I have tried to expose misinformation on both sides of the aisle. I give up fact checking debates, television advertisements, and mailings – I can’t keep up with the inaccuracies and blatant lies. I have seen intelligent people manipulated to no end – just because they see something in print. I have seen bloggers, who preach practicing an open mind, delete any comments they don’t want to read regarding an opposing view or candidate. 

The only thing I wonder now is “how did we get here?” Have elected officials moved so far off the reservation the simple truth is no longer needed or can they just not tell the difference? Is it just about printing blatant lies on the front page and apologizing on page 24 later where no one will see it? 

There are not enough people out there seeking the truth anymore and I believe this election is the political version of Jumping the Shark (which is fittingly enough a term reserved for when sitcoms start their downhill slide). 

Gone are enough free thinkers who expose half-truths and gone are candidates that seem to know the difference between right and wrong. 

In a lot of ways this election brought out the worst in our election process (negativity, racism, money spent, division, manipulation, etc). Don’t get me wrong; there are a lot of people impassioned by this election – perhaps one day they will help put things back on track. But that will only work if in addition to wanting to vote they also want to know the truth and never accept what is said at face value. 

With that said, I am done covering anything related to the election on my site (except for a comment on the outcome). It has been fun, aggravating, challenging, and maddening. 

My last thought on the subject: Listen to the candidates, seek the truth, and vote with your heart and mind…

-EndFragment–>

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Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced yesterday he will be voting for Barack Obama. 

I have a lot of respect for Powell. He is a retired general and a Republican; and was once thought of as a Presidential candidate himself. But don’t expect to see Powell on the campaign trail. It has never been his style. 

I do expect McCain to discount the endorsement – but that won’t fly for most Americans, as Powell’s reputation and credibility are enviable. Any shooting at Powell’s decision will only make McCain look more desperate and not credible. 

What does this mean? 

For the most part, it is significant blow to the McCain camp saying “Obama is not qualified to be Commander and Chief.” Powell said, “He [Obama] has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president.” 

Is also sends a significant message to the Republican Party as Powell is a republican, endorsed Bush, and served as Secretary of State. 

Powell noted that either candidate would be qualified to be president and the next president will need to restore America’s standing and reputation in the world. 

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Throw out a few questions about Obama’s association with former radical William Ayers (forget the fact Obama was 8 at the time) and maybe you can start a frenzy at the McCain/Palin campaign rallies. Well, they did.

At a recent Palin rally supporters shouted “terrorist” and “off with his head” when Palin spoke of Obama. Palin did nothing to stop the comments or threats.

McCain (finally) takes the high road…

Whether it was due to media pressure, party pressure, or just McCain taking the high road personally, he finally stepped up publicly on some of the comments.

On Friday he was in Lakeville, Minn. A supporter told McCain he feared what would happen if Obama was elected. McCain responded “he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States.” – This drew boos from the audience.

Later a woman told McCain she didn’t trust Obama because “he’s an Arab.” McCain replied; “No, ma’am. He’s a decent, family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that’s what this campaign is all about.”

And the low road…

Of course the attack ads that fueled most of this movement are still running. I suspect this is done with reluctance on McCain’s part (this is politics after all). 

I have to respect McCain for stepping up the way he did. Although it may not change the backroom or media advertising, it was the right thing to do.

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The gloves are off (or is it “on?”). Obama called McCain asking for a joint statement about the economy. McCain hung up the phone and told the media he was suspending his campaign to go back to Washington to help with the economic crisis. 

McCain also asked that the Presidential debates scheduled for Friday be postponed to some future date. 

Make no mistake the economic crisis is severe. The proposed bailout is nothing more than veiled socialism and a dangerous game with taxpayer money. Also don’t make the mistake that McCain is heading back to DC for the sole reason of helping out – he is sliding in the polls and needs something big. If he was ahead in the polls would he head back to DC or stay on the campaign trail to keep his lead?! 

This is political positioning at its best. McCain needs some help and Palin is losing popularity – any delay in the debate would be helpful. Ta Da – I am suspending my campaigning to go back to DC to help out during this crisis…what could be more American? 

Should be interesting to see how this one plays out. 

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It is always nice to hear from the source…

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o84PE871BE

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Being registered as an Independent affords me certain benefits and I am not referring to crates of granola being left on my door by Ralph Nadar. 

I don’t have to party vote. I get to call BS on either campaign when they step over the line and, for the most part, no particular campaign is hitting me up for money. I get to, guilt free, vote for whomever I feel is the most qualified (imagine that!). 

What I have trouble explaining to people is only voting Democrat or only voting Republican on issues means you are probably only right 50% of the time (at best). 

The other advantage to being Independent is of course, this site – or so I thought. 

The Godfather got called out the other day by a site that picked up my Bush, I mean Sarah Palin, Gave a Great Speech blog. 

I found it amusing the site listed me, among others, as “Scared Democrats.” Now hey, I have been called a lot of things but never a scared Democrat (or scared Republican or scared Independent for that matter). 

I haven’t actually stated whom I am voting for yet. Six months ago I could not have – too much information left on the table. Now I am pretty sure whom I will be voting for. Many people have guessed based on my blog. – the funny part is that most have been wrong. 

Rest assured I will reveal my vote later in the year – probably lose a couple of you in the process – but gain others at the same time. 

If you go through the blog you will find me both shooting at, and defending, most of the candidates. Why? Maybe I just want a fair fight or maybe I just want people to be better informed when they step into the voting booth.  

I see plenty of misinformation (can you say “fake”) on both sides – that will make it difficult for voters in the future.

Who am I voting for? You are welcome to take a guess via comments. Once all this is over I can get back to other pressing Slow Bleed issues! 

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I feel sorry for future voters. How will they possibly know what is factual and what is not? At least when you knew nothing about either candidate, you had a 50/50 chance of picking the right one (assuming their is a right one). 

I will be glad when November passes and I don’t have to keep seeing emails that are grossly inaccurate but people still believe them. Some of them keep getting used campaign after campaign – just change the names! 

The tactic is brilliant of course. Put out fake information. Anything you want. Obama wants to raise all taxes. McCain wants all gays sent to an island. Palin shoots puppies in her spare time. Biden is hooked on crack. 

Whatever you say is ok becuase you only need to do three things to make it “real.”

1. Throw around statistics. The more the better. Say something like Obama wants to raise taxes 43.7% or McCain is ok with 27% more lives lost in Iraq. People believe statistics (they sound impressive) and who is really going to go check them out? 

2. Make the email “from” someone. You can pick a real person but they usually come back at some point and deny what was said (since they never said it anyway). The person in your email doesn’t need to exist, make one up if you need to. Military people are always good. A close “friend” or “neighbor” also works well. 

3. Say the “facts” have already been verified. Throw out some fake links (no one will really click on them anyway) or just say “I verified this on Snopes.com.” Well, if it says it was verified…then it must be! 

Do those three things and you have successfully reduced seemingly educated people to uneducated voters. Like I said, you were better off when you didn’t know anything…you had a 50/50 shot.

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I have written before about the internet’s ability to spread misinformation and how it seems that we (in mass) accept anything in print to be fact. 

Case in point the Obama picture making its way around yesterday (again). Guess which one is real and which one is fake. Better yet, imagine how any 13-year-old with Photoshop can sway thousands of votes (not to mention manipulate people that think they are smart and well-informed).

Of course, this type of stuff doesn’t stop during the election. Seemingly well educated will believe anything on the internet from a Citgo Boycott to Bill Gates giving away millions of dollars. Oh well, here is this weeks Hocus Focus! 

Let’s see. Phone Upside down. 3:00am clock in the background. 

The real, but not terribly exciting, photo. Maybe if I publish at 3:00am that will help.

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As Katie Couric and Charles Gibson board planes to take them to Jordan and Israel respectively, the Republicans are saying “What about us?” 

The Republicans have been increasingly vocal about the lack of coverage McCain is getting versus Obama. 

“The question really needs to be posed: Is this type of coverage fair?” said Rep. Eric Cantor. “This is nothing but a political stunt.” 

Of course the media always plays a big part in the election and it is not the first time they played favorites but they also tend to go with the interesting story. Obama is overseas in Iraq, McCain is in…hey, where is he anyway? 

The media will attempt to level the playing field in the coming weeks by throwing something McCains way – I think a guest spot on American Gladiators or something. 

You can’t manipulate the media if they are not focusing a camera on you! 

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