Egg on your face much Daniel?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27461933/

Thanks for putting to words everything that goes through my mind whenever Sarah Palin walks to a podium, and starts spewing downright lies. And you’ve done it much more eloquently than I ever could!

Holding the whole party responsible for remarks shouted by very very very few, THAT’S what I’d say requires the need to “step back and regain your honor”, let alone composure. Blogs and stories like this actually make me think McCain and Palin are doing much better than I’d guessed, considering the depths of dredge people are digging into to fight them.

Whatever, so long as it takes the pressure off of Obama and legitimate criticisms against him, eh?

There are plenty of wackos on both sides saying all sorts of terrible things. On the web, in person, in print, etc. if 10,000 people show up to a rally, a certain number are going to be unbalanced.

As to the “paling around with terrorists”, I do not hear anyone trying to say that Ayers is not a domestic terrorist. They try to use words like “revolutionary” and “60s radical” but his people acquired explosives, set off bombs and people died as a result. The word terrorist clearly fits but I suppose “palling around with” is open to interpretation. Should she have said “engaging in literary exchanges with” or “working with community groups with”?

It is her job to go for the most negative interpretation of the relationship between Ayers and Obama. Obama has not helped himself by downplaying the relationship and saying he was not aware of Ayers past. Now he is having to clarify things which, to some people (especially those who oppose you) looks like back pedaling or changing your story.

Obama has relationships that he has been evasive in disclosing. That is a calculated political decision. He has also withheld a lot of other documents that *some* candidates release. Again, this is a political calculation – what is going to be easier to handle – openness or speculation?

At the end of the say, we all see what we want to see. There is a broad spectrum of possible interpretations of a candidates actions (really, any persons actions). Some on the right see Palin as a crusader who is warning people about a candidate that is truly dangerous. These people have a very high level of trust and relate strongly to Palin while having high distrust of Obama. Your interpretation is on the other end of the scale – you see her actions as desperate, dangerous and motivated by the darkest part of her humanity (hate). Easily explained by the fact that you have no trust in Palin and very high trust in Obama.

This is all very predictable, but let us not pretend any of this is objective. It may well be reasonable – I am sure all the democrats see your post as reasonable. I think its reasonable given your views but objectivity is nowhere to be found here – on either side.

My problem is that McCain and Palin are instigating this, they ARE responsible. They are setting the tone that is fueling the hate. And I believe they are doing it knowingly.

I personally believe in taking people at their word. I am not super excited about the McCain-Palin ticket, but Obamas associations in the past have me very concerned – not that he is a terrorist or a member of an unpopular religion, but that his ideology is too far left for this country.

It does seem that people at the some of the Palin rallies have said things that any American should find reprehensible. Let us be clear that Sarah Palin is not saying “kill him” or “he is a terrorist”. Those are individual Americans, in very small numbers who attend rallies and exercise (in at least one case, abuse) their right to free speech.

Just as I agree with you that we should not call Obama a terrorist and that it is unfair to say that he holds the same views as Ayers because of proximity and association, it is likewise unfair to try to say that Palin is racist or hold her responsible for the sentiments of a few extremists.

Palin certainly has her drawbacks and has made her share of gaffes, but she has been unfairly targeted by extremists that support Obama. One famous comedienne even publicly suggested that she needed to be gang-raped. Is this the position of the Obama camp? No, of course not.

But it is the position of one Obama supporter.

So let us be fair – both sides have their share of wackos, extremists, idiots and menacing rogues. The American left has their bad apples and to pretend they don’t is to blind yourself with partisanship.

I don’t mind the negative attacks on either side. Sometimes they are legitimate and informative and sometimes they say more about the attacker than their opponent. I trust the America people to wade through the distortions, the false associations and the listen to enough different sourced to settle on something as near the truth as can be ascertained.

I saw the things coming out of dailykos a few weeks ago – where was the outrage then? It was on the right – because it was their ox being gored.

So let us all keep in mind that this issue is not about negative attacks or the truth or associations, it is about oxen. Everyones oxen gets gored a few times in an election, but standing up and saying “my ox was attacked” is just whining. Making it about honor and principle is much smarter and more effective so with that, I commend your acumen.

I am taking the samurai approach to this election – I am going into it assuming my candidate has already lost, so I am not troubled by fears and aprehension. Perhaps I will be surprised, but I have no expectations.

Well said! More and more of us need to stand up to the outright lies and hatred that are spreading like wild fire in and around the McCain-Palin campaign! I am not a follower. I have been an independent all my voting life and have made my decision for President based on the one most qualified to do the job. The US is the laughing stock of the world right now and we need a leader that will bring us hope and change. I urge the American people to visit http://www.factcheck.org and http://www.snopes.com to check the facts! I for one am not comfortable electing a man to be President that will resort to fear mongering to get what he wants. When McCain dies, do you really think Palin could be the leader of the free world? There are more than just hockey moms and Joe six-packs that vote. I don’t want a President that will sit down and drink a beer with me. I want a leader, not a friend! I have enough of those thank you!

Keep your posts coming!