IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT…JOHN MCCAIN AND DICK CHENEY…SHARING THEIR RIGHTWING IDEOLOGIES AND EXTREME RIGHTWING AGENDAS BY BOTH OF THEM…NO WONDER
CHENEY ENDORSES MCCAIN…

Since the question now, Bru, is whether late undecideds will break for McCain or Obama, the Cheney endorsement could well prevent someone from voting for McCain who might have otherwise buying into the “I am not George Bush” routine.

I suggest there were just three reasons for Cheney’s Election Eve endorsement of McCain:
Spite. As others have said, there’s no love lost between these two people. Cheney, till the end, will demonstrate his smart-ass, mean-spirited ways.
Lock-step Loyalty. Despite their mutual dislike, Cheney still has to perform his duty as a Republican…and they made him step forward at the last possible moment. Which leads to…
Too Late to Hurt. No doubt about it. Had he announced his endorsement a month ago, Barack and Biden (and the media) would have had a field day with it.

The Darth Cheney endorsement would have made for a more amusing commercial if McCain had picked Lieberman as his running mate.  Has anyone ever noticed the striking physical resemblance between Lieberman & Senator Palpatine of Star Wars?

Re: outraged

O.K.

Thanks for your input.

Re: Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD,

I disagree that you view these positions as some type of ideology.  They are NOT.  They are a reasonable way to address the issues we face.  This is not to say that it will happen overnight OR that everything will be happy, happy, joy, joy after that.  It is a concrete, doable way to address our most pressing issues, preserve our sovereignty and our democracy.  No one is advocating or calling for ...NO BIG BUSINESS.  What we are talking about is a reigning in of corruption and hostile takeover.  Nader has a twelve step plan for addressing these issues.

* Increase Corporate Crime Prosecution Budgets
* Ban Corporate Criminals from Government Contracts
* Crack Down on Corporate Tax Avoidance
* Democratize Corporate Governance
* Expand Corporate Disclosure
* Rein in Excessive Executive Pay
* Fix the Pension System
* Restore the Rights of Defrauded Investors
* Regulate Derivatives Trading
* End Conflicts of Interest on Wall Street
* Track the Extent and Cost of Corporate Crime
* Foster a National Discussion on Corporate Power

The steps to address each issue can be found here.
http://www.votenader.org/issues/market/corporate-crime/

For instance:
”Fix the Pension System: Corporations must be held more responsible for the retirement security of their employees. At a minimum we need to give workers a voice on the pension board; not require workers to stuff their 401(k) plans with company stock; and give workers the right to control their 401(k) plans. In addition, an Office of Participant Advocacy should be created in the Department of Labor to monitor pension plans.”

Irregardless of who becomes President, these issues need to be addressed and the needed changes made.  This isn’t to mean that this is the ONLY way, maybe someone has a better way….GOOD, speak up.  But let’s not ignore,  degrade or embellish Nader’s proposals.  Instead let’s use them to our advantage.

Also, regarding single-payer health care… it’s already PAID for…. there isn’t ANY reason to stall on this issue. 

“Under the current system, hundreds of billions of dollars a year are wasted by health-care sellers on billing, fraud and administrative expenses. Excess profits and high CEO (and other executive) salaries at large HMOs and other health-care companies add further costs….”

....Studies show that savings from a single-payer system would be more than enough to provide universal coverage for the same amount that we are now paying.”

http://www.votenader.org/issues/social/healthcare/

Wow! That will certainly put McPAIN over the top! Is DICK planning on starting a war on Monday in order to help, further!?

re: outraged

I am referring to our system of government. 

I think it’s possible to believe in an ideology that you also accept can’t become reality.  Maybe I’m wrong.  When you look at this campaign, large numbers of people are pretty pissed with government, especially since the bailout, er, rescue.  Maybe we will get a government that puts its citizens’ interests ahead of big biz’s.  Of course, there’s always the threat big biz will move offshore.  Then, maybe we’ll approach a society like that that some TDers here are advocating.

Maybe we should exclude big biz entirely.  Have only small businesses.  Control their growth.  Nothing over $250,000 a year.  No mergers. Buy big ticket items from overseas manufacturers who import to mom and pop stores, etc.  Small businesses are less apt to hit on, or need, the assistance of government, resulting in smaller government and less government spending.  Bring back the family farmer.  Outlaw consolidated agribusinesses.  Incentive to amass wealth is antisocial. 

Absolutely no franchising.

Redefine the American Dream.  Less is more.  When there’s more, everyone benefits. 

Nader is not unlike any other candidate.  Has he been explicit about how he’ll loosen corporate control on Washington?  What is his reality?  Simply shut the door to lobbyists?  All lobbyists, including the NEA?  Or do you let some in and keep others out.  What’s the test for admittance? 

I don’t buy that lobbying is bad and I don’t buy that earmarks and pork are bad.  Politicians have made them into four-letter campaign words.  Imagine a Washington DC without both and tell me what you have.  Better to keep them, it seems to me, because they’re a beneficial government tool, and learn how to do them right.

I’m not sure I even buy the value of small businesses to our economy.  I haven’t researched it, but when politicians are bemoaning the huge loss of high paying jobs, I doubt they’re referring to jobs in the small business sector, but, rather, to manufacturing jobs that pay 20-30/hr, maybe even more.  Or to mid level and upper management and other professional positions in larger companies. 

Seems to me that the large majority of jobs in the private small business sector are minimum wage or slightly better.  In fact, aren’t most startup small businesses barely earning enough in the first year or two to sustain the owner, unless they’re a franchise, which can take a million to open a good one.

I don’t know.  Anyway, that’s just my 2 cents.  Thanks for yours.

Remember earlier this year when John said he would welcome Cheney in his group of running the country? Not as V.P., because John claimed they were to much alike. Well it didn’t happen and perhaps that is why Dicko came out so late in support of the Repukelican party, even though Dicko is some distant pig-tail relative of Obama somewhere in their family trees. Dick would not support the “enemy’s side” and endorse a Democrat.

Re: Dr. Knowitall PhD, PhD

Your comment: “The best reasonable people can hope for is someone who at the same time shares our values and our agenda and understands that, to implement them, you have to work within the system.”

I’m not quite certain what “system” you are speaking of here.  Are you speaking of the corporate “system”?  If you are, I disagree… that’ll never work.

Are you speaking of the governmental “system”?  If so, this is wherein our power lies and I would agree.  Nader also endorses this.

On the other hand, if you are speaking of continuing the corruption of our government by big business interests, again I disagree.  Big business, has one premise.  Make money.  And in that endeavor humans are but a cog of little value and government a means to that end.

You claim, “I have a lot of respect for Nader’s thinking.  But not for his grasp, or lack of grasp, of reality.”  It makes no sense to say that you “respect” the thinking of someone NOT IN REALITY.  I can’t qualify that with any stretch of the imagination.

I think Nader was absolutely correct when asserting, “Obama doesn’t represent real change.”  He doesn’t.  Don’t kill the messenger, and take a little dose of reality from Nader.  Things is what they is.

I don’t hate Obama… but let’s not be making his pedestal quite so high that he needs a ladder truck just to jump UP to it.

Groupthink is a dangerous preoccupation.

Let’s see John not only sold his ‘Maverickiness’ out, but also his Intergity and legacy. but hey that’s John problem. Unfortunatley while he was selling his soul to CheneyCorp, he also sold out this Country via Phil Gramms economic treason of ‘Deregulation’, via EXXON et al through subsidies and tax breaks, via Timmons Saddams Lobbists, Via the Anti communist group which provided Aid & Comfort to the ‘80’s Afghani Freedom Fighters’ ( had their not been help from covert groups here in the US, the Russians may have actually destroyed AQ in the ‘80’s thus 9/11 would not have happend), Via ‘Anthrax came from Saddam’.....
And Who has been pulling these levers in the Shadows for nearly 40 yrs, which has brought our Country literally to it’s knees, Dick Cheney….Americas Most Wanted Traitor!
Had John mcCain NOT Sold his soul to CheneyCorp, I have no doubt he would have won this election with ease…but he screwed himself, his ‘footnote’ in history and US.
it is not ‘heroic’ when you betray your country & Countrymen just to secure your Own Glory.
Let’s be absolutely honest, John McCain did not choose to do something Heroic, he was a victim of his circumstances. However, to place yourself in Grave danger just to Move a country forward, Is heroic. I find Michelle & Barracks willingness to face the Possiblity of assasination as a True Sacrific For Country, over Self interest, promotion or even preservation…..Far more patriotic and heroic then even being held captive in a POW Camp.This is Real a self imposed Sacrific for the Country.I Believe the Obama’s are the Epitome of putting ‘Country First’.Thank you and may God keep you all safe, so that your daughters will never live through what the Kennedy Children did.

Re: troublesum

I agree.  I think it was nothing less than a pulling of the verbal trigger on McCain and his campaign.  Cheney is an old vindictive bastard who, if there’s no gun around, or he might get caught, uses words.
He’s like Palin, he has nothing to lose.

It’s probably not a good life knowing most of the country can no longer stand your guts.  I bet Cheney spends his time in a rather sparse company of friends, many of whom he’s not sure about how they really feel about him.  Doesn’t make for a very fun cocktail party.

We’re all blinded by tears http://www.thinkprogress.org

McCain does not want to be seen in public with either Bush or Cheney so I think this endorsement was Cheney’s idea of revenge.  He’s like that.  At the time of the republican convention the msm was full of stories about how Cheney and McCain disliked each other intensely.

Sorry… even though I hate both the current administration and a potential McCain one this tis simple what is done. You indorse your parties candidate.

After all, Hillary is now endorsing Obama. Let’s not be like conservative talk radio and rant over things like this. Focus on getting the election.

Barack the vote!

The 25% approval-rated neocons crawl out from their hiding on the final weekend of the campaign to endorse McCain who’s running against them.

They want him to lose.  Why else?  Not only are they arrogant, inept, and patently stupid, they’re vindictive.

Re:  Outraged, consider that Obama may be exercising intelligence and insight that Nader either doesn’t have or refuses to use.  The Naders of this country, I doubt, will ever overturn “the system.”  The best reasonable people can hope for is someone who at the same time shares our values and our agenda and understands that, to implement them, you have to work within the system.  These things don’t happen overnight. I have a lot of respect for Nader’s thinking.  But not for his grasp, or lack of grasp, of reality. 

Don’t you think in a country that is as corporate as America, Nader might have done a little better to have softened the anti-corporate rhetoric?  We got his point.  We don’t disagree.  But he sounds more and more like a disgruntled old man on viagra—exactly the opposite of Obama. People don’t want that. 

Look for a landslide Tuesday, the result of Obama’s message of unity, healing and caring for every American.  That’s what R & F voters want to hear.

That’s right folks.  Endorse or vote for McCain and in effect QUALIFY CHENEY….LOL, who wants that on their conscience…?!

Hey, check out ol’ Arnold… sure… he’s “on your side” too…?  OMG.  Nothing like the “gentlemanly” wanker out there on cyberspace to prove you’re a “real man”....what a degenerate.  And these same crooks disqualify Madonna…. yeah right.

But be cautious my fundamentalist friends….Cheney just might shoot you in the face, he does have that history.  What a complete and utter nut-job.

The fact that he is endorsing McCain speaks volumes….literal VOLUMES….  Use your head, vote in YOUR best interests.  Only GOD is in the voting booth with you, and IF you believe in GOD…then you know…he knows what’s been going on….think…then vote Nader.  I did…

I was at one time a fundamentalist, like you… and like you, I also KNOW that McCain, Schwarzenegger, and Cheney are opportunistic liars.