Well that’s the latest marketing approach from the “reinvent your campaign every day” smart boyz at McCain Central.

The paraphrase is; “I’ve been tested, so our enemies won’t come after us.”

Excuse me, but what tests is he specifically referring to? The ones his oncologist did?

The man has been a US Senator. It is not a leadership type position. He has never had to make life-altering, nation-securing decisions. He, like Obama and other 98, deal with serious issues, but they never have to be the ONE whose ass is on the line. So, John, shut up. I have a hard time taking you seriously as a “man who has been tested” when you sing “Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb bomb Iran,” though it is instructive in the way he views the world….  read more »

Voters of all ages face a critical decision in November, namely, which candidate, Barack Obama or John McCain, will best protect Social Security.
Like many Republicans, Senator McCain has supported President Bush’s proposal for partial privatization. This would allow workers to invest as much as a third of their payroll contribution into stocks and bonds. Creating these accounts would cost at least a trillion dollars.  read more »

One of the few moments during last week’s debate when Sara Palin actually addressed a substantive policy issue was during the discussion on healthcare. Unlike previous policy comments by Palin the result was a coherent statement – it was also terrifying. She confirmed the McCain stated view that we need to open up health care to (and this is a direct quote) “more vigorous nationwide competition as we have done over the last decade in banking.” It is just unbelievable to me that they are still making this argument in the wake of Bear Stearns, Fannie, Freddie, Lehman, AIG and Wachovia. They must be reading different newspapers than I am.  read more »

While the statistics relating to the issue of the growing number of uninsured have received a lot of attention in this election (though not enough lately), it is the personal stories of the individuals impacted by this crisis that truly underscore the need for change. A recent series in the Philadelphia Inquirer is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of healthcare costs on the uninsured in this country and should serve as a call to arms to those who believe that it undermines the human dignity of every American to allow our fellow citizens to suffer so needlessly.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/health_science/the-...  read more »

The near disastrous meltdown of the world’s financial markets isn’t just “one of those things that happens.” It was and is the inevitable end result of the Reagan-inspired decision to “deregulate, deregulate, deregulate, baby!” Of course, using the word “inspired” and Reagan in the same sentence can create some cognitive dissonance, but so be it.

Reagan was a populous boob who wanted to feather his nest, be liked and make sure that the elite, moneyed-class of America got what they assumed (and have always assumed) was their due. It boiled down to “the rich get richer.”  read more »

And the Winning Ticket Is — Obama / Biden 08:

Barack Obama made an excellent choice with his selection of Delaware Senator Joe Biden to be his running mate. On Saturday I spent the day working at the Democratic booth at the Centre County Grange Fair and throughout the day people were asking if the announcement had been made. Everyone I spoke with expressed positive opinions about the choice. If this is any indication of the type of qualified people Barack Obama will surround himself with as President, we can all rest assured that our country will be headed in a better direction come January of 2009.

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A busy week campaigning across the 5th district:  read more »