I think you already know I like McCain all right (for a Republican <g>). It's hard to see him getting elected, though. You're right, he does have some minuses that are going to come out now that the red-hot focus is off the Obama/Clinton campaign. More than that, I see a strong resemblance to the candidacy of Bob Dole, another Republican I admire. Dole was basically seen as an old guy who didn't offer a compelling reason to vote for him. The same could easily be the case with McCain. Barring some major development, I definitely think Obama is going to win.

>OK, granted I have hit Obama harder here than McCain, but that is mostly due to the Obama/Clinton campaign. The McCain/Obama run should start heating up soon and provide more fodder on McCain...
>
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>>It's good to see you laugh.
>>
>>Just so you don't think I am totally brainwashed about Obama, I am not too happy about a couple of things he has done lately. I don't like the flip flop to support inoculating the telecoms on privacy, and I don't like him pandering to the religious right. I guess it's in a politician's DNA to try to attract voting blocs but you can't lose your principles in the process. Otherwise you're just another politician. Obama's appeal to me from the start has been that he isn't just another politician. I hope he realizes soon that he risks losing the passion of those he has inspired.
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>>>LOL, :)
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>>>>OK. It all came from one ABC reporter.
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>>>>>Please, once the abc reporter drew attention to it, it was on every single news and radio show ad nauseum...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>I just read in the paper that 25% of those surveyed do not believe Obama is patriotic. Do you believe they all reached that conclusion independently without anyone saying anything? Or one ABC news reporter said it?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>So the ABC news reporter was a closet Republican attacking Obama's patriotism? Wasn't that who pointed it out and started all the huff and got viewers sending emails?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I agree with you on this, however, I have never heard or read anyone question anyone's patriotism because they disagree with government actions or decisions. I've only heard/read those who claim that they were being accused of being unpatriotic. Such as "I'm tired of my patriotism being questioned," but I've never read or heard the actual attack on patriotism...
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I have a few years on you, so maybe you don't remember. But in the 60's, one of the very common reactions to the anti-war protesters was "America. Love it or leave it." The implication was that if you didn't like the way things were, you didn't love America and you could just leave.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>For that matter, I've heard plenty of that from the right over the last 8 years, along with suggestions that if you don't fly a flag or have a flag sticker on your car or in general, show your patriotism on your person, car, home, etc., you're unpatriotic. Somehow, many people associate symbols rather than actions with loving America.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Seems an awful lot like political maneuvering to me - complaining of non-existent attacks before the attacks even occur...
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Was there a general attack (not just reports of attacks in the media that don't give sources that show that it comes from a consolidated front) that I missed?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>You don't think the whole flap over the flag lapel pin was meant to make people think Obama wasn't a patriot? Ditto the nonsense over whether he put his hand over his heart for the Pledge of Allegiance.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Tamar