Don’t have the specific date it started, but for the 110th Congress, Obama missed 44.8%, (292 votes missed, 348 votes cast). McCain missed 63.3%,(399 votes missed, 231 votes cast).

For anyone wanting to see the specific votes cast and missed, you can go here can click on the Senate members name and click the database you want.

Votes Database

Which reminds me, I've gotta go vote. Since only a hundred or so of us will, it might count.

But I'm curious, is it more likely a person in the majority party or minority party to miss a vote? I'm sure someone out there knows the answer.

For the 110th Congress, missed vote percentages are 5.8% Dem, 4.7% Rep. However, the numbers are skewed a little by Dem. Sen. Tim Johnson who suffered a brain hemorrhage and was out a lot. He missed 49.4% of the votes, second to McCain (Obama was third).

I'll take your word for it. Both percentages are unacceptable and if McCain's numbers are as you stated they are shameful. Did you run the numbers on the 109th?

You are right, Obama has missed many votes also. However the same old excuse "but the other guy did it too" is irrelevant. It is time that you and all of McCain's supporters hold McCain to the same standard that you hold Obama to. Yeah...yeah, I know, "but those Godless Liberals don't hold Obama to the same standard, so why should we?" Well, you either have principles or don't. I happen to hold both candidates to the same standard. Maybe if we did that they would get on with the issues and stop the kind of campaigning that we are seeing. It is time for this country to grow up and realize that we all don't see things eye to eye. Instead of excuses and insults, how about meaningful debate and respect for others. Then we can really start turning this around.

Where there any Bills that would have passed/failed with either McCain's or Obama's vote that have you concerned?

Unless a tax cut or a spending decrease was jeopardized by a vote, I'm not concerned. Frankly, the Speaker of the House's refusal to even debate oil drilling in new areas has more of an impact on us than Obama and McCain missing votes in the Senate.

Sounds like Pelosi wants gas to be high. duh..ya think?

"Unless a tax cut or a spending decrease was jeopardized by a vote, I'm not concerned. Frankly, the Speaker of the House's refusal to even debate oil drilling in new areas has more of an impact on us than Obama and McCain missing votes in the Senate."

"Unless a tax cut or a spending decrease was jeopardized?"
For me, if someone says they care about the lives of our warriors, but they don't even bother to show up and vote for their benefits, I have a problem with that. If you are going to parade around on the campaign trail with your Navy baseball cap, yet you have opposed enhancements to the GI Bill to cope with the growing number of disabled vets and the nature of their injuries, I have a problem with that. I can't imagine only being concerned with my own pocket when my country is at war in two places, drowning in red deficit ink, and not coping well with the hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families effected by the policy directions of this government. Personally, I believe the proud veteran, McCain, has some explaining to do. If we don't need them in Washington, why are they collecting six-figure pay checks?

Kevin "Hack" King

ps: Explain to me how Nancy Pelosi is effecting you and I "right now" WRT opposition to NEW LEASES TO OIL COMPANIES. You might reference the 64 million acres they currently are not exploring. I'm serious. How are we effected now by not turning the entire federal property list over to Exxon?

But probably a little shortsighted. I simply do not like how fast our Federal Government is growing. Yes, I sometimes wonder why we are paying them.

But like I said, did any Bills not pass because of Obama or McCain being missing in action?

So you think the Dems want to open up even the "possibility" more land being drilled before the elections? If you believe that, I have swampland in Arizona to sell you. Why do you think gas prices just dropped around .25 cents a gallon or so? Even the suggestion by POTUS that we drill on more land scared the speculators.

Demand is down by 3%. That's why the price dropped. And yes, I think the Dems are going to vote on opening more land before the election.

Be sure to check the air pressure in you tires though. It'll help more than the new leases.

Demand, the threat of more open fields, more MPG's from the vehicles we choose to drive, and many more reasons. It ALL helps.

And yes, I do hope you are right on the vote. But that's not the way I think Speaker Pelosi is leaning.

I have an extra air pressure gauge for you.
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I want one of those "Obama's Energy Plan" ones the McCain guys are passing out.

You know the tire pressure thing is true, right? Don't make me sic NASCAR and that Gov. in California and the Fed. Transportation Bureau on ya.

Just think, they might be worth something in 20 years even though they're made in China.

Now I heard Arnold might the Energy czar in Obama's cabinet. Now wouldn't that be a hoot. This better happen soon since Arnold is having a little problem with state employee wages.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

It is time for this country to grow up and realize that we all don't see things eye to eye. Instead of excuses and insults, how about meaningful debate and respect for others. Then we can really start turning this around.

That may be difficult with some of the participants here.

Whoa...it's getting personal now!

That caused me to look twice. Thankfully I don't. Hmmmm.... what would cause that?

However the same old excuse "but the other guy did it too" is irrelevant.

Let me clarify my fine feathered friend. Or maybe not so feathered. I wasn't trying to justify McCain at all or defend him. You see he actually gives me the same taste in my mouth that Main gets from hearing someone give Rush accolades. I was simply making a point to Ms. Jacky that her "Papa McSame" diatrabe was pretty baseless when stacked up against the attendance record of the one she was promoting. Not really a but, but in my opinion as every presidential candidate I can remember is AWOL from Washington during their run for office. That precedent has been set and at this point it's a 'so-what' issue.

Now if you want this to get real interesting and meaningful, I'd suggest you compare the candidate's voting and attendance records from Oct 07 back to when the Big 'O' first took office. Not that it would matter to an Obama supporter at all.

As far as the principles thang goes. I truly believe I have them and if lacking here and there I can assure you I am always trying to strive to correct my shortcomings. So with that said, I think they are both disgusting specimens as presidential candidates.

Curious though..... does it mean you are "supporter" of a candidate if you reluctantly pull the lever for them with one hand while holding your nose with the other?

It is time that you and all of McCain's supporters hold McCain to the same standard that you hold Obama to.

Wow dude! I must have missed something. When was it that your side started holding Obama to the same standards as you do your Republican adversaries.

Do I still have a point?

Didn't mean to hit a nerve. But it seems that this (and the last 3) election cycles are not at all about the issues as they are (were) about slandering the other candidate to create distrust and fear. But your blog was very simple, "look at Obama's record." Yeah, you are right, he also misses many votes. But that doesn't explain McCain missing votes. Truth be told they ALL miss votes! Unacceptable! If I missed days at work I'd be fired.
But my point was that the immediate answer by each is "well, the other guy does it." That seems to work in this country. McCain and the Repubs. talk about accountability. Yet when McCain fails to vote on bills that help the military, and in fact, speaks against them (GI bill) then one wonders how he can support sending them to war? Send them to war but the heck with benefits?
However here is the problem, Politics is Perception. That is why the campaigns are so slimy. McCain is trying to paint a perception of Obama that he is Elite, inexperienced, anti-military, defeatist, etc. Obama is trying to paint a perception of McCain that he is "more of Bush." But here is a problem, McCain by failing to support and vote for Veteran Benefits shows a lack of support for our military but he runs around wearing his Navy hat showing support of our military. Actions speak louder than words.
So in answer, if you "reluctantly pull the lever for them with one hand while holding your nose with the other," yes you are a supporter. You now need to take responsibility for the result.
By the way, I do hold each candidate to the same standard. I think that their missing votes is no big deal, they are on the campaign trail. I also know they BOTH have "flip-flopped" on oil, Iraq, economy, etc. I find that as smart and desirable. Unlike Bush who never waivers, change in stance is responsive. Reagan did it, Bush I did it, Clinton did it. We were successful for this. I want a leader who is aware of the desires of the people he is elected to lead. W has shown the terrible cost of one who is unaware anything approaching reality.
By the way, I don't have "a side." I have a vision for direction of this country and my vote will be for the one who will be most likely to turn the country in that direction.

I think both of the Senators should be expected to fulfill their obligations in their job in the Senate. That job should be first before their campaigning and if it can't be, they should resign. (Yeah, that's going to happen!) Maybe we need a rule that if they miss votes, except for illness, they will be automatically "fired" from their position. Sounds kind of like the rules the rest of the people have to abide by, doesn't it? Now, that is CHANGE we can believe in!!

The Fed is not the Army! They can move them around!
We elect them for a term and that is why we should be careful!

You said a mouthful. Although we can "fire" them during re-election, most of us are so party-line driven that we won't. But term limits do come to mind.

ACCOUNTABILITY.... now there's a "term limit."

I don't believe a word of it!

He has an "R" by his name, you will vote for him.

You could vote for McKinney or Nader!

Your story reminds me of the one where the little league coach puts in his son who couldn't play at all.
With the understanding that he would have done the same thing with someone not his son!

I am an Independent but will vote for McCain because he is John McCain, not a republican as such. Even if he screws up I will criticize him for it but never regret why I decided to vote for him.
I also did not vote for G.W. Bush either time since he was who he was, and what has happened was very predictable!

He has an "R" by his name, you will vote for him.

Let's see.... I didn't vote for Westmoreland, Chance, Saxby or Perdue on the last go around. If I don't believe in the person then I don't vote for them just because they have an "R" behind them.

You could vote for McKinney or Nader!

That would be a cold day in hell and it would also prove I've totally lost it and should be classified in the same category as BPR & Dollaradayandfound. Please give me more credit than that.

Your story reminds me of the one where the little league coach puts in his son who couldn't play at all.
With the understanding that he would have done the same thing with someone not his son!

What the heck are you talking about? Oh, never mind.

I am an Independent but will vote for McCain because he is John McCain, not a republican as such.

And I'm a Conservative and I'm going to vote for McCain because he is the only candidate that remotely resembles one. And that ain't saying much.

Even if he screws up I will criticize him for it but never regret why I decided to vote for him.

For me, it's not a matter of if he screws up. It's my thought that he will screw things up less than the latest fad they refer to as the Big 'O'.

I also did not vote for G.W. Bush either time since he was who he was, and what has happened was very predictable!

I did vote for him and and as I predicted he proved to be less than a fiscal Conservative than I could have ever have imagined. And if Bush was the 'limited gumament' candidate then I can only imagine what things would look like if his big gumament opposition would have won.

Yeah.... If not voting Democrat makes me a Republican then just picture me with my eyes rolling while mumbling 'whatever'.