Next President of the United States

[AVGWarhawk]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpu...-new-atta.html



Now people are selfish WTH! My money goes to my family, not the slug down the street. This is really getting sour and fast. The spread the wealth comment was so telling. I'm really seeing him pandering to the middle class vote because there are more of them and this is really looking very much orchestrated and many have been involved for years to get him here. It is getting more unbelievable by the minute. Hoodwinked.

[JSF]

Its been my experience people are the average of the friends they keep. Look back on this campaign and examine Obama's closest political friends....Then follow his money.

[Digital_Trucker]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpu...-new-atta.html



Now people are selfish WTH! My money goes to my family, not the slug down the street. This is really getting sour and fast. The spread the wealth comment was so telling. I'm really seeing him pandering to the middle class vote because there are more of them and this is really looking very much orchestrated and many have been involved for years to get him here. It is getting more unbelievable by the minute. Hoodwinked.

And this coming from the guy whose running mate, Joe Biden (who makes an average of $245,000 per year over the last 10 years) averages $369 in charitable donations (over the same 10 years). And we're being selfish. What a crock of sh!t.

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_b...-releases.html

[DeepIron]

So guys, what's the answer? The rift between the rich and the poor in this country is widening... Shall we continue to buy into McCain's "old Washington DC" and continue the way things are, more government, more spending, more bailouts, more DC cr*p, or, can we at least consider changing a few things? I doubt seriously BO is going to upset the applecart much in his 4 years anyway...

That being said personally, I'd start with abolishing the Income Tax and seriously consider a flat rate... won't happen, but I can wish...

Don't feel too bad. I'll be probably one of 7 McCain voters in my state. I swear if the Democratic party had hitler as their candidate he'd carry Rhode Island.

Nah, I'm just pragmatic about it. Following the Income Tax, the second thing I'd abolish is the Electoral College and put the vote truly back into the hands of the citizenry....

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by August

Don't feel too bad. I'll be probably one of 7 McCain voters in my state. I swear if the Democratic party had hitler as their candidate he'd carry Rhode Island.

Utah for the Republicans...all five votes! Did youou know there was a time when some states had split electoral votes?

Originally Posted by DeepIron

Nah, I'm just pragmatic about it. Following the Income Tax, the second thing I'd abolish is the Electoral College and put the vote truly back into the hands of the citizenry....

I would only quibble with the word "back". The Constitution deems that Electors be appointed "...in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct..."

That some states started allowing Electoral appointments by popular vote was the choice of their legislatures, and it soon spread to all states. But the election of the President has never truly been in "the hands of the citizenry."

[AVGWarhawk]

So guys, what's the answer? The rift between the rich and the poor in this country is widening... Shall we continue to buy into McCain's "old Washington DC" and continue the way things are, more government, more spending, more bailouts, more DC cr*p, or, can we at least consider changing a few things? I doubt seriously BO is going to upset the applecart much in his 4 years anyway...

McCain is for less government. However, he is onto more regulation of the Wall St lunatics. Remember, the bailout crap concerned all on Capitol hill and much ingnored by all on Capitol Hill. He is not about more spending. He looking to freeze taxes were they are and cut needless spending. You have to understand, BO is one person against the same old Washington you speak of. Unfortunate for BO, he can only upset the apple cart just so far before the citizens raise their hand.

[DeepIron]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

McCain is for less government. However, he is onto more regulation of the Wall St lunatics. Remember, the bailout crap concerned all on Capitol hill and much ingnored by all on Capitol Hill. He is not about more spending. He looking to freeze taxes were they are and cut needless spending. You have to understand, BO is one person against the same old Washington you speak of. Unfortunate for BO, he can only upset the apple cart just so far before the citizens raise their hand.

I dunno AVG... I'm one of those people who see McCain as just another "Dubb-Ya" Bush... I don't think for a moment that he'll be able to achieve his goals either. Especially when confronted with a Democratic Senate and House. The only reason Bush got his way, IMO, is that the country was reeling from 9/11 and we got committed to the Iraq and the "War on Terror". If we hadn't been there, I don't think the Bush Administration could have gotten the support they needed early on...

But I wander from the topic at hand...

Anyway, I'm not voting for the Presidential candidates... I'm voting for the Vice-Presidential running mates and there's no way in God's green earth I want to see Sarah "Barracuda" Palin as the Prez in case McCain checks out... I don't care how many people say she could handle it with the support of the Fed. The time Palin would waste in assuming the Presidency and "learning the ropes" is not time we can afford these days. I think Biden would make the transition better...

[AVGWarhawk]

I do not think Biden is any brighter than Palin. So, I go for the good looking vote. Palin wins don't cha know :rotfl:

All things being equal, Bush was dealt a really crappy hand. Some of it brought on himself, others not.

[August]

Originally Posted by DeepIron

I dunno AVG... I'm one of those people who see McCain as just another "Dubb-Ya" Bush...

I just don't understand how you can see it that way DI. The two men have absolutely nothing in common other than party affiliation.

[Skybird]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...587736,00.html

Land of extremes:

It is impressive how this country, 232 years after it was founded, has lost none of its vitality. Americans have no doubt that crises are natural a part of life -- that they present an opportunity to turn over a new leaf, for each individual as well as the entire country. It is also amusing to hear the political romanticism that all politicians need to muster if they want to be heard. Even in Europe, all democracies rely on pat slogans about change and transformation, about a new awakening and a new beginning. But America has a different quality. America believes enthusiastically in the ability to change the world and mankind.

America's enduring claim to rule the world, however, can be rather disconcerting. In America, the writings of Reinhold Niebuhr are currently experiencing a minor renaissance. Niebuhr, an American theologian whose parents came from Germany, died in 1971, but during his best years, he basically acted as the voice of reason in America. He is attributed with the statement that America bears the "shining armor of self-righteousness," as if it were born to lead the world. Niebuhr wrote: "Our greatest weakness as a nation is our exaggerated image of America's virtuousness. ... We believe that America is exceptional in the world, a people of unsurpassed generosity and benevolence. We assume that God is always on our side and that we have a special bond with the Almighty."

This weakness has characterized the past eight years. If he is well advised, the 44th president will start his first term of office with a greater degree of modesty and humility, either based on his wealth of experience, or thanks to his power of judgment, which stems from an extraordinary life. The world will be rapt with attention as it watches and hopes for a satisfactory ending.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by August

I just don't understand how you can see it that way DI. The two men have absolutely nothing in common other than party affiliation.

Obama has one point, McCain voted with Bush over 90% of the time. However, he fails to complete the thought. The first 6 years there was nothing but growth. The last two years we have seen nothing but decline. The last two year Congress was run by Democrats. :hmm: Some tid bits of information just do not get out there now does it?

[DeepIron]

Originally Posted by August

I just don't understand how you can see it that way DI. The two men have absolutely nothing in common other than party affiliation.

I'm not sure how to read your statement bit I assume you're being a bit sarcastic here. I'm sure, as well read as you are August, that you've been exposed to a number of the same "Bush and McCain" comparisons as I have... I don't call this gospel, but I enjoyed reading it back in March nonetheless: http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/03/12/mccain/

And there have been many other comparisons by the analysts and pundits since...

As for party affiliation, isn't that enough these days? Seem like it's a party vs party war of wills and words with Joe Average American getting stuck in the middle...

The last two years we have seen nothing but decline. The last two year Congress was run by Democrats. :hmm: Some tid bits of information just do not get out there now does it?

Hmm... I think that's a little unfair. As you pointed out, Bush got a raw deal on a few things, and I'm sure that can be translated to the Democrats and the elections 2 years ago...

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

The first 6 years there was nothing but growth. The last two years we have seen nothing but decline. The last two year Congress was run by Democrats. :hmm: Some tid bits of information just do not get out there now does it?

I hope you do not expect any reasonable reader to take that as a logcial argument. Or if a bank gets robbed of and the police arrives later on, the police is guilty of robbing the bank becasue they are there when the safe is empty?

[DeepIron]

An interesting look at Obama as posted at the BBC... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7700913.stm

From the article concerning Obamas critisizm of the "surge" in Iraq:
"Indeed, if Obama had had his way, all American combat troops would have been withdrawn from Iraq by March 2008, which would have led to civil war and genocide; an unprecedented victory for al-Qaeda and Islamic jihadists; and a boon to Iran.This fact is, by itself, a shattering indictment to Obama's judgment, and in the area that is the most important responsibility of a president: his duties as commander-in-chief."

A rather damning statement...

[August]

Originally Posted by DeepIron

I'm not sure how to read your statement bit I assume you're being a bit sarcastic here. I'm sure, as well read as you are August, that you've been exposed to a number of the same "Bush and McCain" comparisons as I have... I don't call this gospel, but I enjoyed reading it back in March nonetheless: http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/03/12/mccain/

And there have been many other comparisons by the analysts and pundits since...

As for party affiliation, isn't that enough these days? Seem like it's a party vs party war of wills and words with Joe Average American getting stuck in the middle...

It wasn't meant to be sarcastic. I do realize the Democrats are doing their level best to associate the two men but their backgrounds, their military service, even their political positions over the long term a lot of things are quite different.

The essence of the Democrats accusation that McCain is Bush term #3 is that McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time last year, but according to FactCheck:

So to sum up, McCain has indeed voted to support the unpopular Bush 95 percent of the time most recently, but less so in earlier years. And Obama has voted has voted pretty close to 100 percent in line with fellow Democrats during his brief Senate career

Also we should look at what was voted on in 2007. There's a lot of stuff I daresay you'd vote for too if you had the chance.