<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5904422.html]Campaign”>http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5904422.html]Campaign</a> notebook: Obama wrongly adds line to r</p>
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<p>I really really take offense at that comment. In fact, I think you owe me an apology, because I NEVER lie.</p>
<p>Just like midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy (McCain’s Alma Mater), I * do not lie, cheat or steal, or associate with anyone who does*.</p>
<p>[Unlike Obama, who has been known to associate with liars (Wright), cheaters (Rezco), and thiefs (Emil Jones, Jr.) , and even traitors (Ayers)].</p>
<p>[Washington</a> Times - Obama’s associations may haunt bid](<a href=“http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/jun/08/obamas-associations-may-haunt-bid/]Washington”>http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/jun/08/obamas-associations-may-haunt-bid/)</p>
<p>Some of us live by an Honor Code, and I resent you - or anyone - suggesting otherwise.</p>
<p>If the nation goes to war it is the responsibility of Congress because congress both authorizes war and appropriates war spending, regardless of if they try to pass the buck</p>
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<p>But you really accused others of doing the same. So how about if you apologize for calling me a liar and I’ll do the same for you.</p>
<p>When did I call you a “liar” or accuse you of “baldfaced lies”??</p>
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<p>McCain went to the Naval Academy. No doubt that it’s a good school; however, to say that it is “one of the most (if not the most) competetive & demanding schools in America” simply is not true by any metric.</p>
<p>No, I’m pretty sure there is some dishonor in graduating 795th out of 800 in your class as a “D” student. Even George W. Bush was a better student than McCain was.</p>
<p>marite:</p>
<p>The whole Obama not admitting the surge worked is something that is media driven. In all of the interviews Obama has been saying that though the surge and a number of other factors have helped to decrease the level of violence in Iraq he is still not convinced that the surge was the only way to make progress in Iraq.</p>
<p>Newjack: I listened to the Couric interview. I think he could have given more credit to the surge. Not only would it have been accurate, but it would have gotten the media off his back. It’s a matter of emphasis.</p>
<p>I responded to a question about where I had differences from or criticisms of Obama. This would be one of them. He is too afraid of giving credit to the surge–not that he was wrong, because his claim that both the Sunni Awakening and the surge helped is right–, because he fears it will be held against him. But his unwillingness allows his detractors to paint him as narcissistic.</p>
<p>“The whole Obama not admitting the surge worked is something that is media driven. In all of the interviews Obama has been saying that though the surge and a number of other factors have helped to decrease the level of violence in Iraq he is still not convinced that the surge was the only way to make progress in Iraq.”</p>
<p>That’s like your son graduating from a second-tier school and your neighbor then saying that he could have received a better education at a first-tier school. Instead of congratulating the parent for having raised a kid to adulthood.</p>
<p>Sure, there could be other ways [how about elucidating them], and they might have worked. But how about just congratulating the troops and maybe even President Bush for a success or successful progress?</p>
<p>Can Obama get up there and say that he was wrong?</p>
<p>USNA consistently ranks as one of the most (if not the most) competetive for admission, even more than Harvard or Yale.</p>
<p>AND it consistently ranks as one of the top Engineering Schools in America.</p>
<p>I’ve seen the data & I’m looking for some links for you.</p>
<p>[And there is oh-so-much more to attending USNA than just going to classes, so factor that in as well].</p>
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<p>Have you read the text of the interview between Couric and Obama?</p>
<p>Here, I’ll give it to you…</p>
<p>[Obama</a> defends anti-surge stand in CBS’ Katie Couric Obama interview in Amman. New biggest weakness; short on human genome info. - Lynn Sweet](<a href=“http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/07/cbs-katie-couric.html]Obama”>http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/07/cbs-katie-couric.html)</p>
<p>Have you seen “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”? </p>
<p>There’s a song/dance number called “The Sidestep”.</p>
<p>Obama must have watched it and perfected it because he is a master of the “non-answer”.</p>
<p>The personality type of never admitting a mistake or doing something wrong is common on the internet. It’s a pretty nice environment for the argumentative or those using argumentum ad nauseum.</p>
<p>Is it really that hard to say good job?</p>
<p>On more important matters, the debt ceiling was raised another $800 billion, Freddie and Fannie have access to the Treasury without having to go through Congress and some home owners may get some relief from foreclosure proceedings. Pretty amazing that lawmakers can get something like this done.</p>
<p>I think that I hate most of the bill but we’ll pass the buck to someone down the line for fixing.</p>
<p>BCEagle91:</p>
<p>Good analogy. If I were Obama, I probably would do what marite suggested and emphasize that I think the surge worked so that everyone would shut up about it and finally start looking forward.</p>
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<p>Princeton Review says USNA has a selectivity rating of 96, which is quite high. However, Harvard, for example, has a selectivity rating of 99.</p>
<p>Also, I think it is important to distinguish in what ways admission to the USNA and schools like Harvard is difficult. For USNA, it is difficult because of physical tests, recommendations, interviews, level of interest, etc are considered “very important.” For Harvard, it is primarily because the school has very high expectations in regards to the academic performance of students. (Just look at the average test scores for Harvard and USNA.)</p>
<p>I was honestly impressed with McCain’s graduation from the Naval Academy, until I found out that he was a “legacy” who graduated near the bottom of his class. The Academy’s 25th percentile SAT scores today are in the 1100’s - back in the day I’m sure it was even lower. And McCain was undoubtedly below the 25th percentile, based on his performance while there. I give credit to his willingness to stick it out, because I do understand that the Naval Academy is rigorous, in more ways than one. But it’s pretty clear that he never would have gotten in without his family’s connections - and it’s possible he wouldn’t have graduated without them, either. “Pull” is not unimportant in the military, any more than anywhere else. (All those people who squawk about affirmative action might consider this for a bit.)</p>
<p>At this point I have to figure that McCain was an academically mediocre college student at best, by any standard.</p>
<p>Newjack - as promised, here’s some info for you:</p>
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<p><a href=“https://www.usna.com/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?RSS=acad&pid=3111[/url]”>https://www.usna.com/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?RSS=acad&pid=3111</a></p>
<p>I’ve also seen it previously ranked 3rd overall for Engineering.</p>
<p>I also found this:</p>
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<p>To check individual schools, including many not on the list, go to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Opportunities Online Locator at
[College</a> Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/]College”>http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/)</p>
<p>So let’s not have any more talk about McCain’s low ranking upon his USNA graduation!</p>
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<p>And that clearly overshadows his 20+ years in Congress.</p>
<p>Mediocre college students should stay in middle management where they belong! How presumptuous of him.</p>
<p>“But his unwillingness allows his detractors to paint him as narcissistic.”</p>
<p>Maybe he just IS? (j/k!!)</p>
<p>Wow he was really channeling Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy today - except he didn’t bring Jackie, oops, Michelle and forgot to mention the jelly donut!</p>
<p>Whew, kluge! Post #293 - That is A LOT of conjecture!</p>
<p>But to be fair, you came up w/ all of that before I posted #294. You might need to rethink all those assumptions! :)</p>
<p>re: #294</p>
<p>I was looking around at the website of one of the service academies for math materials and did take a look at some of their programs. It looked comparable to public universities that I’ve looked at. What makes their programs such standouts?</p>
<p>Getting back to Obama–200,000 people turned out to hear his speech in Berlin today. Apparently, they also lined the streets as his motorcade passed, at least some shouting in English “Yes We Can!” Wow. Shades of JFK.</p>
<p>[In</a> Germany, Obama urges joint fight against terror - Yahoo! News](<a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080724/ap_on_el_pr/obama_germany]In”>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080724/ap_on_el_pr/obama_germany)</p>
<p>BCE91: </p>
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<p><a href=“https://www.usna.com/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?RSS=acad&pid=3111[/url]”>https://www.usna.com/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?RSS=acad&pid=3111</a></p>
<p>It doesn’t mention above anything about the facilities or faculty in general (the list is probably not all-inclusive), but USNA has some of the finest instructors & facilities in the world.</p>