residents can pick up tickets for the event at the Pennsylvania Victory office in Drexel Hill, PA, located at 5035 Township Line Road. Tickets will be distributed all weekend, Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets will also be available at the Delaware County Republican Party Headquarters in Media. Individuals with questions can call 610-789-7077 for more information.

(That's Craig Williams with Gov. Palin in a photo taken during a visit to Alaska over the summer.)

A Quinnipiac University poll released today shows Sen. John McCain in a statistical tie with Sen. Barack Obama in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania.

Obama still leads in Pennsylvania, 48 percent to McCain's 45 percent, but that is withing the poll's statistical margin of error, so the race is essentially tied in the Keystone State, according to Quinnipiac.

The Quinnipiac University Polling Institute measured boosts for McCain in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida since the announcement of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate.

According to the poll, McCain leads Obama in Florida by a 50-43 percent margin. In Ohio, Obama leads by a 49-44 percent margin.

"Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin apparently is attracting white women likely voters to Arizona Sen. John McCain, helping him pull away from Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in Florida and narrow the gap with the Democrat in Pennsylvania, even as he is slipping slightly in Ohio," according to a press release issued by Quinnipiac University pollsters.

The release also notes that "No one has been elected President since 1960 without taking two of these three largest swing states in the Electoral College."

With Florida looking safe for the GOP, a win in Ohio or Pennsylvania by McCain could tip the election to the Republicans.

Since Aug. 26, McCain's support among white women is up four percentage points in Ohio and five points in Pennsylvania, and dropped two points in Florida, where it was high to start, the release says.

"White women, a key demographic group in any national election, appear to be in play, with some movement towards Sen. McCain in Pennsylvania and Ohio," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Obviously Gov. Sarah Palin is having the impact that Sen. McCain hoped when he selected her."

To read the full poll results, visit the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute Web site.

Did Sen. Barack Obama call Gov. Sarah Palin a "pig" during a recent campaign speech? Obama denies it, but a lot of people don't believe him.

Whether he meant to refer to Gov. Palin as a pig or not is not the real question here. It's all about Obama's judgment, especially under pressure. Polls now have the Republican ticket even with the Democrats and Obama is losing support among women. The Obama campaign is getting desperate.

If Obama meant to call Gov. Palin a pig, that was a dumb move on his part. Would he call Sen. John McCain a pig?

Here's what the Pennsylvania Republican Party has to say about the controversy:

HARRISBURG – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Vice-Chairman Joyce Haas, National Committeewoman Christine Toretti and Deputy Chairwoman Renee Amoore were appalled by the derogatory comments Barack Obama made towards Governor Sarah Palin and question why he decided to disrespect this successful woman. In response, they released the following joint statement:

"Barack Obama needs to understand that the comments he made today are unacceptable. We find his reference to Sarah Palin as a pig incredibly distasteful and believe that these types of comments have no place in this election. We call on Obama and his running mate Joe Biden to stop leveling personal insults against Governor Palin and instead keep the discussion focused on the important issues facing our nation.

"We believe Obama should apologize immediately to Governor Palin and stop attacking our candidate because she is a woman."

According to Politico, Barack Obama made the following comments in reference to Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Governor Sarah Palin: "You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig." ("Obama, Dems sharpen personal attacks on Palin," Politico, 9/9/08)

A new poll of residents in 22 countries, including most of Europe, finds more people want to see Barack Obama as the next president of the United States.

You know what I always say. If the Europeans are in favor of something, it can't be good for the U.S.

All Countries in BBC Poll Prefer Obama to McCain

Only one candidate for president supports school choice, which is the only way to improve the American education system.

Sen. John McCain delivered these remarks to the Republican National Convention last week showing his support for breaking the public education monopoly that has led to decades of failing schools:

"Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access to public education has been gained. But what is the value of access to a failing school? We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice, remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers, and help bad teachers find another line of work.

When a public school fails to meet its obligations to students, parents deserve a choice in the education of their children. And I intend to give it to them. Some may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private one. Many will choose a charter school. But they will have that choice and their children will have that opportunity.

Senator Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucracies. I want schools to answer to parents and students. And when I'm President, they will."

For more information on school choice issues, including charter schools, cyber schools and home schooling, visit SchoolChoiceSaves.org

Election Day is still more than 55 days away, but the The New York Post has made up its mind on which candidate should be elected the next president of the United States.

It's John McCain, according to the Post editorial board.

The Post is the first major U.S. newspaper to pick sides in the upcoming election, months before most newspapers typically publish endorsement editorials. In 2004, the left-leaning Philadelphia Inquirer published 17 consecutive endorsement editorials for John Kerry, but most newspapers usually wait until a few days before the election to endorse.

Here's why the Post believes McCain should be elected president:

McCain's lifelong record of service to America, his battle-tested courage, unshakeable devotion to principle and clear grasp of the dangers and opportunities now facing the nation stand in dramatic contrast to the tissue-paper-thin résumé of his Democratic opponent, freshman Sen. Barack Obama.

From the Post editorial:

McCain has been in Washington for many years now, but he is not of Washington. He knows where the levers of power are located - and how to manipulate them - but he is not controlled by them.

McCain's selection of the charming, but rock-solid, outsider Sarah Palin as his running mate underscores the point.

Neither plays well with others.

And this is an unalloyed asset at a time when special interests - lobbyists, lawyers and organized labor chief among them - wield enormous influence in the nation's capital.

McCain's Democratic opponents, Obama and Sen. Joseph Biden, lead a party constructed of special interests - public-employee unionists in particular.

The newspaper goes on to make the case that McCain is better than Obama on national security, taxes, trade and energy.

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.

Nielsen Media Research reports that 38.9 million people watched Sen. John McCain's Sept. 4 acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, outdrawing Sen. Barack Obama's Aug. 28 stadium speech by a half-million people.

Obama's speech in Denver was viewed by 38.4 million people, according to Nielsen, which tracks viewers on six commercial networks.

And this interesting nugget from The Associated Press:

With Sarah Palin's speech on Wednesday, more people watched the Republican convention this week than the Democrats the previous week.

The AP added audience estimates provided by the liberal-leaning Public Broadcasting System, claiming the audiences for each speech was a virtual tie.

PBS says 3.5 million people watched McCain's speech on PBS on Sept. 4, but the same network claims 4 million people watched Obama's speech on PBS on Aug. 28. Those numbers sound fishy.

If you add both the commercial networks and PBS numbers, each speech was viewed by an estimated 42.4 million.

Either way, it's a huge victory for the GOP. The liberal media left the Republican Party for dead during the primary races and has openly promoted an Obama presidency.

Despite the pro-Obama media, the American people will get the final say on the next president on Nov. 4.

The Fraternal Order of Police, the nation's largest law enforcement union representing 327,000 members, has endorsed Sen. John McCain for president.

"The FOP carefully considered the records and the responses of both candidates and, in our evaluation, Senator McCain will provide greater leadership for our country and for our nation's law enforcement officers," said FOP President Chuck Canterbury. "We will be proud to stand behind him this November, and to stand with him for the next four years."

In a written statement, Canterbury cited Sen. McCain's strong support for the FOP's efforts to amend the Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act and pledged to work with the organization in crafting our nation's law enforcement policy.

From an FOP release:

"Senator John McCain is a proven leader with a clear record of support for the men and women who put their lives on the line -- just as he did -- to defend our communities and our nation," Canterbury said. "I am proud to offer the Senator our endorsement today and I look forward to working with the McCain Administration over the next four years."

For more on the endorsement, click on the link below:

Fraternal Order of Police Endorses McCain!!!

One of the most compelling parts of Sen. John McCain's speech Thursday was his call to end the partisan bickering that has divided this country. McCain is clearly reaching out to independent voters and centrist Democrats. He promised to bring the best people he can find into his administration regardless of their political affiliation:

In America, we change things that need to be changed. Each generation makes its contribution to our greatness. The work that is ours to do is plainly before us. We don't need to search for it.

We need to change the way government does almost everything: from the way we protect our security to the way we compete in the world economy; from the way we respond to disasters to the way we fuel our transportation network; from the way we train our workers to the way we educate our children. All these functions of government were designed before the rise of the global economy, the information technology revolution and the end of the Cold War. We have to catch up to history, and we have to change the way we do business in Washington.

The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn't a cause, it's a symptom. It's what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you.

Again and again, I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That's how I will govern as President. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again.

I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not.

Instead of rejecting good ideas because we didn't think of them first, let's use the best ideas from both sides. Instead of fighting over who gets the credit, let's try sharing it. This amazing country can do anything we put our minds to. I will ask Democrats and Independents to serve with me.

And my administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability.

We're going to finally start getting things done for the people who are counting on us, and I won't care who gets the credit.

Martin Feldstein is a professor of economics at Harvard University. John B. Taylor is a professor of economics at Stanford University. Both men are economic advisers to Sen. John McCain.

Writing in The Wall Street Journal, the economics professors say McCain's tax plan would "create jobs, increase wages and allow all Americans -- especially those in the hard-pressed middle class -- to keep more of what they earn. His plan achieves these goals in three important ways."

Feldstein and Taylor are also skeptical of Sen. Barack Obama's economic claims.

From their column:

Mr. Obama's claim to being a big tax cutter defies credibility. His assertion that he would cut taxes on 95% of families reflects his one-time $1,000 rebate payouts, and a variety of new government spending handed out through the tax system.

Mr. McCain, on the other hand, has been clear that he wants to preserve the favorable incentive effects of the existing low tax rates -- and to reduce taxes in other ways that will strengthen the economy, create jobs and help current taxpayers, including those without health insurance.

Read the full column at the newspaper's Web site.

I can't believe the Obama-lovers are actually going to use the experience factor to criticize Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

The last thing any Democrat wants to bring up is how inexperienced Barack Obama is to be president. (What's next? A comparison of John McCain's military record to Barack Obama's military record?)

Look at this way. Palin is running for vice president. If she gets in with John McCain, she'll have plenty of time to earn more experience. What's Obama going to do if he's elected president? Name Joe Biden as "acting president" until Obama gets enough training for the job?

SAVE THE GOP has an excellent comparison of the political experience of Barack Obama and Sarah Palin. The key numbers: Palin Executive Experience - 8 years; Obama Executive Experience - 0 days.

Don't know much about Sarah Palin, but I know she's no Joe Biden, a Washington insider with ties to lobbyists and one of the most liberal voting records in the Senate.

It was a bold move by John McCain, one that shifts momentum back to the Republicans after Barack Obama's "Lollipops and Rainbows" speech Thursday night.

A lot of Hillary Clinton supporters and independents will take a closer look at the McCain-Palin team.

Click here for more in Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska.

If you've tuned in to the Democratic National Convention this week, you probably heard these lines:

* John McCain voted 90 percent with George Bush

* John McCain gets millions from oil companies

* John McCain is promising tax breaks for Big Oil

Sounds like you shouldn't vote for this guy, right? One slight problem. The Democrats are lying about McCain's record.

How far are the Democrats willing to stretch the truth? Barack Obama has received more contributions from the oil companies and their employees than John McCain has.

The Associated Press did one of its occasional FactCheck stories on the Democratic Party claims and found the party stretching the truth.

Click here to get the facts.

If you need further proof of liberal media bias, here it is.

Sen. Barack Obama has received nearly 40 percent more media coverage this summer than Sen. John McCain, according to LexisNexis, which monitors 2,700 media outlets that includes virtually all major newspapers, magazines, Web sites, television and radio networks in the United States.

LexisNexis is a pioneering "global provider of business information" and has developed something called the "Media Coverage Sentiment Index" that evaluates quantity and tone of coverage, according to the company.

From LexisNexis Analytics press release:

In the past six weeks leading up to the two major U.S. political parties' national conventions, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was the subject of 38 percent more media coverage in the United States than Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), but the tone of each presidential candidate's coverage was remarkably similar during that same time frame, according to the LexisNexis(R) Analytics Media Coverage Sentiment Index.

LexisNexis evaluated 17,455 stories that discussed Obama during the period of July 7 to August 17 in U.S. print, broadcast and online media outlets found that 34% of the coverage was positive, 35% was neutral and 31% was negative, the company says.

Of the 12,665 stories that discussed McCain during the same time frame and in the same U.S. media outlets, 33% were positive, 34% were neutral and 33% were negative, the company says.

More from the company release:

The findings support the assumption made by many U.S. political observers that Sen. Obama's campaign is attracting an unprecedented amount of media attention this year.

I can't vouch for the company's conclusion that the "tone" of coverage of Obama and McCain is basically evenhanded, but the fact that Obama is getting nearly 40 percent more coverage says a lot about who the media is pushing to be the next president.

Seth Gitell, writing in the New York Sun, says Barack Obama should be much further ahead in the polls in Pennsylvania. The fact that he isn't (and he lost to state's primary to Hillary Clinton) means the Keystone State could be won by John McCain under the right circumstances.

From his article, "Battle of Pennsylvania" --

None of this poll data is to suggest that Mr. McCain is likely to win Pennsylvania, a state that went for Ronald Reagan but has been won by Democrats in the last four elections. But Republicans do believe they have a chance here. Mr. McCain has visited Pennsylvania 10 times since the contentious Democratic primary.

"I think McCain still has a chance," the chairman of the Allegheny County Republican Committee, James Roddey, said. "We're hearing from more and more Democrats that they're just not going to vote for Obama."

Part of the quandary for Mr. Obama is that Hillary Clinton defeated him by 9.2% in the April primary. Many of her most devoted backers, such as Governor Rendell, have moved their organizational muscle firmly behind Mr. Obama. But others have not. Prominent election signs for Senator Clinton still dot the heavily Democratic Pittsburgh neighborhood of Squirrel Hill.

Read the full story at the newspaper's Web site.

It's a shame the "Civil Forum" at Rick Warren's Saddleback church was held on a Saturday night in August during the Olympics, guaranteeing a small audience.

Sen. John McCain mopped the floor with Sen. Barack Obama. McCain was decisive in his answers and offered a clear vision of his presidency. Sen. Obama danced around most of the questions and tried to avoid taking a position on any controversial issue.

The biggest flop was Obama's answer to a question about abortion. Obama, the most pro-abortion candidate to ever seek the presidency, couldn't give a simple answer to a simple question, "When does life begin?"

He avoided the question entirely, eventually saying, "Whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity is, you know, above my pay grade."

Above my pay grade? You want to be president of the United States and you can't answer a question because it's "above my pay grade"? Doesn't sound like Sen. Obama is up to the job.

Writing at Lincoln Blog, Lowman Henry says,

"Obama both waffled politically, and revealed himself as a politician still not clear in his own mind who he is and what he is about. While smooth and engaging, Obama's performance at the forum left open the question of exactly what kind of 'change' his candidacy would bring to America."

For more commentary on the Saturday's candidate forum, check out Lincoln Blog and Save the GOP.

He's on TV. He's on radio. He's all over the Internet. He's on the cover of every magazine. He's all over the newspapers. Now the books are coming out.

If you're suffering from Obama Fatigue, you're not alone.

A new poll finds nearly half of Americans (48 percent) are tired of hearing about Barack Obama, according to a poll released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center.

That's not a good sign considering there's still nearly three months to go until the Nov. 4 election.

The poll also found that by a 22 percent to 16 percent margin, people say they have a less favorable rather than more favorable view of Obama.

In other words, the more people learn about the Democratic nominee, the more doubts they have about his ability to serve as president.

The poll also found that voters want to hear more about Sen. John McCain. (Only 26 percent of those responding to the poll said they are tired of hearing about McCain.)

With the liberal media openly rooting for an Obama presidency, it's hard for McCain to be heard.

For more on the poll, visit the Pew Research Center at http://people-press.org

Ralph Nader has qualified for the Nov. 4 ballot in Pennsylvania, according to The Associated Press.

This is big news in two ways.

Nader was thrown off the ballot in 2004 by Democratic Party operatives who went to court to challenge Nader's nominating petitions. It turns out that the people who worked on the challenge were state workers who were doing campaign work on taxpayer time.

With Nader off the ballot, John F. Kerry narrowly defeated George W. Bush to take Pennsylvania.

The other significant impact of Nader on the ballot in 2008 is how much support he will draw away from Barack Obama, who has abandoned his left base on a half-dozen important issues, including the war in Iraq.

Nader is the only candidate who is calling for an immediate pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq. Die-hard liberals may vote for Nader as a protest to Obama's flip-flopping.

That's good news for John McCain, who is hanging close in the race.

If McCain takes Pennsylvania, he wins the White House.

Read more from the AP story in today's edition of The Mercury.

Sen. Barack Obama turns 47 today. Is that too young to hold the office of president?

A few weeks ago, The Associated Press moved a story with the headline, "Is John McCain too old to be president?"

It was a strange story. McCain at 72, would be the oldest person ever elected president, but since there is nothing in the Constitution that establishes a maximum age for president, what was the point of the article?

Is Robert Byrd or Ted Kennedy or Arlen Specter too old to serve in the U.S. Senate?

Should members of the Supreme Court be forced to retire at age 75?

I'm not sure I want an 80-year-old Supreme Court Justice or a 90-year-old serving in the Senate. But 72 isn't that old.

I've been waiting to see a follow-up story with the headline, "Is Barack Obama too young to be president?" but the AP hasn't seen fit to do the story.

I can only surmise that the original story was intended to cast some doubt in voters' minds about McCain's age or mental sharpness.

The Associated Press had been one of the last objective sources of news left in the world, but it's clear the AP is now in the tank for Barack Obama.

A week after the "age" story, the AP ran another bizarre story about how John McCain doesn't use a personal computer or send e-mail. The headline was something along the lines of "Unlike most seniors, McCain doesn't use a computer."

Again, where does it state in the Constitution that a president must use a computer to qualify for the office.

Back to Barack Obama. Isn't 47 a bit young for a person to hold the most powerful office in the world?

It's not just Obama's inexperience, less than 3 years in the U.S. Senate and half that time spent campaigning for the White House, but it's his lack of real-life experience.

I want somebody who has accomplished something in life serving in the White House.

Democratic voters who are on the fence about Barack Obama (start with the 18 million who voted for Hillary Clinton) aren't going to like the implication in the new song by rapper Ludacris promoting a Barack Obama presidency.

The two lines are are sure to get the most attention:

Paint the White House black and I'm sure that's got 'em terrified
McCain don't belong in any chair unless he's paralyzed

There are a lot of Americans who are on the fence about Obama, not necessarily for his skin color, but for his association with so many people who hate this country -- Rev. Wright, the Weather Underground terrorists, etc.) You can add the name of Ludacris to that list.

The Obama campaign has issued a condemnation for the song, but Obama himself earlier praised Ludacris as a talented artists and an example of a successful black businessman. This sounds like another of those "trying to have it both ways" attempts by Obama.

It all comes back to the company you keep. Make up your own mind.

Here are the lyrics of Ludacris' Obama Song:

I'm back on it like I just signed my record deal
Yeah the best is here, the Bentley Coup paint is dripping wet, it got sex appeal
Never should have hated
You never should've doubted him
With a slot in the president's iPod Obama shattered 'em

Said I handled his biz and I'm one of his favorite rappers
Well give Luda a special pardon if I'm ever in the slammer
Better yet put him in office, make me your vice president
Hillary hated on you, so that bitch is irrelevant

Jesse talking slick and apologizing for what?
If you said it then you meant it how you want it have a gut!
And all you other politicians trying to hate on my man,
watch us win a majority vote in every state on my man

You can't stop what's bout to happen, we bout to make history
The first black president is destined and it's meant to be
The threats ain't fazing us, the nooses or the jokes
So get off your ass, black people, it's time to get out and vote!

Paint the White House black and I'm sure that's got 'em terrified
McCain don't belong in any chair unless he's paralyzed
Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped
Ball up all of his speeches and I throw 'em like candy wrap
'cause what you talking I hear nothing even relevant
and you the worst of all 43 presidents

Get out and vote or the end will be near
The world is ready for change because Obama is here!
'cause Obama is here
The world is ready for change because Obama is here!

Political insiders are saying former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge is on the short list of vice presidential candidates being considered by Sen. John McCain.

I've been worried for months that Ridge would end up as McCain's VP. They're very close personal friends. I've never been a fan of Tom Ridge, but I can see McCain's thinking in picking him for VP.

Ridge remains a popular former governor in Pennsylvania and could help deliver the Keystone State for the Republicans come November.

People's fondness for Ridge has a lot to do with what a terrible governor Ed Rendell has been. It's the same nostalgia people invoke about the Bill Clinton administration. George Bush has screwed up so badly that his predecessor looks much better even though most of the country's current woes can be traced to the Clinton years.

The problem I have with Tom Ridge is that he's pro-abortion and is not a fiscal conservative. Picking Ridge would alienate the conservative base of the Republican Party, but McCain is gambling that the base will come around because the alternative -- Barack Obama -- is unthinkable.

Pennsylvania is considered a swing state, but leans toward the Democrats. If McCain wins Pennsylvania, he will be the next president.

Barack Obama can't win the presidency without taking Pennsylvania. McCain could still get enough electoral votes to win even if he loses Pennsylvania, but the Keystone State could be the knockout state for the Democrats.

Based on his statements during visits to U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, it appears General Barack Obama is planning to have us stay in that dangerous part of the world for a very long time -- much longer than Sen. John McCain.

Obama has the prerogative to change his mind -- as he's done so many times already -- but based on his new grand strategy for fighting the war on terror, Obama intends to escalate the war in Iraq and possibly send U.S. troops into Pakistan, where the Taliban (and Osama bin Laden) are hiding.

And if Obama's plan to withdraw troops from Iraq leads to a collapse of the fragile Iraqi government and intervention by Iran, the U.S. will have to return to Iraq and fight both the terrorists and Iran.

So let's review. If we follow the Obama plan, we will end up fighting in three or possibly four countries instead of two. Does that sound like the same man who won the Democratic Party nomination by promising to end the war in Iraq on the say he is sworn in as president?

If you like the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama is your man. He will not only continue it during his presidency, but escalate the war.

Dick Morris offers some advice for John McCain on how to deal with General Barack Obama.

From a new column by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann:

McCain needs to hammer at one basic theme: that Obama's pullout plan will lead to a third Iraq war. The Democrat wants to keep substantial numbers of troops next door, to go back into Iraq if necessary. McCain should stress that a premature withdrawal will lead to a collapse - losing the hard-won stability in Iraq, opening the door to an Iranian takeover and al Qaeda revival, and potentially forcing a new US invasion.

Obama isn't a peace candidate, McCain can say - just an advocate of a deferred war. Just as the first President George Bush left the ingredients in place for a second war when he failed to depose Saddam Hussein in 1991, so Obama will fail to finish the job and invite yet another war if he abandons Iraq before our gains have been consolidated.

With Ralph Nader running on a strict antiwar platform, Obama is vulnerable on the left. If he seems to falter on a withdrawal from Iraq, or leave the door open to re-entry, McCain's attacks can drive liberals away from the Democrat.

It's literally true that if McCain is elected, there will be fewer US deaths in Iraq than there will be if Obama prevails. By pulling out only when it's safe to do so, McCain would finish the job and allow a peaceful transition to a stable democratic government. If we pull out too fast - and then have to go back in - the casualties will be many times those we now face.

Read the rest of MCCAIN'S WAY FORWARD at the New York Post Web site.

If you turn on the TV news, pick up a newspaper or click your way to the Internet, you probably think Sen. Barack Obama has already been elected president.

The fix is in among the mainstream media. Obama is their hand-picked candidate for president and nothing is going to stop them from delivering the goods for the Democratic Party. (Hell, they already delivered the Democratic Party nomination to the dreamy Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton.)

The left-leaning media almost delivered the presidency to Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004. They learned from their mistakes. The media won't be so subtle in 2008. They're going to shove Barack Obama down our throats until everyone jumps aboard the Obama bandwagon.

There is just one minor detail. Despite the relentless media hype and the anointing of Barack Obama as president, Americans haven't gone to the polls yet. That happens on Nov. 4. There's still 118 days until Election Day.

Some pundits are predicting Obama will win 40 or more states, something we haven't seen since Ronald Reagan's day.

Hank Clarke, who operates the excellent blog The Clarke Report from Schuylkill County, offers a scenario where Obama doesn't win the presidency.

While the pundits say Barack Obama has already won key battleground states such as Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, Ohio, Iowa, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico, Clarke offers some persuasive arguments against an Obama sweep of those states.

Clarke writes:

Campaigns are unpredictable. Issues change. Candidates make mistakes. Voters change their minds. Don't feed into the garbage that the mainstream media is feeding you. McCain can win the White House. We elect our president. We don't coronate him. Make B. Hussein Obama earn it, don't hand it to him with your apathy.

Read "Don't Buy the Media Hype, McCain Still has a Shot" at The Clarke Report.

A new Associated Press-Yahoo News Poll finds the majority of pet owners in the United States would vote for Sen. John McCain over Sen. Barack Obama.

The deciding factor?

McCain has two dogs and a cat. Obama has no pets. Another reason Obama isn't like most Americans.

The American Pet Product Manufacturers Association estimates that 63 percent of American homes include a pet, including 88 million cats and 75 million dogs, the AP says.

"From an image standpoint, nothing humanizes a candidate more than seeing him lovingly dote on his pet or toss a ball around on the White House lawn," American Kennel Club spokeswoman Lisa Peterson told The Associated Press.

Pet owners favor McCain over Obama 42 percent to 37 percent, according to the AP-Yahoo News poll.

Dog owners in particular identified with McCain.

The McCain family owns a lot of pets, including Sam the English springer spaniel, Coco the mutt, turtles Cuff and Link, Oreo the black and white cat, a ferret, three parakeets and a bunch of saltwater fish.

The poll found that among people who don't have pets (typically liberals who are too full of themselves to take care of a pet), Obama leads McCain 48 percent to 34 percent.

Dog owners lean toward McCain, 43 percent to 34 percent, while cat owners basically divide their loyalties with 41 percent for McCain and 38 percent for Obama, the AP reports.

There's a growing movement of Hillary Clinton supporters who plan to vote for Sen. John McCain in November.

Check out the Clintons For McCain Web site to find out more about why Democrats believe McCain would make a much better president than Barack Obama.

The group is one of at least 20 that have formed since Obama declared himself the presumptive Democratic Party nominee.

Here's a list of other groups that are not supporting Obama, still want Hillary Clinton to be the nominee or would vote for McCain over Obama:

CLINTONDEMS.COM

SWINGCRATS.ORG

HIREHEELS.COM

WALKAMILEINMYSHOES.COM

OBAMAWTF.BLOGSPOT.COM

WRITEHILLARYIN.COM

HILLARYGRASSROOTSCAMPAIGN.COM

PUMAPAC.BLOGSPOT.COM

WOMENFORFAIRPOLITICS.COM

HILLARYCLINTONFORUM.NET

MISSHILLARYCLINTON.COM

NOQUARTERUSA.NET

FLORIDADEMANDSREPRESENTATION.ORG

LIBERALRAPTURE.COM

COMEALONGWAY.BLOGSPOT.COM

SEATOURDELEGATES.COM

BLUELYON.BLOGSPOT.COM

It's hard to imagine a scenario where John McCain gets enough Electoral College votes without winning Pennsylvania.

To that end, the McCain camp is gearing up its Pennsylvania campaign.

It's not going to be easy based on the state's history of voting for Democratic candidates in recent presidential elections.

From Dan Hirschhorn writing at PolitickerPA.com:

"Voters in the state, which has not gone Republican in 20 years, are increasingly leaning Democratic. His opponent, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), had to build an organization in the state for a fiercely competitive primary while McCain had already secured the Republican nomination.

Then again, let's not forget how poorly Obama did in the Keystone State outside of Philadelphia. A lot of "bitter" people didn't buy Obama's smooth-talking liberalism.

The state will be decided in the Southeastern Pennsylvania suburbs, where McCain could appeal to moderate Republicans, independents and some Democrats.

Read more analysis of the Pennsylvania campaign at PolitickerPA.com