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<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="http://www.slate.com/discuss/utility/FeedStylesheets/rss.xsl" media="screen"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"><channel><title>Ballot Box</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/31971/ShowForum.aspx</link><description>Ballot Box</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><generator>CommunityServer 2.1 SP2 (Build: 61120.2)</generator><item><title>Don't fret...</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1977047.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:58:12 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1977047</guid><dc:creator>Smiley1979</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1977047.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1977047</wfw:commentRss><description>I'm spending some time in VA over the next few weeks, shoring up support for Obama.  Don't worry, I'm bringing my laptop, I'm not done rubbing mccain's awfulness in the faces of the delusional wackjobs here either.</description></item><item><title>Re: And as Henna pointed out...</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1977030.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:51:28 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1977030</guid><dc:creator>Indy2008</dc:creator><slash:comments>1</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1977030.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1977030</wfw:commentRss><description>Yes, accurately indeed...well stated.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All 3 of you (you, Henna, and CGS) lay it out here daily in strong, smart posts, fighting the good fight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Very impressive.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Okay, I'm out. Keep up the good work.</description></item><item><title>And as Henna pointed out...</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1977020.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:43:55 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1977020</guid><dc:creator>Smiley1979</dc:creator><slash:comments>1</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1977020.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1977020</wfw:commentRss><description>... and I elaborated, perhaps accurately, perhaps not, mccain is showing no qualities we like to see in a leader.  Every day it's something new, he overreacts to every little obstacle, can't formulate a coherent plan, and can't even stick to his incoherent ones.</description></item><item><title>True</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1977006.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:39:41 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1977006</guid><dc:creator>Smiley1979</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1977006.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1977006</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;P&gt;But you're talking about the willfully ignorant, like the fraycons on here who are allergic to facts and new information that conflicts with their preconceived notions.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;And those are the people who were going to vote mccain no matter what, he could have killed palin's baby, cooked it up, and eaten it at that debate table and they would have blamed the liberal media for not turning the cameras off.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Those aren't the people who we need to win over.&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Damn straight Smiley.</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976993.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:35:26 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1976993</guid><dc:creator>Indy2008</dc:creator><slash:comments>1</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976993.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1976993</wfw:commentRss><description>And the contrast between the two men was stark last night.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One was tight, uncomfortable and constantly misrepresented the other candidate's views, was less than sharp.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The other man was calm, methodical, and cool under fire and displayed a mental agility while trying to keep the conversation on track.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Clearly, Obama is fit and ready to lead.</description></item><item><title>Re: This has to be a record.</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976985.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:30:43 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1976985</guid><dc:creator>cgScirocco_</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976985.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1976985</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.slate.com/discuss/Themes/slate/images/icon-quote.gif"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Commander Guy:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; 
&lt;P&gt;These Pug liars know what they're doing.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;They had tens of millions of people last night listening to McCain's lies based on Joe the Plumber, and relatively few of them will learn today about what a fraud "Joe" is.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;You gotta point there, CG.&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>He must, or else...</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976964.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:24:43 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1976964</guid><dc:creator>Smiley1979</dc:creator><slash:comments>1</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976964.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1976964</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;P&gt;He's the moron here.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Neither is really something we need in a president.  I know this, because those are the two options we've been left with when it comes to bush.&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: This has to be a record.</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976963.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:24:41 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1976963</guid><dc:creator>cgScirocco_</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976963.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1976963</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.slate.com/discuss/Themes/slate/images/icon-quote.gif"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;HennaRinse:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; 
&lt;P&gt;Their track record is littered with these mistaken attempts to fire a magic bullet. This just occurred to me. The campaign hasn't shown they have the discipline to do the hard work of building a solid base from which to campaign. It's been a series of attacks with no follow through, no second effort, just a lurch in another direction. That may explain why McCain has looked so erratic. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;He is known to be short on patience and there has been mention made of how they can't keep him on message. Does it stem from the top? Is McCain a lazy campaigner and doesn't wish to strategize and keep to a plan? He's been searching for a method by which he could take Obama down with one shot? &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;It's a an idea, and barely formed, but it just rang true for a minute.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt; &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Yep, Henna.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;They're running this campaign one news cycle at a time to the public at large.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;But they're still heavily invested in festering hate at their rallies, and now in a "spurious robo-call campaign".&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Rallies (at least Palin's), I might add, that the Secret Service has banned any discourse between attendees and the press.&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>I think I get it</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976957.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:21:34 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1976957</guid><dc:creator>Smiley1979</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976957.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1976957</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;P&gt;Running an enterprise like the US is a job for people who have patience, ability to plan, and a certain amount of endurance.  During this campaign, mccain has shown none of these things.  In fact he's demonstrated the exact opposite, that he can't form a plan, changes tack at every little hurdle, and basically is suffering from some ADD variant.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;These certainly aren't qualities we need in a president.&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Good thing I read the responses</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976945.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:15:33 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1976945</guid><dc:creator>Smiley1979</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976945.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1976945</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;P&gt;Because I was gonna say something similar.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;How pathetic is it when a major party candidate for the presidency has nothing better to latch onto than &lt;STRONG&gt;A RANDOM PLUMBER HE'S NEVER MET!&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;This has gone from funny to sad and back again.&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: This has to be a record.</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976944.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:15:27 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1976944</guid><dc:creator>cgScirocco_</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976944.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1976944</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.slate.com/discuss/Themes/slate/images/icon-quote.gif"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;RasputinsLiver:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; 
&lt;P&gt;It's true, cg. GOPervs just don't build their products with quality anymore.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;This has to be the shortest shelf lives I've ever seen in one of their campaign stunts.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Ain't that the truth, Ras.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The last one lasted at least 24 hrs.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;The 'ol "campagn suspension stunt".&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt; &lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: This has to be a record.</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976943.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:15:20 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1976943</guid><dc:creator>HennaRinse</dc:creator><slash:comments>2</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976943.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1976943</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;P&gt;Their track record is littered with these mistaken attempts to fire a magic bullet.  This just occurred to me.  The campaign hasn't shown they have the discipline to do the hard work of building a solid base from which to campaign.  It's been a series of  attacks with no follow through, no second effort, just a lurch in another direction.  That may explain why McCain has looked so erratic.  &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;He is known to be short on patience and there has been mention made of how they can't keep him on message.  Does it stem from the top?  Is McCain a lazy campaigner and doesn't wish to strategize and keep to a plan?  He's been searching for a method by which he could take Obama down with one shot? &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;It's a an idea, and barely formed, but it just rang true for a minute.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt; &lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>That's another good point Henna.</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976914.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:04:59 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1976914</guid><dc:creator>Indy2008</dc:creator><slash:comments>1</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976914.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1976914</wfw:commentRss><description>That's some vetting process the McCain campaign has.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;McCain had to believe that this guy was legit, right? Why would he risk looking like a dummy for invoking Joe's name all night?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Unless he thinks we're all stupid.</description></item><item><title>Re: This has to be a record.</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976909.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:03:40 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1976909</guid><dc:creator>cgScirocco_</dc:creator><slash:comments>2</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976909.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1976909</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img src="http://www.slate.com/discuss/Themes/slate/images/icon-quote.gif"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;HennaRinse:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; 
&lt;P&gt;If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. McCain put his foot in this one, like you said, believing Joe would be his saviour. Possibly if he hadn't misrepresented himself, he could have provided some cover for McCain. The campaign still has not learned the value of vetting. Another spectacular miscalculation. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt; &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/BLOCKQUOTE&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Absolutely, Henna.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;It seems as if they're now reduced to plucking some clown off the street.  Not unlike the VP pick.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;But then, with the "Keating association" still being looked into, "Joe The Fraud" may prove to be a lot more of a headache for McFailin'.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Everything they "grab" onto, seems to be proven a wrong move.&lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Re: This has to be a record.</title><link>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976900.aspx</link><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:00:55 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8e55aff1-63ee-4857-a1e9-69fccb83d317:1976900</guid><dc:creator>HennaRinse</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><comments>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/1976900.aspx</comments><wfw:commentRss>http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/commentrss.aspx?SectionID=31971&amp;PostID=1976900</wfw:commentRss><description>&lt;P&gt;&lt;EM&gt;relatively few of them will learn today about what a fraud "Joe" is.&lt;/EM&gt;&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;True enough, many will not hear the truth about Joe, but, whenever McCain has made what looks like a winner, Palin for instance, there has been reverse payoff.  The media is not finished with Joe. In the next news cycle something more could float to the top and the longer his foibles stay in the news, the worse it is for McCain.  &lt;/P&gt;</description></item></channel></rss>