Rasmussen Tracking Poll [Obama vs McCain]

[Torie]

No, they don't break it down. However, you can see the daily numbers (based on the previous 3 day samples). We'll see if Democrats keep holding strong as they are right now, even if McCain is leading modestly among Independents. But like I said, both Gallup and Rasmussen, and other polls, just have independents all over the place. At the end, they may just break even.

Thus, attracting Democrats is crucial for McCain to win. The key for Obama is holding about 85% of Democrats. If he does, then this election is over. The tone of the convention has been really negative.

If they break even on election day, Obama has probably won the election.

The Dem vote fraud operation is that good, huh? 

[Torie]

People do not want a good speaker. They want actual content in the speeches.

That is rather the opposite of the Palin experience; she got points for delivering a strong attack speech.

One man's "content" is another man's pablum.

[Torie]

Is to seem with  pie in the sky or false  specifics better than not to seem with  no specifics at all, that is the question.

[Torie]

Is to seem with  pie in the sky or false  specifics better than not to seem with  no specifics at all, that is the question.

Speaking of pie in the sky what do you think of this love affair that republicans have with drilling. They must understand it will do almost nothing to solve our energy problem since that oil was going to be drilled out one day anyways. And the more we drill now the less we have for later so aren't we just playing into the hands of the speculators? The energy policy of the republicans is extremely shortsighted.

I love questions like this. Thank you for asking! 

Here is the deal. As one goes father out in time, the present value of the financial event declines. Dollars saved now are worth more than dollars saved later, so one would have to posit that drilling when you are an old man, will generate a hell of a lot more dollars then to overcome the harsh mistress of the discount rate.

The idea is to use oil to tide us over, as we transition to nukes, and shale, and fusion, and much more efficient solar, more efficient consumption, etc. Plus we will never run out of oil: it will just get increasingly expensive to extract. The idea is to reduce the cost of the transition, both in financial terms, but also in national security terms, so that we (we including Europe and Japan here) can be less dependent on, and indeed, de-fund, actual or  potentially hostile powers. Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Saudi, etc.

[Torie]

I am not sure what "biothemal" is, but what if the wind stops blowing, or the sun doesn't shine?  I suspect both have somewhat limited application, and would be surprised if they ever make up more than a quarter of the mix. Those sources won't help with transportation I don't think.

[Torie]

Isn't "spreading the wealth around" the basis of socialism?

No, not really. It is about owning the means of production. But as to spreading the wealth around, hasn't Bush been the master of that? Granted a lot of what is "spread" isn't means tested.  Well I guess pumping money into sick banks is sort of means tested actually. Whatever.