Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

Love is in the air. But will it show up in the ballot box?

JOHN IBBITSON

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 1:55 AM EST 10/10/08

The Democratic candidate has inspired a growing army of new and young supporters. All that's left is to make sure they vote ...Read the full article

This conversation is semi-moderated What is moderation? | How do I report a comment?

  1. had enough from Canada writes: In one way I hope Obama does get in then we will not have to worry about an unqualified Dem getting in for the next number of years as he is going to screw things up so bad. Yup even worse than now if that were possible.

  2. Xiao Ping Deng from Canada writes: Don't say bad things about Obama to John -- you'll spoil his daily frottage with his Obamadoll!
  3. Cam from Border City from Canada writes: Ahhhhhhh! Isn't that nice???? kH stayed up late just so he could be first.....

    Time will tell....McCain cintinues his extremely personal attacks on Obam. He is behind some 8-9 points but we all know how quickly that could change. The economy continues its crash...but, you know, slamming your opponent with lies and inuendo,,, the latest being a McCain surrogate who has labelled Obama a street boy when he was a teen...and last night on Larry King it was raised by the republican rep that Obama could have been a drug dealer. They will say or do anything to smear him. It's disgusting. If this ploy works... and I hope that Americans are smarter than that...then the US will deserve all that it reaps from an election that was based on lies, inuendo, and guilt by association. Democracy at its finest.
  4. Jah Nee Kah Sun from Canada writes: Obama certainly is no prize....But anythings better than the 'War Hero' and the shreiking 'Harpie'.
  5. Carolyn Bongiorno from Glenham, NY, United States writes: I have no problem with eligible adults becoming registered voters. People who are homeless have been disenfranchised and are suffering the ill effects of poverty and living without healthcare. Their voices need to be added to our national discussions.

    It is truly elitist to seek to deny eligible Americans their franchise simply because of the circumstances in which they live.

    I support these voter registration drives.
  6. Paul F. from Toronto, Canada writes: These registration drives are great. But true to form the Republicans are opposing them on the basis of a handful of cases of bogus registrations. McCain's got nothing left. He is letting his bitbull question Obama's patriotism (oh, btw, wasn't Palin's hubby a member of a separtist party in Alaska? And didn't she go to the same separtists' convention while running for governor?) and race bating him based on a foreign sounding middle name. All the while, McCain flounders on the economic crisis. He literally looks like a fish out of water. He doesn't know what to propose next, except he knows he stands for the tax breaks for the super rich in America the Bush pushed through a few years ago while the republicans controlled congress. Also, I think it is fair game to say the McCain's remaining silent as his running mate makes slanderous attacks on Obama is deeply cowardly. I mean, if people need to know about how dangerous Obama is, why doesn't he raise the Ayers thing during the debate? He didn't do it because then the accusation would invite scrutiny, which he wants to avoid. Interesting fact. The people who put Ayers on the same education reform board as Obama (a rich family, the Annenbergs, in Chicago who were supporters of Reagan) are supporting McCain in this election. Funny thing, yes? So is McCain accepting the support of the Annenbergs? If so, is he a supporter of domestic terrorists?
  7. had enough from Canada writes: The Obama crowd is working strictly on emotion as there is really nothing else to work on with him.

    McCain is no prize but as least he has a track record however Obama is like a raft floating on a sea of confusion. Might keep you above water for awhile but it is just going with the flow and going nowhere fast.

    I doubt Obama will be able to make Washington work to effect any real changes he has in mind.

    Have you noticed how quiet Schumer and Dodds have been during this entire election run? That tells you something real.

    A 9% spread can evaporate over night and it is strange how people change once in the voting booth.
  8. born a cynic from Canada writes: had enough from canada:

    Go play dress up with a McCain and Palin doll and spare us you asinine comments.
  9. Paul F. from Toronto, Canada writes: had enough from Canada writes: McCain is no prize but as least he has a track record however Obama is like a raft floating on a sea of confusion. Might keep you above water for awhile but it is just going with the flow and going nowhere fast. ---- Track record? That is precisely what he is throwing overboard to become president. Can you imaging the McCain who co-sponsored legislation with Kennedy to reform the immigration system EVER proposing the same legislation again? He has tied himself to the most fanatical right wing element within the Republican party. So this week, all you here from the McCain camp is Obama's drug use as a youth, the connection with Ayres, emphasizing his middle name is Hussein, digging up the Wright stuff again. Most people would consider that a bankrupt approach, but apparently the Neaderthals like it. The good news is the Neaderthals are a shrinking percentage of the population. Foreign born Americans or people who have seen where blind jingoism leads them are not going to be suckered again. BTW, speaking of patriotism. Why was Todd Palin in favor of breaking up the United States for many years? And why did Sarah Palin join him at Alaskan Independence Party convention when running for governor, and send greetings to another convention as governor?
  10. Cam from Border City from Canada writes: After witnessing the continued whining, fingerpointing, and the really quite alarming negative behaviour of Republicans towards the Democrats, it is quite evident that the once honourable John McCain has no control over his "supporters".
    One of his team said yesterday: "He (Obama) ought to admit, ‘You know, I've got to be honest with you. I was a guy of the street. I was way to the left. I used cocaine. I voted liberally, but I'm back at the center,'"

    A guy of the street? Used cocaine???? Despicable inuendo! Then on Larry king...that comment led to one of his supporters to say " You know...I'd want to know if he sold drugs.." While she never said he DID...she put it out there. Terrible behaviour and just sheer desperation.

    There ought to be rules... what ever happened to common decency and honour?
  11. Dave Jansen - A progressive centrist from Canada writes: .

    but but but... but McCain was a POW - shouldn't that alone qualify him for the office of the President???

    Anything less is completely unpatriotic and is un-American and anti-military and anti-capitalist.
  12. Dave Jansen - A progressive centrist from Canada writes: had enough from Canada writes: The Obama crowd is working strictly on emotion as there is really nothing else to work on with him.

    -------------------

    Is "had enough" J. Boland in drag?
  13. Greg Atkin from Canada writes: Well said Paul F and Carolyn.
    If this was a debate 'had enough 'would've been eliminated because no cogent refute has emerged to counter the voter registration point.
    does 'had enough' refer to losing ?
    Not afraid to use my real name,
    Greg
  14. had enough from Canada writes: Just read all of your posts.

    ALL ABOUT EMOTIONS, NOTHING MORE.

    Point made I WIN.

    Off to play gold good bye.
  15. Cam from Border City from Canada writes: The broadbrushing going on with regard to the false voter registration cards is yet again another effort by the Republican party to insinuate that all of the voter registration is now suspect and a Democratic attempt to sway the electorate. Abuses will happen...and as shown, will be uncovered. Those responsible should be punished.
    ACORN is not Obama... while they were a legitimate organization...as we have found out in other organizations...corrupt individuals spoil things for EVERYONE. If there is corruption within ACORN...Obama is not responsible for it nor the cause. The Republican effort to tie Obama to any alleged misdeeds by members of ACORN is...once again... a transparent ploy to sway voters.
  16. He Shoots! He Scores! from Chicago, United States writes: The Republicans are trying to make it seem as if Acorn is responsible for voter fraud and trying to throw the election. The thing is that Acorn could turn in a stack of registrations with the names of everyone from the local cemetery but those deceased aren't going to show up at the polls. "Subway Sandwiches" isn't going to show up either. There is no voter fraud going on because those who do show up to vote have to provide some form of ID. Registration fraud? Looks like some who get paid by the paper form are succumbing to that great American national character flaw: greed.
  17. Alfred E Human from Canada writes: College kids love Obama but they don't love needing to go to church or back to high school to cast their ballot.
  18. None 2 Political from Calgary, Canada writes: Well, we've "had enough," too. The emotional card has been played on both sides of the table. Trouble is, the Republican side uses negative emotions (i.e. fear) while the Democrats use positives (i.e. hope).

    My problem with McCain is his appeal is based on his story, not on him. His war prison tale of courage and self-sacrifice inspires, but he does not.

    Picking Sarah Palin to guard his flank was cynical. Her opening comments in the VP debate were all about how afraid she is. Maybe she is. But the political value of her describing her fear is to make others afraid, too. And you betcha it was calculated. The Republicans do this all the time, specifically in terms of casting a divisive pall over the country.

    Fear can be healthy, but it is not an end, and the Republicans are not offering any way to put natural fear to productive use.

    The Democrats, however, seem not only not to be publicly analyzing their fear (which surely a great many of them feel) but rather to be offering a message of unity and hope in a time of great uncertainty.
  19. He Shoots! He Scores! from Chicago, United States writes: Let's face a fundamental factor here: Republican deregulation of the US banking system coupled with Republic control of oversight agencies have resulted in the biggest banking disaster in US history. McCain has always fought for deregulation of the financial sector. His chief economic advisor for his campaign, Phil Gramm, is the man who is singly most responsible for this calamity.

    This is an opportunity to prune the Republican rot of the US started by Ronnie Raygun.
  20. Jack S. from Canada writes: Look, it's over. If anyone still has any doubts, go to some of the online betting or trading sites like intrade and look at the numbers for Obama and McCain. Here, people vote with their wallets and millions have been wagered. Current odds are something like having to bet $0.80 on Obama to win $1.00 and betting $0.18 on McCain to win $1.00.

    Even more telling, look at the state odds. States like Ohio and Pennsylvania are showing odds of $0.75 to $0.80 to go Democrat. Even a swing state like Florida is priced at $0.65 to go Democrat.
  21. Robert fromwest from Canada writes: Many economists forecast that China’s GDP will grow 10.2 % this year and 9.5 % next year with vey coservative prediction. We better worry our own stocks, jobs and economy! The fallout of our stocks will be in a shocking pace beyond your imagination!!
  22. None 2 Political from Calgary, Canada writes: It's not over until the crazy lady stops winking, whatever the odds.
  23. Megan J from Canada writes: I don't like or trust Obama or McCain. It will be interesting to see how things play out though...
  24. loose change from Canada writes: He shoots He scores A few days ago on another site "Little Bear" said that it was Bill Clinton who actually signed the deregulation of Banks. I went back and googled this and found that it was the Republican dominated Congress in 1999 who pushed for the deregulation but Clinton did sign it into law in November of 1999 which started this whole mess.

    It was a bipartisan screw up which resulted in todays mess.
  25. Moe Unting from Calgary, Canada writes: All this griping over whose fault it is, the financial mess, de-regulators, Clinton, Martians. No one complained when everyone was making big bucks and now the mob wants to burn some witches. Regulate at your own peril, it is a question of whether you want the economy to recover or not.
  26. Oliver May from Quebec City, Canada writes: The contest is also about money and Obama can afford to spend in every state and have an organization in every town and city and state. In the end, advertising works as does organization.

    Thumping landslide.

    Oliver in cool but beautiful Quebec City

Join the Conversation, Leave a Comment

This conversation is semi-moderated What is moderation? | How do I report a comment?

You must be logged-in to submit a comment — login now!

Not registered with globeandmail.com? Register now. It is quick and free.

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top