I am 34 and decided to get involved. Have always followed politics personally and intensely thanks to my dad. The last 2 years and this election has made me get involved. Called The AZ GOP today, starting to help. Texted my brother, he is doing the same in Toledo, and informing his friends to do the same. I quote Young Guns “Regulators Mount up” it is our time to step and be the party of issues, the party of ideas. We have lost that. I plan to engage the college crowd and be the idea guy to the youth. Join me lets change this country at the local and state level and worry about the federal level after we build the foundation!

mason dixon has Penn at +4 obama. I would be curious to see the real clear average without all these extraneous polls. Thanks to AZaeroprof for his totally clear politics, I hope he is onto something.

I didn’t see the infomercial, I had better things to do like clean dirt out of my tires! The clip that I caught is the $200K line, I remember when he clearly stated $250k, I also remember during the saddleback forum when he talked about $150k. There should be a good battleground commercial coming!

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comesto $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would gosomething like this: The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing. Thefifth would pay $1. The sixth would pay $3. The seventh would pay $7. Theeighth would pay $12. The ninth would pay $18. The tenth man (the richest)would pay $59. So, that’s what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the barevery day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the ownerthrew them a curve. ‘Since you are all such good customers,’ he said, ‘I’mgoing to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.’ Drinks for the ten nowcost just $80. The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay ourtaxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.But what about the other six men – the paying customers? How could they dividethe $20 windfall so that everyone would get his ‘fair share?’ They realizedthat $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’sshare, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid todrink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduceeach man’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out theamounts each should pay. And so: The fifth man, like the first four, now paidnothing (100% savings). The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings). Theseventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings). The eighth now paid $9 insteadof $12 (25% savings). The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings). Thetenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings). Each of the six was better offthan before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outsidethe restaurant, the men began to compare their savings. ‘I only got a dollarout of the $20,’declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,’ but hegot $10!’ ‘Yeah, that’s right,’ exclaimed the fifth man. ‘I only saved adollar, too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I got’. ‘That’strue!!’ shouted the seventh man. ‘Why should he get $10 back when I got onlytwo? The wealthy get all the breaks!’ ‘Wait a minute,’ yelled the first fourmen in unison. ‘We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!’The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth mandidn’t show up for drinks so the nine sat down and had beers without him. Butwhen it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. Theydidn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill! Andthat, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our taxsystem works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from atax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they justmay not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where theatmosphere is somewhat friendlier. David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D. Professor ofEconomics University of Georgia For those who understand, no explanation isneeded. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

So zogby has been bouncing back and forth between 4 and 6 points. tomorrow’s poll is 3.8% (4%), but 3.8 sounds better! 7.4% undecided. I guess I am just being optomistic.

The following is from a coworker who asked me to post this for him. He has asked that it be shared and spread, so feel free!

AFTER LISTENING TO BOTH CANDIDATES I BELIEVE McCAIN IS THE BEST CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT. NOTHING AGAINST SENATOR OBAMA BUT PERHAPS AFTER HE HAS SPENT SOME TIME IN THE SENATE VOTING FOR OR AGAINST SOMETHING AND ESTABLISHING A RECORD HE CAN APPLY FOR THIS MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD.

SENATOR JOHN McCAIN

THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THESE

UNITED STATES

After listening to stories of what you’ve been through

I’m left searching for words to express my gratitude

The reality of war, the sacrifices you’ve made

There has to be something I can think of to say

But the silence is deafening, the air quickly chills

And time for the moment becomes incredibly still

Leaving me standing there as if frozen in time

The images of your story forever etched in my mind

Taking a moment I reflect back through the years

My heart becomes heavy, my eyes fill with tears

The world as we know it has so drastically changed

It seems our way of life will never be the same

Since this country began we’ve been tested and tried

Many have stepped forward, many have heroically died

Defending this country, eager to answer the call

Pursuing liberty and justice for one and for all

Proud? You better believe I’m proud

And grateful for your sacrifice both then and now

Defending our country, our freedom, our way of life

Knowing at any moment you could make the ultimate sacrifice

Giving of yourselves so that people in this country remain free

Free to openly express their opinions, to argue, to disagree

Whether their sons and daughters should be put in harm’s way

Causing me to wonder what language we might be speaking today

And for those who have perished and to the loved ones who remain

Know that your ultimate sacrifice for freedom will not be in vain

Now more than ever we need to unite and come together as one

Putting our differences aside and support our daughters and sons

Who are willing to go into harm’s way, risk the ultimate sacrifice

Defending our country, our freedom, our way of life

Unsung heroes who have stepped forward and answered the call

Ensuring the dream of liberty and justice continues for one and for all

And though we know that in life there are no guarantees

Because of people like you Senator McCain, we continue to be free

So after listening to your story of what you’ve been through

I am confidant this country can once again depend on you

To defend our freedom, our beliefs, our way of life

Drawing from a life time of experience, a life time of sacrifice

So as you prepare for this journey we want you to know

Our prayers and thoughts are with you wherever you go

And for a life time of service along with the sacrifice you’ve made

You will become one of the greatest Presidents of these United States

Tim Holloway RN

I don’t know about the mortgage stuff, but I need to see more. But I will say this: I was recently in a sticky financial situation and was trying to negotiate with my lender to prevent a possible foreclosure. They were so rigid and would not bend even in the face of having to take on another mortgage. It was baffling to my wife and I why a lender would take a huge hit rather than finding a solution where the loan stays solvent and they continue to make money……….mystifying! FYI Everything worked out and no foreclosure.

More importantly Mccain did a very good job of linking the new economy and recovery to energy. I just wish he would have referenced energy as the new manufacturing industry.

If it is true that Mccain did better on the economy tonight (which I believe he did) it will be interesting to see if this steadies the ship. We shall see!

It is easy to tell if our base is excited, just go to redstate and see how slow it moves! When McPalin was plummetting it was fast to click on links, now uh not so much!

I am going to pretend it is all undecideds who want to learn about ayers!

Enough said! Did anyone see his show tonight? “I am a registered independent and I have the paperwork to prove it” My a@#! Words cannot describe my anger and outrage!

There are 3 things Palin must do tonight in the debate:

1) Expose Obama’s tax plan and WIN
2) Expose Biden’s Past Foreign policy credibility and WIN
3) Lay out the energy plan in regards to the new american economy and jobs and WIN!

Well the polls are trending down, and spirits are sinking. It reminds me of post obama convention pre mccain convention. And then came Sarah Palin, our great hope. Now what I ask? Sarah who? Can she do it again? If she hammers biden and more importantly obama in the process are we back in this game?

I was very nervous pre palin speech. I am not even really nervous at this point because I don’t even know if it matters. What do you think, how will she do and will it matter. Can we overcome John McCain’s inability to hammer obama on the economy, and can we overcome the cheerleading media? More people will tune in to this debate, alot to see if she will bomb. We shall see, let us hope we see the old Sarah Palin slice and dice her way back into this thing.

I have an uneasy feeling after this debate and looking at the polls (yes I know I am supposed to disregard the polls). I was consistently disappointed in Mccains inability to pummel on Barry on multiple points.

1) offshore drilling: McCain had the opportunity to call out Barry and the whole democratic party when he stated they had a good energy bill with offshore drilling. Mccain’s response should have been “The bill is a sham! There is no drilling within 50 miles of the coast and no royalties to the states that must allow”

2)The bailout bill: McCain’s should of been response “You want tax payers to fund it, I want the companies to fund it!”

3) Tax cuts: McCain should have said “I appreciate the fact that you want a tax cut for the middle class but when you allow the bush tax cuts to expire your tax cut actually increases taxes on the middle class. What good is a tax cut to the middle class if they don’t have a job because you raised taxes on their employers. I want everyone to pay lower taxes so everyone has lower taxes and a J-O-B job!

4) On Barry’s claim that he wants clean coal: “That’s ironic your VP just said no more coal plants in America, they are killing us, Senator Obama is this another instance of you saying one thing to the people who want to hear you are for clean coal and the real conversation amongst your campaign no more clean coal.”

I am noone special, noone smart, just a regular joe, but comeon these were gimme’s.

I have an uneasy feeling after this debate and looking at the polls (yes I know I am supposed to disregard the polls). I was consistently disappointed in Mccains inability to pummel on Barry on multiple points.

1) offshore drilling: McCain had the opportunity to call out Barry and the whole democratic party when he stated they had a good energy bill with offshore drilling. Mccain’s response should have been “The bill is a sham! There is no drilling within 50 miles of the coast and no royalties to the states that must allow”

2)The bailout bill: McCain’s should of been response “You want tax payers to fund it, I want the companies to fund it!”

3) Tax cuts: McCain should have said “I appreciate the fact that you want a tax cut for the middle class but when you allow the bush tax cuts to expire your tax cut actually increases taxes on the middle class. What good is a tax cut to the middle class if they don’t have a job because you raised taxes on their employers. I want everyone to pay lower taxes so everyone has lower taxes and a J-O-B job!

4) On Barry’s claim that he wants clean coal: “That’s ironic your VP just said no more coal plants in America, they are killing us, Senator Obama is this another instance of you saying one thing to the people who want to hear you are for clean coal and the real conversation amongst your campaign no more clean coal.”

I am noone special, noone smart, just a regular joe, but comeon these were gimme’s.

If you look at the current RCP electoral map, the road to 270 goes thru the following toss up state: Virgina (reasonable), Ohio (reasonable), Nevada (close to reasonable), New Mexico (close to reasonable). The debates will be huge, key is to keep the Obiden ticket off balance and polls slightly in the good guys favor until debates. I expect a relaxed and energized Mccain in the debates kind of like saddleback. In Mccain’s eyes he has nothing to lose. He does well in interviews and is very succinct with his answers. I expect the same in the debates, bc that is all they really are, interview. I have seen a different mccain of late compared to the primaries. He did not know where to tread then (go right or be natural in the middle). He can now be natural in the middle. The good news in regards to the palin slow joe debate is that she can’t be edited!

If you have not checked out hughhewitt.townhall.com it links to the unedited Palin interview (I refuse to use the interviewer’s name out of respect for real journalists). I am asking everyone to bombard ABC with emails and phone calls regarding the hit job done by ABC by shortening her answers to make her look uninformed and undesirable. It is clear to me that they set out to get PAYBACK for the media bashing at the RNC. It is clear to me that ABC was trying to make her an example and “teach her a lesson” for her comments. Who is she to tell the dinosaur media that she doesn’t care what they think? We need to make this well known, and we need to make them pay ala Rathergate. If there is a bit of anger in my typing it is because my buckeyes got trounced tonight and they did not make the adjustment to play pryor more, but I digress.

When Dick talks, Mccain’s people listen! As this race has evolved, Morris has either been nostradomus or advising Mccain. When Obama did not pick Hillary, Morris immediately came out with pick a woman (Palin included). After the Palin pick he advised that Mccain needed to show that he is still the Maverick in order to separate himself from Pres. Bush. Mission accomplished! I am curious to see if he has any more advise, because so far it is working!!!

So why is a speech by Barry “O” labeled a great speech and the Gov. Palin speech (1/2 sans the teleprompter) is labeled “great political theatre”. Does anyone else remember the 1980-90′s WWF wrestler Barry “O”? I just realized how similar the two are. The grappler’s signature symbol was patting himself on the back when his name was announced. Does this remind you of anyone?

For the naysayers out there who say a VP choice makes little difference, I say follow the money! 6.8 million in one day speaks volumes. On top of that I have had two conversations today (out of the blue) of new McCain supporters. Not 30 minutes after Palin was tabbed, my mother received a phone call from a family friend stating “Well, we now have someone to vote for!” They are retired prounion evangelicals outside of Toledo, Ohio. I suspect there are many others like them who now identify with the ticket. The second conversation came from a coworker who calls himself a socially liberal republican who always finds a way to vote democratic. He actually voted for gore in 2000 and bush in 04. He was leaning obama but when palin was announced he jumped ship and is now strongly in the Mccain camp. He asked me if I knew of any rallies coming up. His wedge issue was the 2nd amendment. He stated that he was disappointed in obama’s selection of biden. I assume because of the washington insider connection. Lets hope the trend continues and Gov. Palin continues to impress on the trail!

For the naysayers out there who say a VP choice makes little difference, I say follow the money! 6.8 million in one day speaks volumes. On top of that I have had two conversations today (out of the blue) of new McCain supporters. Not 30 minutes after Palin was tabbed, my mother received a phone call from a family friend stating “Well, we now have someone to vote for!” They are retired prounion evangelicals outside of Toledo, Ohio. I suspect there are many others like them who now identify with the ticket. The second conversation came from a coworker who calls himself a socially liberal republican who always finds a way to vote democratic. He actually voted for gore in 2000 and bush in 04. He was leaning obama but when palin was announced he jumped ship and is now strongly in the Mccain camp. He asked me if I knew of any rallies coming up. His wedge issue was the 2nd amendment. He stated that he was disappointed in obama’s selection of biden. I assume because of the washington insider connection. Lets hope the trend continues and Gov. Palin continues to impress on the trail!

**So Mr. Begala on CNN’s Campbell Brown state how composed and comfortable Gov Palin was in front of people and then quipped something to the effect of “probably because she was a beauty queen.” Keep driving those HRC women to us. Someone more technogically savvy than myself needs to start a site for sexist comments against palin to draw the ire of the Hillary vote!