Socialist Sara Palin. Plus, Can Obama Pass a National Security Test? Ask Colin Powell.

As we know the McCain-Palin campaign is claiming that giving tax cuts to the middle-class is socialist yet Sara Palin comes from a state (Alaska) that redistributes a portion of oil wealth to all its citizens. In fact, under her rule she has increased the tax rate that these oil companies must pay. I think it's a great idea and should be applied nation wide with a federal windfall profits tax on oil companies.

That Alaska oil rebate check policy, however, shows blatant hypocrisy. In other words, rebates are good enough for Alaska but "socialist" when Barack Obama wants to provide tax relief for the vast majority of Americans who make up the backbone of our economy--the middle class? It's upside down world in the McCain camp.In other news, we keep hearing this attack from the McCain camp that Senator Biden supposedly said that Barack isn't ready for a national security "test" from our enemies. Well, first of all the McCain people conveniently left out the most important part of the Biden comments, which is that Obama would be up to the task because "he's got steel in his spine" suggesting he'd pass the test.

Biden's point (while convoluted) is that all new presidents are tested in one way or another and I don't think that the greatest general in a generation, Colin Powell would have endorsed Barack Obama if he thought that Obama couldn't pass a "test." I am pretty confident in saying that Powell (former National Security Adviser, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State) knows more about this subject than most people. I trust his judgment that Obama is ready. The other point is that Obama is about as calm and collected as they come so he'd be well suited to face down tense national security situations with a clear head and good judgment. In addition, Obama will be getting sound advise and backup from his national security advisers. So calm down people.

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