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Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008 | 2 a.m.
Sen. John Ensign
Sun Topics
Nevada Sen. John Ensign has taken a slap at his party’s presidential ticket, saying Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin does not have enough experience to be president.
Ensign also said Palin’s counterpart, Democratic Sen. Joe Biden, is “much more qualified” for the post. The comments appeared in an interview on NewsONE that aired late Thursday.
The Nevada Republican tempered his comments by saying Democratic nominee Barack Obama also is not experienced enough for the White House, but John McCain is. “I’d rather have the most qualified person at the top of the ticket, not No. 2,” he said.
But such comments are expected about candidates across the aisle.
The anti-Palin comments are unusual coming from someone heading up the Republican Party’s effort to win seats in the U.S. Senate. Palin and McCain are to be in Nevada on Monday, one day before the election, because the state remains a tossup.
But the remarks put him in line with other Republicans who, expecting defeat at the top of the ticket, have decided to cut their losses, said Jennifer Duffy, who analyzes Senate races for the Cook Political Report in Washington.
“He’s not really off message. He’s just off McCain’s message,” she said. “Let’s just say that (Republicans) have pretty much thrown McCain over the side.”
To point: Lawrence Eagleburger, a secretary of state under President George H.W. Bush who has endorsed McCain, was asked on National Public Radio this week whether Palin was prepared to be president.
“Of course not,” he said. He added: “Give her some time in the office and I think the answer would be, she will be adequate. I can’t say that she would be a genius in the job. But I think she would be enough to get us through a four-year — well, I hope not — get us through whatever period.”
Duffy noted that Ensign’s committee is airing ads in North Carolina, Oregon and other states with closely contested Senate races that essentially suggest that McCain will lose. Those ads argue that if Democrats win control of the Senate, “liberals get a blank check,” a reference to the party taking control of the House, Senate and White House. Duffy also noted that unlike Obama, McCain has not coordinated with his party’s Senate candidates.
Indeed, Ensign himself has been remarkably open about his difficult task in what he has described as a “fairly toxic atmosphere out there” for Republicans, due in no small part to the party’s presidential ticket.
His Palin comments track with public opinion. A New York Times/CBS News poll this week found that 59 percent of voters surveyed have concluded Palin is not prepared for the job. Nearly a third said the vice-presidential pick would be a major factor in their vote, with those voters broadly favoring Obama.
Despite failures in fundraising and recruitment, Ensign is favored to move up the ranks of party leadership after the election.
“The one thing you cannot accuse Ensign of is having unrealistic expectations,” Duffy said. “If his colleagues didn’t like it, they could have written a check.”
The Zogby poll today has McCain up 48% to 47% and rising. This is the end of Reid and Obama.
Here is a truthful and complete representation of neiman's poll, for those who might care about such things. Otherwise, don't look. It could spoil the dream you're having.
"Obama has 5-point lead over McCain...according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Saturday."
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/i...
People of Nevada, you have a rare politician that you have voted into office: a person who will speak the truth and not always follow party lines. I have always respected Senator Ensign, and now I respect him more. Thank you, Senator, and may you set an example for other senators and representatives!
Ensign is right in this regard. Obama is no more qualified to be president than Palin. In fact she is more qualified because of her administratve experience, of which he has none!
Pure jealousy that she looks better than him in pants and the RNC spent money he raised to make her that way.
But I'll bet his golf handicap is better than hers.
He should stop the snarking though if he wants to be her VP pick in 2012.
jerhig...
if we were looking for an "administrator", we could admit Ms. Palin, by virtue of being Mayor of Mayberry, er.. Wasilla, and Governor of Alaska, a state with a population smaller than Henderson, we'd be ok giving her the gig.
We are voting for the leader of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and of the FREE WORLD.
Your argument sounds foolish. Sorry.
Obama has been a 3 year part-time US Senator and a 7 year state senator.
Excellent....excellent qualifications......
Am I the only one who can hear the cries and whispers of the families living with despair and desperation in the inner city Chicago neighborhoods where murder is a daily companion. I can't forget the squalor in Chicago's projects and slums so uninhabitable that ten years after they were built by Tony Rezko they are being condemned. The young school children who sit without even a supervising adult in barren Chicago classrooms but who were force fed virulent anti-Americanism instead of desperately needed academic instruction by Obama and Bill Ayers (110 million dollars, wasted).
Only the very young and the hypocritical believe in socialism. As you mature you watch the calamity that leftist "leaders" always leave behind them. The failed promises of socialism are apparent everywhere in Chicago as the Obamas and their wealthy supporters indulge in the extravagant fare which will be repaid by the predatory tax policies of Barack Obama.
Please don't talk to me about Obama's "experience". Obama is a failure based on his record rather than on all of his soaring hypocritical rhetoric.
"Am I the only one who can hear the cries and whispers of the families living with despair and desperation..."
That's John and Sarah's families you're hearing.
"Obama is a failure based on his record rather than on all of his soaring hypocritical rhetoric."
Failure? He's kicking your butt! What planet are you from?
This is a rich and smelly pile joinamerica. Sorta robo-post looking. Nah! You wouldn't do that. Would you?
Please listen to me, you must copy the links below and email them to everyone you know if you want Obama to win.
There are people out their who are still unaware of the FACT that Pro-life Palin kills animals for fun and supports the killing wolf pups, bear cubs, and imperiled polar bears. Please, get the word out, maybe just a few people will change their minds about voting for McCain/Palin, cause no true animal lover could ever vote this demon into office:
http://www.defendersactionfund.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHCcunc7S...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcDjxpeaD...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srv6AWySQ...
Don't forget that Obama is a Harvard graduate. HE HAS MORE BRAINS THAN MCCAIN, PALIN, AND BUSH COMBINED!!!
Really joinamerica, why should people vote FOR McCain? Really...I'm waiting, because all I've heard from McCain and his supporters is how horrible Barack is. Try to figure out why people should vote for your own candidate.
"In fact she is more qualified because of her administratve experience, of which he has none!"
Sen. McCain does not have administrative experience, either. I guess he is not qualified, according to your argument.
joinamerica, not one person with a functioning brain cell believes you give a good g*dd*amn about poor inner-city kids ANYWHERE, let alone Chicago.
All they are is cannon fodder to the likes of you and your ilk. You care soooooo much before they're born, but once out of the womb you throw them to the wolves.
RIGHT, joinamerica?
HYPOCRITE.
Ok let's for get all of the other NON-issues right now, becuase really the economy is the most pressing issue. And the person trying to play on animal lovers sympathy that's just a total joke like all of those PETA wackos. Sorry Meat is Food and the natural order of the food chain.
So Obama wants to raises taxes, McCain wants to lower several Taxes. Some people are under the impression that somehow the will get to keep more of their money under Obama. Those people are simply ignorant of how to take advantage of McCains Tax cuts and make them work for you. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE RICH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM AS OBAMA WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE. That is just political spindoctoring. If he told you the truth he you would not vote for him. His whole campaign is based on manipulating people that are ignorant of how the economy works and how to take advantage of Tax breaks the problem is 98% of the American's are ignorant when it comes to money, finance and the economy.
Obama's Tax Break is for those that are ignorant of how to take advantage of tax breaks. And claim a standard deduction. Now if you do what I suggest below you will save so much more in fact. Taking advantage McCain tax breaks and doing what I suggest below you will save a huge amount. You can often live a $100,000 a year life style and pay tax only on a $30,000 after deduction income. Why because running a business can be very expensive and you are only taxed on profit not revenue generated.
McCain wants to reduce Capital Gains Tax to 7.5%. The stock market is at a one of it lowest points in many years and it primed for a come back. Now is the time to invest and hold those positions for over a year and you will be taxed only 7.5% on the gain. Save your money and invest whatever you can.
McCain wants to lower Corporate Tax to 25% from 35%. Obama's spin doctors turn this into "McCain want to give Tax Breaks to Big Oil!" the truth of this that they are not telling you is that ANYONE that has a corporation will get the corporate TAX breaks. YOU can form a corporation online for $99-$200 at LegalZoom.com and get the tax breaks.
You say but I don't have my own business, I work for someone and Obama's plan will give me more money in my pocket. If you read book on saving on your Taxes the first thing they suggest is to start a home based business because it will do more for saving Taxes than any thing else and this works no matter who wins the election, you'll save more under McCain though. When you have a business you get to deduct things that you use for the business.
Use your brain and apply yourself and choose the Tax plan that will give you the ability to live a better life. Don't get conned into that Socialistic B.S. OBAMA is selling you. Only people that have no desire to better their life will benefit economically and still not as much as they would if they followed the advice I am giving here.
PS:PS: Check out this video about Obama.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX3GyauFF...
I would not want any supporter of hate mongers from either side. Nor would I want a President that hung out with the KKK.
ProsperityUSA - I'm guessing by your voluminous experience here on the Sun (2 posts, both today) that you are a robot or a drive by.
Thanks for the robo posts. Happy ignored them both.