Sarah Palin's Wikipedia page scrubbed »
Posted By Digidave 2 months, 2 weeks ago in News
NPR reports that someone edited Sarah Palin's Wikipedia page Friday just before the word got out that she was John McCain's pick for a running mate. The edits were obviously made to make Palin look good. There were about 30 of them, made by one person. I'll spell out what NPR is dying to say: That one person was Sarah Palin.
Did the NPR article show that their All Things Considered staff were not tracking Sarah Palin as a possible VP candidate before this news hit? Read Valleywag's take on it by reading the Full Story! Then come back and tell us what you think. (Valleywag is a gossip blog that is part of the Gawker blog network).
Note: If you have reached this story via AOL, welcome to Propeller! Every story here, including this one, has been posted by the Propeller community--and the same thing goes for the comments below. If this kind of social news experience appeals to you, you can learn more about joining Propeller here.
Read Full Story at valleywag.com »
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Digidave
I am a freelance science and technology writer, or what I like to call a "geek writer."
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Comments So Far: 176
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Windrider20052 months, 2 weeks ago
That is really funny since I mentioned to a bogger one the AOL front page that I had used wikapedia to learn about Palin right after the announcment. I wanted to learn about her as I do not just vote, I want to know who I am voting for. He was clearly for Obama and I said that I used wikapedia because it was an unbiased way to check as it is somewhat like an encyclopedia. It's bad enough that the Media is on Obama's side, totally ingoring Hillary during the race, but I would have never thought that Obama's people to or would go this far. I didn't see anything on wikapedia that made her sound like anymore than she is, or that I found checking other references (Now I'm afraid to say because they might make them change too (kinda of like a communist act isn't it). Why would wikapedia fall for such a stunt. My appologies to the students that have trusted wikapedia all this time.
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lgrein2 months, 2 weeks ago
Good of you to stand up and blow the fog of mistruth away.
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The Gov. has done a good job and deserves better than to be decried by every self important do nothing who wants to vent their spleen. This is beginning to look like the anti Johnson attacks. Nothing to d with issues or anything else meaningful just blather and half truths spouted by people who's insignificance prevents them from being held responsible.
L. Grein
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qgoddess2 months, 2 weeks ago
John McCain's selection of Governor Palin to be his Veep smacks of tokenism and is very patronizing to women. There are other more qualified Republican women that he could have selected:
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Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
Senator Elizabeth Dole (NC)
Senator Olympia Snowe (ME)
In fact, any of the women congressional staffers in Washington are more qualified.
John McCain's selection of Governor Palin is reminiscent of President Bush's selection of Harriet Miers to replace Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. It shows that Bush and McCain both lack judgment.
BTW, Wikipedia is an open source encyclopedia, anybody can make edits. If you use Wikipedia, you better review several other sources.-
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red79vett2 months, 2 weeks ago
Hutchison would have been a great pick, but she has repeatedly said he doesn't want the job; Dole would have been a great pick also; Snowe would not, she is nothing but a Democrat in Republican clothing. Stay away from ALL Maine politicians, the state is an absolute disaster because of its politicians.
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jb712 months, 2 weeks ago
First of all if you think you are a goddess, then why don't YOU fix all our problems with all your powers.hahaha Secondly, what party is backing your run for office...oh, your not running...well then I guess you lacked judgement when you selected your id name and when you posted your opinions like no one else should have any...really I pity people like you who are faithless and place all your hope in yourself....you will be unhappy with everything until the day you die....goddess...hahahahaha
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Ratskii2 months, 2 weeks ago
Wait, let me get this straight. You're saying that Obama went into Palin's Wikipedia page and tried to make her look better? Where is the motivation?
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Flanagan7672 months, 2 weeks ago
No need to apologize to students that have trusted Wikipedia - As a college professor I can tell you that Wikipedia is not used accepted by most colleges and, in fact, it is prohibited as a source in most all academic institutions. The fact that is can be edited by anyone makes the information found there wholly unreliable and inappropriate at the college level.
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taterstuff2 months, 2 weeks ago
You are a college professor? You obviously aren't a big fan of proof reading your own material.
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kacalder2 months, 2 weeks ago
"It's bad enough that the Media is on Obama's side, totally ingoring Hillary during the race, but I would have never thought that Obama's people to or would go this far."
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* * * * * *
WHAT??? All three of the above clauses are in need of radical substantiation. We are being asked to assume all three are a given, when there is not one basis for accepting any of these three insupportable innuendos!
It might be some clue as to the quality of this post, that its author cannot even bother to correctly spell wikipedia.-
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sw0072 months, 2 weeks ago
Hey kacalder, hope you are sitting down for this because I am sending you a prop. Hillary was the media darling until she opened her mouth too much and was told to put a lid on it by the lib good old boy network. First smart thing they ever did. Prior to that mud slinging was their favorite or only past time. Gotta give the media is on Obama,s side props though. If you saw the DNC you would know that needs no substantiation.
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lrolens2 months, 2 weeks ago
Really? Like all those pictures of her "with our troops" when she only got her passport for the first time in 2007 (Now there's international experience) And, if you look at all those notes at the bottom, they were referenced the day before her nomination. You need to do some real homework before you spout off like that.
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And while you're at it, check Obama's and Biden's wikipedia pages: clearly not pumped and primed like Palin's. Don't be a dupe.
And while I'm at it: Communist? Boy, did that ever come from right (politicial and rationally) field! -
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puffin5502 months, 2 weeks ago
Do you not own a dictionary? You have some serious issues with spelling which dilutes your credibility. Learn to edit what you write and use only words you can spell! Yes, I am a teacher. Candidate McCain needs people who appear educated.
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epiphannyy2 months, 2 weeks ago
"Wikipedia is an unbiased way to check for facts"?? Do you really believe that?
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It is one of the least respected sources for information about anyone or anything that can be found because it is open to any who feel the need or desire to edit the information on its pages. Nothing about Wikipedia is respected as factual by virtue of it being published on that website. It COULD be accurate, but it just as well could be completely false. There is no peer review to maintain any sort of integrity or standard of content. There is nothing wrong with it as a basic tool for general information that doesn't really matter that much, but in contentious cases such as politics, its not a source that should ever be trusted by either side.
As an example, I could very easily go onto her Wiki page and present "proof" that her new baby isn't hers. Show photos labeled as showing her obviously not pregnant just days before she supposedly delivered. I could publish quotes by her friends and family questioning the validity of the pregnancy. I could even publish a copy of the original birth certificate showing the mother's name being that of her daughter, and not her. The problem is, I have no real knowledge that any of this is true. I could use photos that were taken a year prior to the child being born and claim a different date, making it appear she wasn't pregnant when she very well may have been. I could take my own birth certificate, digitally reproduce it, and then alter it to appear to be that baby's certificate, listing anyone I wanted as the mother of that child. I could do all of that, and I could make it look and sound completely official and researched, but that wouldn't make it true. Just the mere fact that I COULD do this proves that Wikipedia should never be relied upon as anything even resembling unbiased or researched fact. In fact, because of this capability, it is anything but.-
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farfallealfredo2 months, 2 weeks ago
Wikipedia is the worst source for information. Any site where anybody can post any information they want should not be considered a valid source.
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And why blame the Obama campain when Sarah changed her own page? -
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ForaBetterWorld2 months, 2 weeks ago
Is was only the NEGATIVE information about Palin that was removed from Wikipedia -- and you are blaming the OBAMA camp?
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Governor Palin is on the HARD RIGHT. She is another pro oil politician who says global warming is not real, that the solution is to drill more (in Alaska of course) and ignores all the science that
In addition she is a life long NRA gun lover and is against abortion even in the case of rape and incest (and I presume the life of the mother as well. That's what Obama has been slammed for -- voting for a late term abortion bill because it did not have a provision to protect the life of the mother.)
I was unhappy at how the press treated Hillary -- but McCain's pick of Palin means I will DEFINITELY be voting for Obama now!!!!
Sarah Palin is George Bush in a skirt.
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UrbanBlog2 months, 2 weeks ago
Sarah Palin.... You Have Got To Be Kidding?
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This is the Best and Brightest star that the the GOP can find?
I'm sure she's a fine person, but how can anyone say that she is ready to "Step in" to the job of leader of the free world.
The entire state of Alaska has less than one twelfth the population of the Chicago Metro area. She has never met with world leaders, has zero foreign affairs experience, zero Washington experience. She has never ran a company, has no experience in international business.
I respect that other people have views different than my own on the critical issues facing our country. Many of my closest fiends are proud members of the GOP. (Truth be told, many of them would be far better choices than Sarah Palin)
Thanks to Wikipedia, we can learn some interesting biographical information on the presumptive number two: But it has been ducumented that her info on the site was change just before her name was put out to the public.
It was clear that 90% of the people would not not know who she was and that in that important first look, they wanted to get the best spin they could get.
1. In 1984, Palin was runner-up in the Ms. Alaska beauty pageant.
2. In an earlier pageant, Sarah played the flute and won "Miss Congeniality."
3. She has tried marijuana, but says she didn't like it.
4. She's a lifelong member of the NRA.
5. She eats moose burgers.
6. Her husband works for BP (the oil company).
7. She wants to drill in ANWAR.
8. She's "strongly pro-life."
9. Doesn't want the gays to marry, but likes them just the same.
10. People like her.
11. She is female.
12. She's 43 years old--28 years younger than McCain, 3 years younger than Obama.
13, She's a champion of ethics reform.
14. Her administration is under investigation. Accused of trying to get a former brother-in-law fired from his law enforcement gig.-
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newwinds2 months, 2 weeks ago
Honestly, I'm sure she'd make a great elementary school principal, however, back-up to the 72 year old medically fragile President (who will probably only get one term , due to his age)...makes me a alittle terrified..that certainly pushes me toward the Democrats, mainly because if I were to pick a second in command, I would choose the best person for the job not the one who would simply get me elected. Believing that American women and independents are so stupid that they will switch their vote just beacuse she's a woman.....oh yeah, but this country did gvie two terms to the worst adminsitration in the history of the country. Maybe we are that stupid. The Biden choice was genius...Palin, not so much.
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jimbob442 months, 2 weeks ago
Sen Biden .... " The Biden choice was genius..." Really ????
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What happened to CHANGE ??? Sen Biden has been in the Senate for 36 years (1972) !!!!! Talk about OLD WASHINGTON INSIDER, he knows every lobbyist by their first name. How many favors does he owe from years of working inside the beltway. This man was elected to the senate when Sen Obama was 11 years old.
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huneybee2272 months, 2 weeks ago
Biden choice Genius??? You must be a jokester...not only is he in-bred in Washington politics and has played by the good-ole-boys rules...he stands accused of plagiarism...not once but twice! Once in law school, and once when he claimed a speech that was written by a Brit was his. The man is a loser...and brings no change at all to Obama's theory of change you can believe in.
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McCain has a history of bucking his party when he disagreed, he has a history of reaching across the aisle and partnering with the democrats...Sarah Palin is a BRILLIANT selection for McCain...it once more shows McCain's Maverick streak...and bringing in a woman, who has accomplished so much in her young life...all the while raising five beautiful children is genius. The woman has the democrats running scared...and they should be...teveryday he American public sees exactly what Obama is - a blank resume, run by people you don't know...he is their puppet and belongs to those you can't see...LOCK, STOCK & BARREL. -
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sw0072 months, 2 weeks ago
Oh puhleez. Biden choice genius. You mean the chairman of the good old boy network that carried 1% of the Presidential election vote. I would have more fun with this one than when I tee peed the DNC but I have to go throw up. I hear he was in a race with a Republican turtle. You can check the bottom of the page for the results.
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jb712 months, 2 weeks ago
GOOD for HER!!! Bill Clinton tried pot and didn't inhale...I guess he didn't like it either. He eats McDonald's kangarooburgers....what exactly is your point. If you don't like her...go support Obama...seriously, you don't have to knock others...Your points are just STUPID!!!!
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jb712 months, 2 weeks ago
GOOD for HER!!! Bill Clinton tried pot and didn't inhale...I guess he didn't like it either. He eats McDonald's kangarooburgers....what exactly is your point. If you don't like her...go support Obama...seriously, you don't have to knock others...Your points are just STUPID!!!!
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Scruffyscook2 months, 2 weeks ago
You all need to get over yourselves, Gov. Palin has done a number of things to help the communities here in alaska, she is very intelligent and is well respected here in ALASAKA
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Yes Alaska maybe small but everyone treats alaska like a 3rd world country. So all I have to say unless you have bonified proof of anything then you just need to shut the hell up and get on with your lives.
Ignorance comes to play with most of you commenting on things you know little about!!!!!!!!
I live in alaska & I'm proud to be part of a great state-
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stefnet12 months, 2 weeks ago
I am sure that she is a great Gov and Mayor, however I am concerned regarding her lack of experience regarding Washington matters and foreign policy matters. One thing that Cindy McCain, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama have said is that they are MOTHERS first. Just 2 months ago when asked if she would accept the nomination, she stated "no". Not saying that her baby who needs special care wouldn't be taken care of, but clearly not by her. The VP doesn't just go to funerals and fundraisers every now and again anymore. They are much more involved with the matters of the US; especially now that the US is in such a hot mess. I just don't think that she is the most qualified. Even if McCain wanted to select a woman, under the many circumstances that exist where she may need to immediately begin the role of Commander in Chief, there are many more women with higher credentials for this mighty position.
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wyldlandfire_emt2 months, 2 weeks ago
Amen, Scruffyscook!! You have every right to be proud to be an Alaskan!
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I'm somewhat long in the tooth and my family is spread out all over
the place, otherwise I would relocate to Alaska...and for alot more reasons
than the hunting and fishing. Gov. Palin has been "sculptured" by
the life she has lived up there, and to me, that is nothing but a really GOOD
THING.
I have a step-brother who lives in Anchorage and works for Alaska Fish and
Game, and the two times I went up to visit and hunt, I really came to
appreciate those who are able to make a life for themselves in Alaska.
Urban-suburban types from the lower 48 will NEVER "get it." As such,
I see a _ _ _ _ storm of ignorant, demeaning spin coming...Lord help you all!
Thanks for your comments, by the way.
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huneybee2272 months, 2 weeks ago
How in God's name can you dare to sit there and defame Sarah Palin as one with no experience? Don't tell me - you must be an Obama supporter. And where pray-tell is Obama's experience? Just what experience does he bring to the table. Do you even know who's running Obama? Who are the puppeteers pulling his strings, making him dance? Better you do some investigation into Palin before throwing stones at her fortress. Obama has far more holes in his castle walls.
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As far as the investigation of Palin related to the firing of her brother-in-law...the truth will come out....She has an obligation to protect the populace from people who are unstable, who make threats of bodily harm...should her sister not be protected, and should the citizens of Alaska have to harbor this type of person JUST BECAUSE HE'S THE BROTHER-IN-LAW OF THE GOVERNOR?-
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stefnet12 months, 2 weeks ago
Regarding the investigation of Palin, I am a law enforcement official and such matters as the firing of personnel don't come from the Governor's office. They are initiated through IAD investigations, many paper trails regarding misconduct and no pressure as reported coming directly from her office. Not saying it's her directly, perhaps her staff in support of her. Regardless, it just doesn't happen that way, and it's usually an isolated incident or series of incidents leading to an officer's suspension or dismissal. In the latter case, the officer know's it's coming and calls from the Governor's office is not only not warranted, but not needed. It's not about whether her sister should be protected. I just heard that it's a messy divorce, not that he's abusing her. If he were, there wouldn't be the need for pressure, his removal or at least suspension barring investigation would be immediate.
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Royallion2 months, 2 weeks ago
Huneybee, Obama is not running against Her. The issue whether she used her governor's office for retrubution against her brother-in-law in her sister's divorce. Maybe you or I would do the same for a family memeber, Nut using the power of the office is not ethical. This is just wwhat palin supposedly is against. She purports to have a high moral standing and someone better tell her that this incident just has too many unknowns in it. She better fess up to what was done and move on.
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JeannieBeany2 months, 2 weeks ago
I was insulted by McCaine's choice. Neither for or against Hillary C. or Barack O during the primary, I, as a 70 year old white lifelong independent voter, feel that if this was his first chief executive decision it shows a shocking lack of responsibility to the American people to provide them with the best candidate.
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As a woman it only reinforces the disdain and disrespect he has shown toward the women in his life ( dumping the first (severely crippled ) wife to marry his paramour , then in a fit of rage calling her the C - Word) as well as throughout his life, judging by his well known use of rape and sexual jokes. Does he really think this ploy will work with any other than the right wing conservative crowd?
As a side note, Mrs. Palen got 80% of the vote in Alaska, but then again so did Senator Ted Stevens, despite being under indictment for illegal payoffs from the oil industry. Must be in the water up there?
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UrbanBlogComment removed: Spam
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diogenes21st2 months, 2 weeks ago
I also posted this on the other prop post on this topic:
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More work from The Ministry of Truth (aka, Minitrue). Folks, adopt and argue for all the positions you want, ideological or not, supportable or not, right-wing or left-wing or not. That's our right in a free country, even if it sometimes gets us into trouble. But everyone needs to step back and think about whether we really want to support ends-justify-the-means political tactics and forge a nation where we actually and actively bury truth, where propaganda replaces debate over fact, and lies told at the highest levels are indistinguishable from responsible leadership. Come on, can't we at least agree that there has got to be a limit to self-interested behavior for decent, ethical people? Or have we really fallen into the hole and no longer believe decency and ethics to be crucial? -
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german-shepard2 months, 2 weeks ago
I guess anything that is backed up by Wiki could be shot down by Wiki doubters. Sources that are easy to get, seem also to be easy to alter. Thanks Diog., Wiki as "Minitrue", alterable whenever the situation demands it. And the expired truth is dropped down the Ether tube to be shredded into electronic pieces, never to be reconstructed again.
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That is, unless someone has done the unforgivable and saved the bits and bites of information as some form of retribution. Come clean and face the music, you cad! Or is this cad to the establishment a hero to the free thinkers?
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german-shepard2 months, 2 weeks ago
Crazy Propeller copied my statement twice. I had to erase it all and write this.
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Fedquip2 months, 2 weeks ago
Wikipedia.... A Great place to start your research, never the place to end it.
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decibelintent2 months, 2 weeks ago
Well, they tried to make her look good at the last minute when she has 3 months to prove that she is worth to be the next Veep.
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MajJohn2 months, 2 weeks ago
About scrubbing Wiki, isn't Sarah Palin the one who scrubbed the entry about her? What better person to do that. If she truly removed inaccuracies, so be it, if she removed true information, it'll come out. By the way the Zogby Poll was taken 2 weeks ago, as of now it clearly appears Obama is ahead by an average of 3-4 points in all polls, this is his convention bounce. A true reflection can be obtained once the Republican Convention is held and all the effects of the hurricane activity has worn off.
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jimbob442 months, 2 weeks ago
Your not up to date.... Current report of polls....
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CNN poll ...... 8/31/08 Obama 49 McCain 48
Zogby poll .... 8/30/08 Obama 45 McCain 47
Gallup poll .... 8/30/08 Obama 48 McCain 42
Not 2 weeks ago as you said .....
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ricky9492 months, 2 weeks ago
how long are you 'conservatives' going to let other people do your thinking for you.
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YeahOk2 months, 2 weeks ago
That's an internet poll. It says "interactive flash poll". Hardly reliable. It's about as reliable as an aol poll.
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Dacum2 months, 2 weeks ago
Polls out today? There are no polls released, so far, today. Here are the latest numbers>>>
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The national tracking polls have Obama up by an average of 6%. Gallup has him up 8% while Rasmussen Reports has him up 4%.
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lgrein2 months, 2 weeks ago
What's new? They are great examples of Joseph Goebbels methods is practice.
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DKK2 months, 2 weeks ago
LMAO! Sort of like the missing "membership" page of Chicago's Trinity Church, when it became known that Jeremiah Wright honored white person hater Louis Farrakhan as man of the century, and his church would not admit whites as MEMBERS.
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Oh sure they can visit, but they can't be members. You won't find that link anymore. But it sure as hell was there back in January.-
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DKK2 months, 2 weeks ago
Actually Hoov, they MIGHT do so now, but the DID NOT admit whites as recently as January.
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Yes, Wright has many political white acquaintances. But they are not allowed to be MEMBERS of his church. At least, not until Obama got into the race. Then it ALL changed.
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hmm2 months, 2 weeks ago
I have never voted Rep. in my life, but this election I was going to vote for McCain.....then he selected Sarah Palin as his running mate. He will probably not get my vote now. I am not a Obama fan either, so once again I find my vote will be for the lesser of two evils instead of for a candidate I support, and I am still undecided. So disappointed......just my thoughts. Also, let me say I do have the right to vote and for that I am extremely grateful, Happy Labor Day all!
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jimbob442 months, 2 weeks ago
If thats true, what changed your mind???? Just wondering !!!!!!!!
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I really would like to know ..... -
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BW2 months, 2 weeks ago
You're going to vote for the lesser of 2 evils, by voting for a muslim with terrorist friends. please use your head.
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Navywife2 months, 2 weeks ago
I'm glad you are greatful for your right to vote since it was given to you and protected still by the sweat and blood of many American Military men and women. My suggestion to you is to vote for the person actually running for President of our country, not their VP choice alone. In your own words you say you were choosing McCain over Obama before the VP selection. The Prestdential Candidates haven't changed, they are still the same men with the same views as before their VP selections.
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