i thought this might clear things up.

reporting by CNN in Jakarta, Indonesia and Washington, D.C., shows the allegations that Obama attended a madrassa to be false. CNN dispatched Senior International Correspondent John Vause to Jakarta to investigate.

He visited the Basuki school, which Obama attended from 1969 to 1971.

"This is a public school. We don't focus on religion," Hardi Priyono, deputy headmaster of the Basuki school, told Vause. "In our daily lives, we try to respect religion, but we don't give preferential treatment."

Vause reported he saw boys and girls dressed in neat school uniforms playing outside the school, while teachers were dressed in Western-style clothes.

"I came here to Barack Obama's elementary school in Jakarta looking for what some are calling an Islamic madrassa ... like the ones that teach hate and violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan," Vause said on the "Situation Room" Monday. "I've been to those madrassas in Pakistan ... this school is nothing like that."

Vause also interviewed one of Obama's Basuki classmates, Bandug Winadijanto, who claims that not a lot has changed at the school since the two men were pupils. Insight reported that Obama's political opponents believed the school promoted Wahhabism, a fundamentalist form of Islam, "and are seeking to prove it."

"It's not (an) Islamic school. It's general," Winadijanto said. "There is a lot of Christians, Buddhists, also Confucian. ... So that's a mixed school."

The Obama aide described Fox News' broadcasting of the Insight story "appallingly irresponsible."

Fox News executive Bill Shine told CNN "Reliable Sources" anchor Howard Kurtz that some of the network's hosts were simply expressing their opinions and repeatedly cited Insight as the source of the allegations.

Obama has noted in his two books, "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," that he spent two years in a Muslim school and another two years in a Catholic school while living in Indonesia from age 6 to 10.

Shame on the media for picking on Palin. I live in Canada and every mag has her on it...front page for whatever flaws she has or has had. I think it is absolutely sickening. I personally think that she is the "man" for the job. I just hope that she is the kind of person that doesn't take it personally. I am not supporting eithor party but just for Palin as a woman in such a powerful position. They are picking an her becasue if they pick on Obama then it becomes a racial prejudice issue. If they pick on Mcain then it becomes an anti soldier issue. So the media picks on the lady because well she's the best target because no one will say anti women issues because a woman in that position needs to learn I suppose that if you want to be equal with the men then you have to be prepared to deal with the slimy media. Eventually when women become Presidents and viceP's regularily they won't pick on the ladies. It is new for journalist and they are taking full advantage. So I hope Palin laughs at it all.

I SAW HER SPEECH AND WAS IMPRESSED ... SHE IS AGAINST WAR TOO.. WE ALL ARE, BUT SHE SEES A THREAT TO THIS GREAT NATION, AND FEELS THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT THIS COUNTRY AT ALL COSTS, EVEN IF IT MEANS WAR ..... I TOTALLY AGREE, WE HAVE LET OUR GUARD DOWN IN THE PAST, AND LOOK AT THE END RESULT .... "911" .... DO WE WANT ANOTHER CATASTOPHIC OCCURANCE LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN ??? I THINK NOT ...

Scorp I'm with you 100% on this. The president doesn't play games. He bases his decisions on information from credible sources. The media will always downplay the president's choices because that is what gets our attention. It is too ba d we all fall for that crap.

With all due respect, but we have been at war in Iraq for seven years now, and still Bin-Laden (who is responsible for 9-11) still runs loose. This is twice as long as WWII, when we were up against Hitler, Japan and Mussolini. Do you really think this country is safer than it was seven years ago? Look at the ports. Look at all the plutonium and uranium that is easily accessible to those that would do us harm. Do you think our water reservoirs are safe? Or our borders for that matter? Have we stopped terrorism or only increased the numbers of terrorists?

Read the "The Two Percent Solution" - it tells a great deal of the mindset of Cheney (and, no, it is not written by a "liberal"). Read "Plan of Attack" by Bob Woodward, respected journalist, who writes an account of how and why we went to war in Iraq.

Did we go after Bin Laden when we had the chance or did this administration allow him to continue on - in the mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan. We pulled our forces from Afghanistan and went to war in Iraq - a war that has been proved to have based on at best, "faulty intelligence" and who has made billions on that war...Haliburton, for one, whose past CEO just happened to have been Dick Cheney. How much time has gone since Bush stood on a deck of an aircraft carrier, declaring "victory"?

Please tell me how you feel protecting this country even if it means war is going to make it safer. Have we stopped terrorism or has the number of "terrorists" increased? Civil liberties are being tromped on right and left. We are hated even more since our invasion of Iraq. We and Russia are no longer the only ones with nuclear weapons or the capabilities to build them.

As for Ms. Palin, is it she or Mc Cain who is running for President anyway? She continues on with her falsehoods and her lack of knowledge, yet when caught in either one, she (or her party) cries sexism or she is being "picked on". Sexism? I saw the buttons at the RNC that touted her as the "hottest" VP on the ticket from the coldest state...... As for being picked on, it is the responsibility of journalism to gather the facts, not sound bites, and report them re: her bridge to nowhere, her selling of the government jet on ebay, that other governors had never met a head of state before they were elected - not true - every vice president has, her preaching from the pulpit of a church that says we are nearing "rapture" and Alaska is a "refuge" state from the coming holocaust, now her attempts at blocking the investigation into her misuse of power, although she said previously said she would not, with the claim it is being politicized, even though both Republicans and Democrats in her state believe it should go forth.

She is a member of the Republican Party and should know the policies of a President represented by her party, yet when interviewed, she did not have a clue as to what the "Bush Doctrine" was about, and even seemed quite willing to go to war with Russia.

I have always, and will always look beyond the politician, the media, and televised ads and educate myself before I vote for any candidate. It behooves us all to be as informed as possible before we cast our vote.

I submit that should this ticket be elected we won't just have more of the same, we will have it far worse.

The good thing about the war on Iraq is that there is a broader understanding of living conditions in that country. Do you know it is everday that poor women and their children beg in the streets like dogs? Women are raped and killed because a man says so. The men are proud to do this. It is illegal for a woman to go to school...they have secret schools and if they ever got caught they would be murdered? Again it is something a man would be proud to do...or they would rape the mom infront of the husband and children. The Iraq army will barge into a home and remove young boys and fathers to join the army at any time, they are to kill or be killed. Everyone in that country has fear..every second of every day. This is why the war is good...It reveals to all of us spoiled brats of the realities of how these poor people live...all the while Suddam is living in a castle and has billions of dollars to live off. The war gives women and children of Iraq a chance to rebuild and live in respect like they deserve. If you were a woman with children in Iraq wouldn't you want someone to save you??? It will take probably a hundred yrs. but Iraq could turn into a fearless respectful society thanks to President Bush being so brave and seeing the whole picture. My opinion is presented with all do respect. If theses authors of these book lived in iraq with their wives and children...they would view it differently.

Here is a link to the incident Palin is accused of firing her brother in law. From what I read I can see why he would be fired as a Trooper when he uses a Taser on his ten year old son. She is accused of accessing his personal files that where not open to her. Truth is she didnâ??t due to Mike Wooten on February 7 waiver Wooten signed during divorce proceedings that authorized the release of his personnel file, "including but not limited to any and all disciplinary actions and or complaints, and personnel records and actual shift and date worked records." Again another falsehood said about Palin that isnâ??t one if you do the research. She hasn't been proven guilty or innocent yet. To many in the media lie to keep the article controversial and of course Obama will play it for what it is worse to win this election.

Donâ??t even have to ask why the wife wanted a divorce after what he tasered his son and other illegal things as using his wifes hunting license to illegally take a moose (fucking poacher) and drinking in a State Patrol car. I wouldnâ??t want this hypocrite taking care of my safety. And he only got a week suspension for this wrong behavior? WTF

What happened to you are innocent until proven guilty? The things going around here about her brother in law donâ??t hold any water. Mongane was fired not Wooten. Unless he was fired later? I think Mongane was playing the protect your own card even if you have to lie. But yet some want to believe everything she says is false without facts.

Palin, now the Republican nominee for vice president, is battling allegations that she sacked her public safety commissioner in July because he refused to fire Trooper Mike Wooten, her sister's ex-husband. But a spokesman for GOP presidential candidate John McCain's campaign released documents late Thursday indicating Wooten signed a waiver during his divorce that allowed his entire personnel file to be released.

There are also things going around that are fishie about Wooten trying to file false work mens compensation��.Some say it is allegedly said he tased his 10 year old son and other things are not true. If that is so why did he do and interview saying he was young and not like that anymore? That is a pretty pathetic excuse for tasing your son, illegal hunting and drinking in a patrol car.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/04/palin.investigation/index.html

It will be interesting to see what the court finds when all the evidence is laid out from both sides.

Good comment MirandaM why the US is still over in Iraq. The US force did not catch Osama Bin Laden right away but were over there trying to make sure of no nuclear was weapons were hiding illegally. Have no doubt who ever is President of the US is fully aware of this danger from other countries. After the towers in Lebanon where bombed Iraq thought we needed a taste of what they felt. Accusing us of what they do ten fold. Even Iraq admits they did not think they would do the damage the suicide plane did. It was the building frame and luck where that plane hit to bring both sky scrapers down. I doubt Iraq would have gotten in if they attacked in a full fledged war against the US. Instead their men do these suicide missions believing they will live as kings in heaven upon their death. We have terrorist because of the hatefulness Iraq people have towards the US being a stronger country and religion. Maybe 911 made it worse but they will probably always have the terrorist attack mode to use. I believe with extra security the US has kept terrorist attacks down in the US.

I canâ??t claim this and do not agree with all of it. Here is a true democrats out look with some pun. Lol I took this from my friend neutron who knows his politics. I think that which ever candidate is elected it may not get worse but will take time to get better.

"OK, Here is the deal. Biden is still active in the Senate, but will skin her alive in the debates.
Another thing we need to remember is we are electing a President, not a Vice President.
So shouldn't we talk about McCain and all of his short comings ( McSame) ?
So Biden and Palin are second fiddle to the real people we should talk about. McCain is soooooo happy that it is Obama vs: Palin instead of Obama vs: McCain.
Plus, McCain and Obama have advisors that they consult with, and they will in the White House. So either one is qualified for the job. The difference is no matter what McCain says, he will end up doing the same status quo shit that George Bush is doing now. He would be the second most stupid President of our time.
Obama on the other hand will have advisors that will lead us in the direction we should be wanting to go. Improving the economy, making world peace, health care for everyone who wants it, getting out of faux wars and focusing on the right enemies, he is a person that will look out for the entire population of the country. As far as raising taxes, yes, he is raising taxes on rich people, the people who make millions and pay less taxes than I do. Anyone who makes a six figure income should pay taxes instead of being rewarded for it by paying less taxes.

Ok I will stop before it turns into the first chapter of a book. lol

Miranda:

Are you speaking of the Iraq army that this country arms, supports and trains to provide security for Iraq in the future if and when we should leave? Are you speaking of the Sunnis or Shites? Or are you speaking of life under the Taliban - which is in Afghanistan and is a dominated by a fundamentalist religious government (which by the way, this country helped put in place)?

No doubt the Iraqi people live in fear every day of their lives. How many civilians have been killed in this war - not counting over 4,000 American service people - over 600,000. Do you or have you ever lived in Iraq? I bet not. Neither have I. Ask them if they feel their quality of life has improved over the past seven years. I would venture a guess that they would say not. You only need google Iraqi life after the war, to find answers. It would take too much space to tell all - the decrease in children going to school, the lack of doctors, the lack of medical care, that women live in greater fear since our involvement in that country than ever before.

However, I am certainly not speaking in support of Sadam Hussein nor have I ever. My comments are only reflective of life after our invasion of that country and the fact this administration did not go after those responsible for 9/11 and Bin Laden in the first place. Instead our resources were diverted to the war in Iraq. Since that war began there has been a 607 percent rise in terrorism (28.3 per year before the war, 199.8 after with a 237 percent rise in fatalities). If one would exclude Iraq and Afghanistan there has been a 35 percent rise in attacks, with a 12 percent rise in fatalities. In my opinion, I fail to see where Bush's policies has made us safer.

I deffiently have to say i am 50-50 this year. Obama doesn't want to be sworn in on the bible, which is one of the things he won't do! But other than that I dunno... McCain, a whole nother story. I like the fact she supports her daughter ( as I am a young mother myslef), she also seems to be the goal acheiving type since back in her younger days from what I have heard and read. But I guess we'll see. As long as all of our troops can come home and no depression stage I think we will be ok. Would also be nice to see the gas, oil, ect go back to a reasonable rate where families who are stuggling can decided weather they should pay a bill, how much gas to put in the car to make it to work, but still have enough to feed their family.

Obama used a bible when sworn in as a senator, and since he is a christian i'm sure he will use a bible when he is sworn in as president.

O.K. I'll play the opposite side of the debate.

Re: Palin

She (and her family) was reprimanded by the Courts, not once, but twice not to disparage Wooten. The Judge called this child abuse and it was not to continue. This was after the incidents alleged against Wooten were investigated and he was suspended, however, not fired. The investigation regarding Palin is her alleged misuse of power that as Governor she sought to have the ex-husband fired after disciplinary measures were taken. She said she was open to this investigation and would cooperate, but now refuses to do so. Alaska's state legislators, both Democrats AND Republicans have voted to begin the subpoena process and this is where it stands at present. It is entirely possible she wants to delay this process until after the elections......but that begs the question as to why.

As to weapons of mass destruction, Hussein was told to get rid of them and U.N. observers and others emphasized there were no weapons of mass destruction found - reports we were given were slanted to justify the invasion of Iraq. Fourteen of the hijackers that day were from Saudi Arabia. Not one was from Iraq. It's pretty common knowledge these days the invasion of Iraq was never justified as far as going after the ones responsible for the attacks on the twin towers.

Suicide missions are actually nothing new. In WWII, Japanese pilots ran Kamikaze (suicide) attacks on U.S. planes and other targets believing it brought them honor.

It boggles my mind that we can send a man to the moon, rockets to Mars, but somehow this administration didn't have the intelligence and wherewithal to go after and capture the man responsible - Osama Bin Laden. Actually, we were very close at one time, but troops were pulled away

By the way, I like moose, too. I also like polar bears. Unfortunately, Palin has filed suit against the federal government for putting them (polar bears) on the endangered species list, and has instituted a policy of paying $150 for wolves legs, each time a person kills one, although there has never been a recorded incident of a wolf ever attacking a human in Alaska. Oh yea, bears are also being decimated.

Oh well, as my grandma used to say "It'll all come out in the wash!" and I think laundry day is November 6th this year.

Actually the US is still in Afganistan becasuse they are not sure there duty is done there in making peace. We all know the US troops have been in Iraq. Many troops in Irag are suppose to be comming home during the next Presidents rain. The bombing happened in Lebanon. Saudi Arabia asked the US to intervene and help the up conditions in Lebanon. At some time or another we are helping some middle east country over there because war seems to be their only solution. Not.

I simply posted and update on Palins lawsuit and found nothing but speculation she wanted her sisters ex husband fired. I think he gave enough reason for that without Palins help. But as I sais the police protect their own even if they have to lie. I can't blame Palin since whe is going into court to want to have leagal advice especially if she is not guilty of these insinutations. I wouldn't hold that against her it is her right.

As far as polar bear they have been on the endagered list for many years but still the natives can hunt them and they still give out lisences to hunt polar bear. Most hunters don't hunt polar bear because the US has laws that won't allow them to cross the Canadian border line into the US. It has been in recent years they have started allowing the polar bear in. But it is a hassle to do all the paper work. The only reason for hunting is if you keep and animal from being hunted they will eventually over populate and there isn't enough food resources with developing comming on. The other option would be culling a heard by F&W. Due to Alaska being a big State I figure they have a good population of polar bear. I am sure the wolves are like our coyotes here in Alaska. The reason for the pay out is to hopefully size down the population. Sadly it appears F&W officers don't control of animal population down pat yet.

Obama has a known history of participating int he muslim religion. Have you noticed he doesn't solute the flad either? At least I have seen several events he hasn't and then in Denver Co. when he had his acceptance speech the black woman sang the black national athem instead of The Star Spangle Banner which is appropriate.

Palin is a woman and a good pic for McCain and is going to keep having any dirty laundery the media and Obamas compaign drag out wether it true or not. They can have all kinds of stuff out there by the time of the election and no proof that it is true but use it to put doubt in voters minds.

This is just a short resonse as I have to go soon. Again some interesting things brought up to look into by all.

I think they both are equally as crappy... I vote for cat; she could do better just laying around licking her ass all day!

To my comment above-

I meant "MY" cat. lol

Can we please keep race out of the discussion. It has no place here.

Everyone is going to vote as they chose. Prehaps we should revisit this forum four years from now and see how things are going.