Does inconsistency equal hypocrisy?  No doubt we all need to be perfectly careful of what we say in order to make sure we're not hypocrites.  I'm sure everyone of us has said things which could be compared to other things we've said to point out our "hypocrisy".  I just find it amusing that you seem to imply that the left wing media establishment is free of this.  I think the word hypocrite is bandied about far too much and while what these guys said may be inconsistent, I don't think hypocrisy is the right word.  You want to call them inconsistent, go right ahead.  I probably won't disagree with you.  Now, promising that you'll take public funding when it's politically expedient and then when the time comes and it's not politically expedient to do so, you turn it down, well... I'll leave that one alone .

Let's be clear, while McCain may not be biting the hand that feeds him (I mean, you can't do much if you're not elected), he hasn't exactly become Mr. Neocon.  While he has said he wants to drill offshore he has of yet (as far as I know) refused to say he will drill in ANWR.  Um, neocons want him to.  While you may disagree with him, it was only a year ago and at a time when "he didn't have a chance" that he sponsored a very unpopular immigration bill when it was not politically expedient for him to do so.  He certainly didn't tow the party line on that one to please the neocons.  A year before that, he was calling for Rumsfeld's (<--neocon) head and was considered the lone wacko amongst the republicans in calling for the surge.  He was against the tax cuts you point to because he wanted spending to be cut along with them, not because he didn't believe in cutting taxes.  In fact, John McCain has never voted for a tax increase so let's not give the impression that he's ever been like the dems or even moderates on this issue.  Sorry, you just don't have me sold on that one.

The government's first responsibility is to protect us from threats foreign and domestic.  That's the most imporant thing!  If you get this wrong, you don't get my vote, period.  Even if McCain were weak on the other things you mention, national security is paramount.  Still, he falls far behind Obama?  What plans does Obama exactly have to "fix" the economy?  He wants to raise taxes!  He wants to instate corporate windfall taxes!  While it makes one feel all fuzzy inside to say they will raise taxes on those rich ***s, they are not good for the economy.  Say what you will about the effectiveness of tax cuts to the economy but raising taxes when times are already tight is just plain stupid.  Where do you think companies will cut to make up for the loss of revenue sent to the government, the CEO salaries?  Corporate taxes in the U.S. are among the highest in the world.  This is just plain crazy.  Okay, I'm getting into a discussion about actual issues here but I think that if you are a leftist (and I don't mean liberal) Obama's "plans and advisers" will probably seem appealing and you should vote for him.  If you're not a leftist, you shouldn't.  While one may be able to point to a few bills that no one's ever heard of that Obama has "reached across the aisle" on, he wasn't exactly the most moderate senator now was he.

No doubt doc. One of the biggest concerns for me is that Obama is lacking in the experience factor. But... but let me play some devils advocate some more, just for the sake of discussion.

But I will say this.... You say the president is not all-powerful. Certainly not. But he doesn't have to be. Certainly the Experience factor is important. Just as the Charisma and Intellect and many other factors are important too. BUT just as the President is not all-powerful, the President isn't exactly going it alone either. He has his Cabinet, his Vice President, the wisdom and experience of those in the Senate and Congress and so on and so forth. Ultimately the decision comes down to the President, who will have to draw on their experience, intellect, strength, etc. etc. etc. But I feel that the when people say that Obama is unexperienced, that they are trying to put this one character trait in a vacuum and none of the other stuff that comes with being a President matter! Which is not true.

Then again, when you have someone like GWB taking the advice from all the malcontent neo-cons around him, you get some very bad things happening. I will grant that!!! However I also think that Obama is strong in character and in intellect and that he would not too soon fall into some of the same trappings that GWB has. That is my opinion on the whole experience thing.

Damn that political ambition gene. I wonder if Obama was taking a calculated strategical move, that if he didn't run now, he might never get the opportunity, considering say the unpopularity of Bush, that if he didn't run, say Hillary did, and she got elected, it would likely be a good 8 years before he could run, and after 8 years of a Democrat in office might not be the BEST time for another Democrat to run, and if he were the Veep to Hillary of whomever else, he might be perfectly slotted to run in 8 years, but if not, he might be up against stiff competition to run in 8 years or maybe 12 or 16 years beyond. Basically, I think he saw a window that might not ever be open again...

You are quite fond of making bold statements like this Muk, but when I called you out on such predictions before, you merely said it was not what will happen but what you hope will happen.

So do tell, are you positive that Obama's chances are nil after the emergence of Sarah Palin on the ticket? If so, I would like to know why you think so. Because, as I have said, she's great, she's a star, she appeals to the Republican base, but I do not believe that this makes McCain/Palin a lock to win the election.

Or is this more just wishful thinking on your part?

Do tell.

Obama Promises

McCain Promises

Both of these men are going to change Washington and change the WORLD!!!!!!!!