Come on Utah, unless your wealthy why would you even consider voting Republican? It is against your own economic best interests simply for two issues that won't soon affect most of us-abortion and gay rights. A recent study found that Utahns would vote for a monkey if it had an "R" next to its name on the ballot. Very telling.

Sen. Lieberman seems obsessed with Israel and with protecting Israel, even if it jeopardizes America's security. Obama is pro-Israel but I feel certain that he thinks first and foremost about the USA. He has a smart approach to foreign policy - not a ham-fisted simpleton's approach like McCain and Lieberman.

The Democrats would have us believe they won't tax "you" more. No, they will only tax businesses and rich people! How dumb do they think we are? What do they think businesses will do with the tax increases? When was the last time a poor person offered you a job? They would have us believe we can negotiate with terrorists. They want us to believe the Repuplicans want to take away your social security when it has always been the Democrats from LBJ who stole it and left an IOU in its place to Jimmy Carter who gave illegal aliens SS benefits and on to Bill Clinton who taxed SS benefits. The amazing thing is people believe them!!! To all Democrats, I have bridge I will sell you in San Fran., cheap!!! Don't worry, the government will solve all your problems!

Nothing in my view shows the difference between the a Democrat base and the Rebuplican manstream more than the demonstrators at the GOP convention we have seen on TV. Their were no reports of demonstrators at the Democratic convention. Notice the character differences. Notice the kind of people, their dress, what they advocate. Notice the anarchy they presist in. You can lean so much from watching people! To me the Democratic party has become home to the wierd, the anti-social, the extreme in our socieity. If you look, you will see vast differences in the type of people and how they act. We are what we do folk? How could "normal" working, law abibing, decent people support the values of today's Democratic party as exhibited and demonstrated on national TV?

It is not really very difficult to understand why Utah is mostly conservative. It is because most of us believe family values are critical to our nation's future versus gay "marriage" and abortion on demand that are part of the liberal message. Most of us don't believe global warming is man caused. We like America being secure and being defended against our enemies! We believe we are taxed too much and our government is too large and cumbersome. Most of us believe congress should allow more oil exploration so we aren't strangled by high costs-so much for our ecomonic interests! Who was the last President who gave us a tax break? These are just some of the reasons why Utah tends to be conservative. I hope I have explained it clearly for you!

Too bad Lieberman told an outright lie when he said "In the Senate, he (Obama) has not reached across party lines to get anything significant done."

A headline back on Jan 11, 2007 was "President Bush today signed the Lugar-Obama proliferation and threat reduction initiative into law." This was a bill authored by Senator Obama and Senator Lugar (R) Indiana (note the reaching across the aisle) that provided the means to clean up loose nuclear material in foreign countries so that it does not end up in the hands of terrorists to make dirty bombs.

And he forgot the Obama-Coburn Government Transparency Act that would publicly disclose all recipients of federal funding and financial assistance, you know, the earmarks. This bill required all earmark recipients and the sponsor of the earmark to be disclosed in a single web database.

Republicans are too close to the oil industry, pure and simple. While anti-abortion and anti-gay rights appear to be the core of Republicatism, many folks forget to mention that this party has also given billions in subsidies to the industry AND even met in private with heads of oil to "keep" us addicted under Cheney. Now their mantra is "drill, drill, drill," which is disingenuous given that America does not have the reserves to sate our oil appetite. What the nation needs is a plan to get us off oil. Obama touts renewables whereas McCain is looking back to nuclear power -- despite problems with waste, big subsidies needed to maintain the industry (insurance and security of waste for forever!), and lack of expertise/labor in this nation. Experts say that if we increase nuclear power, we will need to outsource much of it or invite foreign workers to maintain the plants because America's universities have eliminated nuclear education programs due to lack of career opportunities. Thus, nuclear power faces many hurdles and safety issues before we can radically expand it as McCain promises. With breakthroughs in batteries, plug-in cars in 2010, and growth in renewables, McCain's plans are wrong!

...there were protesters at the democratic convention. People seem to have found more to protest at the republican one. Utah votes republican because of gays and abortions, and pretty much doesn't care about any other issue. I would bet a round of selective service would take some of the blinders off in this state, as well as reduce voter apathy. Especially among the young.

@B (12:55)

"A recent study found that Utahns would vote for a monkey if it had an "R" next to its name on the ballot. Very telling."

Good one. Very nice. And I read a study that liberals would vote for a donkey if it had a 'D' next to its name.

How do you like THEM apples? LOL

"A recent study found that Utahns would vote for a monkey if it had an "R" next to its name on the ballot."

That's because a monkey is typically more intelligent than the "D" option.

Haven't really decided why all you utah people think its great for Palin to our next VP. Please tell me - what happen to the moral lesson of staying home with your children as priority (especaially with a special needs child) maybe she should wait until her children don't need her any more before she spends her time serving us and not them. Her children/family need their a mother don't they?? I guess this is how liberals think not conservative utah mormons...

Just for clarity, the comment "Anonymous | 5:39 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008" was mine, I forgot to put the name in the space and Anonymous came up by default.

To Grand Oil Party = nuclear? | 7:10 a.m.;

You said "...Thus, nuclear power faces many hurdles and safety issues before we can radically expand it as McCain promises. With breakthroughs in batteries, plug-in cars in 2010, and growth in renewables, McCain's plans are wrong!" Ok, Einstein, if we have the breakthrough in batteries and plug-in cars just were are we going to get the extra electricity from? Now, I agree that renewable power is the way to go, but, assure me that we have the means to create the extra electrical power needed?

Do we get it from wind turbines? If so , then what is their efficiency after the power needed to manufacture them?

Do we get it from the sun? Can the photo voltaic cells produce enough power? in a small enough of an area and efficient, again, after their manufacture?

Do we get it from the dirty, pollution causing coal? Do we get it from the big audacious hydro-electric facilities?

If you are serious then stop your whining about high gas prices and let the natural capitol based economy make its path using the brains of its engineers to solve the problems.

it now. Senator Lieberman will probably be tapped for Secretary of State in the Cabinet, if the GOP wins the election...

Never a greater need for a third party than now - There has got to be another choice.

To me, it's a phony move that Sen. Joe Lieberman stepped to the podium at the Republican National Convention. ANYONE that was Al Gore's running mate on the Democratic ticket in 2000, today is nothing more than a "trojan horse" fake vote stealer that is still a "do nothing" moderate-liberal. I will watch the Obamacon and his phony sidekick veep as well as the other O'bots a little longer because my doctor told me I needed to laugh more and laughing will lower my blood pressure. As for you Obamacon young O'bots if you really want a change, turn off the computer, go to the telephone, call up your mom to come home, and, change your diaper, than you'll have your true change you are really seeking in life. Did the Utah Republicans watch on TV "the ABC Evening News" and their loyal to Utah Republican icon's that are "for the people" per se, at the parties with their lobbiest's while they were to "take it light" because of a hurricane, in a different "face mode"?. And was to be in morning over it per se. I am ticked folks. Are you?.

Wake up people. If you were to list some of the most important issues in this election:

1. The economy
2. The war in Iraq
3. The budget deficit
4. Energy policy
5. Housing
6. Social Security
7. Healthcare
8. Defense
9. Foreign Affairs (including Iran/Middle East, Russia, Europe, China and Pakistan.)
10. Free trade

I realize that this is not a comprehensive list but the point is that abortion and gay marriage do not even come in the picture! So go ahead and ignore the elephant (pun intended) in the room and base your vote on abortion and gay marriage when you do not understand Democrats positions on these issues anyway. I'll give you a little hint pro choice does not equal pro abortion.

Take a look at Bob Barr.

After a couple of slurred words and appearing a bit too relaxed, did anyone else notice that Mr. Lieberman might have been partying hearty before his speech?

I am a stay at home mom of 3 kids, I live in suburban Utah, pay taxes, go to church every Sunday where I teach primary to 10 year olds, and I vote Democrat. My simple lifestyle doesn't really bring to mind words like "weird", "anarchy", "anti-social", or "extreme". But thanks for telling me who I really am.

are getting better
Less foolishness
Maybe people in Utah are getting smarter or just not posting
The big problemm I see is Republicans is
They do not follow the 10 Commandments
They are greedy Rich People
Doing nothing for the Country and expecting our boys to give their life
The Judges sons always become Doctors and Lawyers
Your son is sent to jail
Think about this
Jail is a bad Joke

I'm seriously beginning to wonder if a lot of people on this blog need psychiatric help. I can't believe how childish, illogical, silly and off point most of these blogs are.

These arguments back and forth are comical. The one BIG question everyone should be looking at is- Are you better off today than you were 8 years ago? This economy issue is a direct result of many administration decisions and policies. Oil, war, housing, health care and related costs ect. Whether you believe you have been lied too, decieved or whatever, the question remains- Are you as well or better off today than 8 years ago, and what does the immediate future hold because of these past 8 years for you, your children and grand children? Now do you want 4 more years of the same direction this country is heading in or do you want a change? The voters will determine this not our leaders. Outing all incumbents would be a good start I believe personnally, but it is your choice voters. So be careful where you place your X's in November.

The key issue in this election is Character -- not being one, but having it. McCain, Palin, Romney, Thompson, Bush, Cheney, Rice, Hatch, Bennett, Bishop, to name a few leading (though imperfect) Republicans HAVE IT. So does Lieberman, because he's right on the most significant issue this year -- who is best prepared to lead as the Commander-in-Chief. The ranks are a lot thinner on the other side of the aisle that seems filled with characters in an old movie still spouting the same liberal socialist drivel that deserves no place in modern America.

I agree with Anonymous | 9:04 a.m. Many believe if your political views are different, then you are wrong. Different is just that, different. I am a conservative, but not one to say to my liberal friends, "you are out of touch, follow me, I have the answers." I don't like this attitude hucked on me, and I will not do likewise. I will, however, stand up for what I believe in. A political party is not all knowing, and I don't care for supporting -- to the death -- one or the other. If a candidate aligns with my positions on life, economy, defense etc., then I vote for him or her, regardless of party affiliation. You?

LOL, Obama is a socialist. He wants free health care for all and free college tuition for those who cant afford it. Who do you think will pay for this? The taxpayer. I dont like McCain either but its funny how Democrats act like republicans are the only ones who stick to their party lines. Democrats in utah are just as bad, hence Rocky Anderson.

HaHaHa! LOL!!!! That's the funniest thing I've heard all day! You're going to have a hard time arguing that one with most of those "characters"!

to Rise and Shout er Shine 8:23
Think again please. You are only seeing what you want to see.
It is precisely because those positions of liberals regarding the list of ten items ARE understood and are rejected.

You need to understand that it is not conservatives pressing for the extreme selfishness of abortion and gay marriage. It is the focus of the liberal media trying to influence rather that to report. This need not be such a difficult issue for you once it is understood that selfishness is not progress.

I agree with "Anonymous"...I have been in my lifetime first a Democrat, then a Republican, and now I am fiercely Independent...once all the convention hoopla of both parties is over, I will watch and listen as both candidates speak or bespeak their beliefs and their plans...and, as I have since I was first able to vote (and I am now in my sixties), I will make a decision that maps to both my head and my heart...as will most intelligent and competent voters...for some party will trump serious, thought-out selection...but I still trust the people...most will rise above the pettiness of party-pandering...

Bush and Cheney certainly have the character to assume that the executive branch is above the law, can ignore constitutional freedoms, and violate international law regarding treatment of detainees. Bush claimed in his speech last night that he values human life, but at the same time his policies have led to thousands of deaths of Iraqis and torture and abuse of "enemy combatants". Apparent, his high regard of human life only applies to embryonic life. Anyone who sites Bush and Cheney as men of character cannot be trusted as a judge of character.

Utah republicans did vote for a monkey. Twice.

Lest anyone forget, the prior Democratic administration deployed troops to:
Iraq (multiple operations)
Bosnia (multiple operations)
Somalia
Macedonia
Haiti
Liberia (miltiple operations)
Central African Republic
Congo
Gabon
Sierra Leone
Cambodia
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Tanzania
Afghanistan
Sudan
East Timor (multiple operations)
Yemen

Certainly these deployments did not *all* devolve into combat actions but the potential was there. Attempts to portray the Republicans as warmongers and the Democrats as "the party of peace" are misleading and misguided. Perusal of a history text will reveal that the Korean War was fought under 2 Democratic Presidents and the Vietnam War was escalated by and largely fought under 2 Democratic administrations.

Neither major political party are particularly peace-loving!

Difference between Demos and Republicans. Republicans give huge amounts of welfare to Exxon, Conagra, etc. Democrats want to help people who need it... single moms, young students, the elderly. That's the diff.

Oh Please:
The real difference is that Republicans recognize that it is corporations that employ people and enable them to support themselves. Taxing corporations to the hilt only causes job cuts and higher prices for everyone. But the Democrats don't care because the only way they know to "help" single moms, students, the elderly and the poor is through government handouts. Republicans believe in helping the poor through jobs, education and lower taxes. Democrats just want handouts. Studies have shown that Republicans give far more of their own wealth to charitable causes than Democrats do. Demos just want the government to do it. Who really cares about the those who need help?

I've had enough with the "Republicans = rich people" steriotype. That steriotype is about as old and outdated as racial steriotypes, class steriotypes, steriotyping people based on what side of the tracks they live on, etc. They're ALL bogus.

In my neighborhood, the rich snobs are very active Democrats, but I don't assume that goes for ALL Democrats nation-wide. Look around yourself and see if this steriotype is true enough to foist on people YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW every day. I think if you're honest you'll find most of the Republicans, Libritarians and Independents YOU know are common every day people living in the smaller houses in your neighborhood (like me).

Just because the media and your Democrat leaders keep telling you "Republicans are rich people" don't just fall for that type of rhetorical hype.

Let's drop the usual political rhetoric and try to make some progress.

Why is it OK for this dope to refer to President Bush as "A Monkey"? But if anyone refered to Sen Obama as "A Monkey" (ala the monkey sock puppet, etc) the outrage would be immediate and excoriating?

If the Democrat posters expect us to respect Obama when he becomes President, I think they need to show similar respect now, instead of calling Bush a Monkey etc and then when their guy is in office saying, "OK, Now that our guys in we need to all quit calling names and playing political one-up-manship games and show more respect".

You can't continue to hand out insults and disrespect to your political opponent and then expect the opposite in return!

B's assumption that you can't consider voting for a Republican unless you're rich is an obsurd and outdated notion.

Think about it... How many Hollywood stars are rich? How many in hollywood vote Republican?

How many rock stars, rappers, etc are rich? How many of them are voting Republican?

This type of steriotype based logic shouldn't work anymore, but it does. Democrats think, "The more we say it, the more people will believe it".

Almost every Democrat I hear talking eventually pulls out the, "Democrats are for the poor, middle-class and little people", line. Problem is... the guy you're listening to is usually wearing a $1000.00 suit and smokeing a $100.00 cigar and lives in one of his multi-million dollar mansions (usually in LA, DC or Chicago) paid for by your donations, contributions and taxes.

The "You can only vote Republican if you are rich", line is a lie. Lot's of poor people have conservative core values. Lots of NOT RICH farmers, ranchers, factory workers, etc, in middle-America vote Republican. Credible studies show most Rural American's vote Republican/independent, while most RICH city snobs vote DEMOCRAT! The DEMOCRAT strong-holds are the rich snobs living in America's big cities. It's a LIE!

There are two types of Republicans. The first type are the rich "Masters of the Universe," who look with contempt on the rest of us. The other type are the "Dittoheads," who actually believe what their Masters tell them. With the latter group, it's an educational problem. Presumably, most of the neocons on this site belong to that group (judging from their lack of expertise in grammar and spelling).

I'm having a hard time choking out tears for the wealthy Republicans who run this country. For the head of Goldman-Sachs who just got a $20-million payout from the State of Utah to set up an office here. For the head of Exxon who took a $17-billion subsidy from the Feds last year to experiment with "renewable fuels" (bahhhahaahahaa) and then retired with $360 million in his wallet. Somehow, their plight just doesn't move me....

Let's see: they cheer Lieberman, a known liberal, and they cheer Palin, an inexperienced light weight, and they cheer for the divorced guy who married the millionaire while his wife was still in the hospital.

I must be lost. Would someone tell me what happened?