Actually, I would like the president to have a military background, but I don't see it as a requirement. I just couldn't resist the retort when I saw it... :o)


>Thats a good one. Are you still on the fence?
>
>Although i definately would see it as a plus, I dont see the need for someone to have served in the military as an initial requirement to developing sound foreign policy positions. Take the pre-war positions of JM and BO on Iraq for instance.
>
>Some interesting points on JM's tech savvy background, ranging from "No Geeks needed" to "Presidential bubbles"
>
>http://letters.salon.com/news/feature/2008/08/13/john_mccain_technology/view/?show=ec
>
>from the article...
>
>http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/08/13/john_mccain_technology/
>
>
>>I know. Kind of like having a guy in the white house deciding what to do with the military and making strategic decisions and not having spent a single day serving in the military. Sheesh,,, scary! :o)
>>
>>
>>>Even MikeB has lost his sense of humor? Say it aint so. I get your point, but i would like a pres with a modicum of tech knowledge... just a little... and i see the use of email as that modicum. It implies that the person has turned on a PC in their lifetime, (not that turning on a PC is a presidential requirement). Its like Ted "The Internet is a Series of Tubes" Stevens authoring a telecom / net neutrality bill. It just doesnt sound right.
>>>
>>>
>>>>For once we disagree. I think there's been a lot of nonsense about McCain not using email or having a Blackberry. A guy who can fly a fighter jet can figure those things out if he wants to. And they are hardly the key skills we should be looking for in a president. I am also turned off by all the jokes about McCain's age, as though he's senile or something. If he is, he's hiding it very well.
>>>>
>>>>>A plus for any campaign would be to have a candidate that, at a minimum, is capable of using TheEmail. Which cuts the field in half.
>>>>>
>>>>>>Quibbling about pixel placement is kind of missing the point, isn't it? The web site has been an effective tool for volunteers. That's what Tamar meant (and said) -- it provides an easy way for volunteers to meet, organize, and communicate. That seems like a pretty good thing for a campaign to have.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I guess they need developers because the website has two structural errors and alignment issues.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>The checkbox for periodic text updates doesn't align with the label on the right (at least in IE). Also, the submit button doesn't exhibit any mouseover behavior so it just sits there, dead.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>One of the errors is that there is code for a Paypal donation with no associated UI. Lazy coders copying from another page.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Yeah, I'm really impressed with the technical savvy :-D
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/firsttoknow
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Why he can not just announce it? :)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Then how would they know who you are to spam you?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>FWIW, the Obama campaign is using technology exceptionally well. Forget the political issues and just look at what they've done. They've set up their website to facilitate grass roots organizing. Every little town and group can set itself up a list through the site, and people can communicate. These folks get technology.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I got an email a while back that they were looking for developers, but it was full-time, in Boston, using languages I don't speak (and my time is spoken for at the moment).
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Tamar