(Jake Turcotte)
McCain, GOP - they’re baaaaack
By Jimmy Orr | 09.08.08
Perhaps not as creepily as when Poltergeist’s Carol Ann announced to her family that the undead have returned to their home (or maybe more - depending on your point of view), John McCain appears to be back. Not only has he returned, but thanks to new GOP rock star Sarah Palin the Republican party is re-energized, for the time being anyway.
The post-convention bounce for the McCain-Palin ticket is quite healthy, according to the latest Gallup poll – not only erasing the seven point lead Obama had last week, but sending the numbers in the other direction.
The 50% to 46% McCain lead is the largest he has enjoyed (and there have been few) since Gallup began daily tracking in May. While doing that, the Republican base, says Gallup, is fired up.
“There has been a very substantial jump in the percentage of Republicans saying they are more enthusiastic about voting in this election, from 42% a week ago (after the Democratic convention, but before the Republican convention) to 60% today,” says the report. “Democrats still retain a slight lead on this measure, having increased their enthusiasm slightly this last week as well. But the enthusiasm gap, which has been so much a part of the story of the presidential election so far this year, has dwindled from 19 points in the Democrats’ favor a week ago to only seven points today.”
It is unlikely Barack Obama rolled his TV out of the hotel room upon receiving today’s news. It’s the norm to receive a post-convention bounce. He had one too. Sustaining it is another issue. George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton were able to ride their bounces, in 1988 and 1992 respectively, to the Oval Office.
Contrast that to Jimmy Carter and Al Gore who saw their numbers increase after their conventions only to emerge as First Runner-Ups in their respective elections.
Psychotronic energy
The immediate take-away from the polling appears to be the re-energizing of the Republican base.
Democratic strategist Joe Trippi told CBS that in a year not looking to be Republican-friendly, McCain even being competitive is “an amazing achievement.”
“The wind is at the Democrats’ back. You look at the number of House and Senate seats the Democrats are likely to pick up this year, and you look at where this race is…they’ve hung in there the whole way,” Trippi said. “They definitely executed with tough circumstances. The hurricane, they had to reshuffle the deck. Picking Palin, whether it turns out to be a disaster or not, is probably the bold thing he needed to do to give himself a shot. They’ve taken the risks they’ve needed to take and so far they seem to be benefiting.”
Run to the light…colored states
It’s not so much the solid red and blue states. It’s the yellow states — the toss-ups, the battlegrounds. Where to watch? There are plenty of these states, but this year, as Monitor colleague Linda Feldmann reported yesterday, Virginia – where McCain and Obama are currently tied - could be the tell-tale state to key your eye on.
“If either candidate starts to pull away in Virginia, and we get clarity in Virginia, we’ll get clarity in a lot of those other states,” said independent pollster John Zogby.
<< McCain’s speech - thumbs up, thumbs down | MainComments
2. rural american | 09.08.08
‘Seems the those who thought they had their collective foot on the throat of decency in our culture are aghast — do I hear gnashing of teeth yet?
Obama is the payoff (made man) to Chicago’s Afro power hegemony — the Daley Don’s owed their brown brethren a chit and Obama was it.
Thus, Obama will NEVER have the ability to take on the heinous crime bosses that run Chicago and most of the state of Illinois. His up-line handlers/enablers are all corrupt.
3. Katy | 09.08.08
It will be interesting to see people’s reactions to Palin once she stops reading from her deeply framed script and has to actually speak to issues.
4. Germanicus | 09.08.08
“They definitely executed with tough circumstances.”
Yeah, it’s really hard to stay competitive, what with most major news organizations climbing over each other to keep John McCain from appearing to be the (literally) demented reactionary that he is.
5. reason | 09.08.08
Larry.. Everyone wants to be a millionaire. Noone wants communism. The left is about slavery. Communism and Socialism are slavery.
Grow up, get a job and be free to take responsiblity for your life and actions. That is what republicans stand for. Liberals want everyone to cow down to their next tax increase while they destroy everyones liberty.
6. Blake | 09.08.08
Give it a month. Obama had 80% approval rating before he was vetted. Once she has been asked the tough questions, then we’ll really know if “they’re baaaaack” or not.
8. Pat | 09.08.08
Sorry sir, I am neither insane, stupid or rich. But the democrats have just gone to far to the left for me to consider voting in that direction. I have at times in my life, voted democrat but not this year. I have respect for Obama but I disagree with too many of his policies. And, although no one seems to mention this, our economy was just fine for the first six years of Bush’s presidency. The decline seemed to start just about the time the democrats took control of congress and the senate in the mid-term elections.
9. carlos rodriguez | 09.08.08
Of course you are happy, you will continue making money with McCain as you did with Bush. The americans that vote for McCain because he hand-picked Palin (many lies) do not know what they are getting into. More foreclosures, more wars, more economic fiasco, etc. If they like Bush ahenda. then vote for McCain.
10. DJM | 09.08.08
Larry is an idiot. Lower taxes, means good jobs. I have heard about the sick, poor and unemployed for 50 + years and now that the Dems run congress check the DOW. It has dropped since Pelosi and the Dems have taken over. Get a life you Dems and stop with the constant fear mongering!
11. Russell | 09.08.08
To Larry,
Larry, its the petty tone of your comment that makes it so difficult for us all to get over the politics of division and hate parading as love and family. Yes we know the problem, millionaires think they know the problem, everyone thinks they have the solution. The really tricky part is that the devil has infiltrated so many people’s hearts through the images he shows us. They think they are believing rightly and that’s the problem. Belief and freedom bought to you live on television for all to see the trickery and falsehood for what it is but we eat the stinking mass and claim satisfaction with it. Disagree with the idea not the person holding it.
12. Dawn | 09.08.08
I disagree with Larry. Democrats idea of over taxing business, costs everyone who buys from those businesses, including power and oil. Don’t you think those taxes are passed along to the average joe? It’s not governments job to take care of masses of people. People should have a county and economy where they can flourish with effort and take care of themselves. Our country already has great programs, and Charities and Churches to feed the poor, and house the homeless….don’t tax everyone to death so the Democrats can support and then “own” a large amount of the population. People are just getting too smart for that, after seeing generations of “welfare” families, languish and go from tenements to prisons….not to productive jobs. Freedom means personal choice. If you CHOOSE to abuse your friends and families, not work or accept responsibities, take drugs and over drink, and end up homeless, we should be able to CHOOSE not to support your lifestyle.
13. DaveH | 09.08.08
I guess Larry you must be one of those that requires the government to take care of them. If you believe what Oboma tells you then do it your way and you will reap what you have sown. Who are you to judge anyone? Maybe you should stnad up and be an man and help yourself for a change, instead of blaming someone else your your plight.
14. Ray | 09.08.08
Larry,
I’m not wealthy by any means. Struggling overall actually. But I’m voting republican and I’m not insane by any means. Why would I want to vote for a party who historically believes in big government and big taxes. People work hard for their money and are struggling to get by as it is. If Obama makes it into office, businesses will be taxed, the American people will be taxed, and more jobs will leave the U.S. and our economy will be in even worse shape. I suggest that before you (yes you Larry) and anyone else who doesn’t really understand politics and simply goes by what the politicians say, that you actually look into the politicians voting histories and what they have stood for. Obama really has nothing to stand on. Just a bunch of hype about change. McCain has a proven track record of fighting against pork barrel spending and not supporting free-riders. So go ahead Larry, vote for Obama, and in 4 years you’ll be changing to the republican party when more American’s have lost their jobs, homes, etc from the huge taxes that the democrats will impose on us. Ignorance is not bliss Larry, it’s just plain ignorance. You’ve got to actually take the time to study the candidates and their parties’ beliefs, not just what they say. Way to go Larry, it’s people like you who really know how to screw over the American people through true ignorance.
15. Jennifer | 09.08.08
If you are not rich and you vote Democrat, you must actually believe that government CAN take care of people and that taxation=generousity. I preferr to side with my husband, an immigrant who once had to actually live under communism. Voluntary charity is the only way to go.
16. Ted | 09.08.08
If you vote for McCain, as an independent, it’s not about party affiliation. It’s substance over style, experience over lack thereof and it’s about getting work done in DC without partisanship.
It is not about the GOP platform, but about McCain’s record of bipartisanship and reform oriented legislation.
At least as in independent.
17. Wayne | 09.08.08
Here’s how I explained it to my child …
Obama helps mommies kill their babies.
What has hapened to the Christians in this country? Can you just ignore the truth?
18. Ryan | 09.08.08
I on the other hand do believe you (Larry) are either stupid or crazy, if you think entitlements or redistribution of wealth are the answer to a bad economy, unemployment, lack of health care, or homelessness.
And I am neither wealthy or evil.
19. Chris | 09.08.08
This election is ALL about the MONEY, stupid. The republicans don’t rob the poor. YOUR FEDERAL TAXES will DOUBLE according to the Obama plan…that’s right…the bottom tier tax will double from $4,000 to $8,000.
If anything, the REVERSE is true…the DEMOCRATS ROB the RICH. I personally don’t think ANY government ANYWHERE should take more that 25% of my income…whether it’s $17,000 as a teacher of $17,000,000 as an athlete. You have to remember all the taxes you pay…about 1% the value of your home EVERY YEAR, 6-8% of your take home every time you pay sales taxes to buy anything.
WE AS A NATION ARE TAXED TO DEATH BY PORK BARREL CORRUPT GOVERNMENT SPENDING. McCain aims to change that. That’s the RIGHT kind of change.
The DEMOCRATS want to take all of our money and just leave us with the CHANGE. That’s the kind of change the democrats talk about.
21. Ron Smith | 09.08.08
Oh, please. Not a millionaire, never will be one, but the last time I voted Democrat in national election America got Jimmy Carter, and I had seen enough. I’ve been uninsured, unemployed, poverty-stricken, but I fail to see how millionaires caused those problems. The Son of Man pointed out that the poor will always be with us, and by golly … He was right! You need to go live for 30 or 40 years in a country that operates by the principles you espouse. Bush, by the way, vetoed almost zero legislation while in office, and for those 8 years the Democrats either controlled or logjammed the congress so I have a hard time blaming him for creating the bad policy that has led to our current challenges. Everything is cyclical. The whole world is having economic problems. Get over yourself.
22. Mark | 09.08.08
I would much rather have social conservatism than socialism wich is the Democrats agenda. God helps those who help themselves. It is absurd to expect people who have earned more to give more to people who won’t put down the drugs and alcohol, stay in school,accept responsibility as parents, and the list can go on. Healthcare is a disaster now because of the governments involvement. History shows the private sector is much better when government stays out. Look no further than the mobile phone in your pocket and think about the first 70 years of Ma Bell.
23. Scott | 09.08.08
“I do not envy your position when the “Son of Man” comes in glory - see Matthew 25:31-46l; however, I don’t think you’re stupid or crazy - just evil.”
Based on your statement I assume you are voting for Gloria La Riva of the socialist party right? Since it is evil to accumulate wealth I sure hope you don’t have a wide-screen TV or expensive car lest you be a hypocrite.
24. joe weiss | 09.08.08
dear larry, there has never been a nation that has been taxed into prosperity. The very thing you want is evil, you want the goverment to take care of us. Cuba has that kind of goverment. At last check all the people floating off the coast of florida are outbound from cuba. Sorry to break the truth, but study these things and you will understand that its not only millionaires, but everyday people that work til mid july just to pay taxes.
kindest regards…..joe weiss
25. Germanicus | 09.08.08
It is amazing how dedicated these guys are to making us believe they have the situation under control.
“Slavery” he says. “Destroying liberty” he cries. “Take responsibility for your actions” he shouts.
Responsibility? Like the way the Republican party took responsibility for George Bush and the last eight years of misrule by virtually banishing their president from the party convention?
Destroying liberty? Like the way Republican incompetence destroyed New Orleans and the cultural legacy of Iraq’s museums?
Slavery? Like the way millions of Americans have to work multiple jobs just to keep a roof over their heads and their heads above water?
Gimme a break.
26. Rpind | 09.08.08
I am here to agree with the economy iussue, stated before. It all started downhill when the Dems won all of those seats controlling our congress. It took less than two years of Democratic rule to ruin the good economy we had been seeing before they took over. I dont think we can stand 4 more years of democrats in control!!
27. JOSEPH | 09.08.08
thank GOD for Sarah Palin. Just when I thought the whole world had gone mad, along comes Sarah Palin and inserts some common sense into the election process. Sdhe apparently knows ENERGY, the country needs a person in charge that has a knowledge of energy.
I suggest that congress listen to her and they might learn how to govern. she uses common sense, which has been missing in congress for a long time.
Thank you to Sarah Palin (COMMANDER IN CHEIF OF THE ALASKA NATIONAL GUARD)
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING MILITARY COMMANDER EXPERIENCE TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AS A CANDITATE.
28. Nobama | 09.08.08
@Larry,
Get a life and off your free entitlement handouts. Build some integrity and work for a living. You’ll be amazed at the self pride it will build.
Oh, btw, I am not a millionaire but a hard working middle class guy.
29. marc | 09.08.08
HAHAHA! Speaking religion here huh? Let’s see Obama, born muslim, has a muslim name, attended a rdical anti american church, until he was “busted”, then stopped oging denouncing that rev. POS.
31. DBW | 09.08.08
Larry,
You just don’t get it. Living overseas, I see lots of American jobs going to places like China, Vietnam, and India. China and India are making attempts to move up the ladder, and steal Americas lead in key high tech industries with very appealing business environments. Raising corporate taxes, as Obama has pledged to do, means more corporations and jobs go overseas. How will tax cuts for the middle class, that Obama has pledged, help people if there are no jobs for the middle class. Amercan needs to create a better business environment for small, middle and large corporations or it will end up as a second hand power. America also needs to relax its immigration to give corporations access to the best and the brightest from overseas. Only then will American regain its business edge. I am afraid Mccain gets it, and Obama does not get it.
David
32. DERRICK | 09.08.08
This election is the greatest I have seen being the 3rd election to vote but my response to Larry is you have it so wrong.
33. Gary | 09.08.08
Larry, evil? really? I’m not a millionaire(yet), and the problem with Obamma’s policies is that they are marxist and do not work. Show me one solicist economy that works. Have liberal policies work in CA or MI? Nope, not so much. Ask the Canadians or the Brits about the success of solicialized medicine. They place adds for new doctors in the local rags everyday. Now consider the facts, we when went to war, and we have over spent in in every category in a time we should have reduce spending in other areas, and both Bush and the Congress in accountable for both. As Americans we need to work towards balance our budget, eliminate earmarks, provide small business tax credits so they can keep more employees and reduce the corporate tax rate on big corporations that keep and hire US employees versus shipping them overseas. Stop thinking party and lets find common ground. If you and sat down and worked our budget I’s bet would could agree on what we would spend money and what we would eliminate based on whats most important for Americans. Yes even a way to get the uninsured health care from the private sector. Larry we are who we are becasue of capitalism and what you want… take form the rich and give it to lower income folks does not work, and thats been proved. As for God…didnt he say a Man should according to his heart? Check the Obamma man before he was candidate he gave less than 2%…great heart hey?
34. Brent in Lowell | 09.08.08
I’m still undecided. I think that McCain is the best on foreign policy, next best Biden, then both Obama and Palin are about the same in my book — inexperienced and naive. On the economy I’m looking carefully. On the one hand Obama sounds confident with the economy, McCain not confident, as far as feeling in his gut what to do. But when I look at Obama’s plan which is primarily focused on reducing taxes to the poor and middle class; fine so far. The burden should be the lowest, on the poorest. But then I see him increasing taxes on wealthier people, and no real incentives for businesses. Whenever I hear people who say “If it’s bad for corporations, it MUST be good for the rest of us” I hear someone who doesn’t understand economics. Here in Lowell Mass. they recently added a one dollar local tax to every carton of cigarettes. Guess what? Fewer people bought cigarettes, and the total tax revenue is *lower*. Some people don’t realize that increasing certain taxes decreases incentives. (In the case of the cigarettes, people are driving to New Hampshire and stocking up on tax-free cigarettes). I’d like to see some logic in the economic and foreign policy proposals, not slogans, not just “change”. That’s speaking to the idiots among the electorate (who form a huge amount of the electorate). How about speaking to thinking people, and let us know in detail what your real thoughts are, candidates?
35. MadMat | 09.08.08
I am not a millionaire, but my aspirations to obtain such wealth that I may do some good in this world do not villify me. How conveniently the socialists quote from the Bible to justify their systematic robbing of Americans who have the blessings of wealth. Our obligation to help the poor and needy is an individual/family/congregational/community obligation - in that order.
When we are actively engaged in wholesome economic activity which generates wealth, we are doing our Lord’s work. With that wealth comes a responsibility to attend to the needs of the poor. Nowhere does scripture say that it is governments responsibility to take from the rich and give to the poor - like some Federally empowered Robin Hood.
Stop class warfare for envy is the tool of Satan.
36. marc | 09.08.08
FACTS
SIMPLE MATH: 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE COMPARISON TALKING POINTS
ISSUE: JOHN McCAIN VS BARAK OBAMA
Favors new drilling offshore US
JOHN McCAIN Yes
BARAK OBAMA No
Will appoint judges who interpret the law not make it
JOHN McCAIN Yes
BARAK OBAMA No
Served in the US Armed Forces
JOHN McCAIN Yes
BARAK OBAMA No
Amount of time served in the US Senate
JOHN McCAIN 22 YEARS
BARAK OBAMA 173 DAYS
Will institute a socialized national health care plan
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
Supports abortion throughout the pregnancy
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
Would pull troops out of Iraq immediately
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
Supports gun ownership rights
JOHN McCAIN Yes
BARAK OBAMA No
Supports homosexual marriage
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
Proposed programs will mean a huge tax increase
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
Voted against making English the official language
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
Voted to give Social Security benefits to illegals
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
37. Daniel | 09.08.08
I agree with Larry,
And I agree with Dawn as well….
but Dawn disagrees with Larry…
Oh brother… what to do? insert a blank vote just to say: “I was there at the voting center but didn’t aprove any of the candidates ”
instead of looking like i’m not interested?
Oh brother Jesus - come back fast!
38. Leo (from Europe) | 09.08.08
I would like to thank this newspaper for its composed and - as far as I can tell - impartial coverage of the elections. It is sometimes difficult from this side of the Atlantic ocean to discern what is real and what is media hype. I can only imagine what it must be like for you, Americans, who undergo the media circus 24/7. All I can do is wish you wisdom and forethought for your decision in November.
39. ann taylor | 09.08.08
amen to “shane ” who made the comment that obama should be put in the muslim office, WHAT ARE PEOPLE THINKING ? if they elect this mans whose campaign is mostly lies………….
40. Terris Linenbach | 09.08.08
The dumbsh*ts of America voted for Bush. What makes you think they would vote for an eloquent black man and a old-time DC insider? The thing about ignorant highly religious people is that they identify with the dimmest bulb in the room so long as it is anti-choice.
41. Ray | 09.08.08
Larry, Ephesians 2:8-9 and dont forget that even though we have a republican president we also have a Democrat controlled congress.
also the way I see it we as Christians and as an American People need to vote not for who will give us the most without working for it (apostle Paul said if you dont work you dont eat) but we must vote on principle, character, and morality and rely upon God to supply our every need not the Government lest the Lord have to apologize to Sodom and Gamorah for not destroying America as well.
42. WilliamM | 09.08.08
“A taxpayer voting for Obama is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.”
Vote Republican…..we can’t all be on welfare!
43. Amanda | 09.08.08
I’d like to see serious reporting on Palin rather than analysis of polls.
So far the best piece on Sarah Palin has been published by Wasilla, Alaska resident Anne Kilkenny.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/kilkenny.asp
Her background does not support the bold claims of her speech at the GOP convention.
Where is the coverage on the fact that an administrator was hired to run Wasilla for her? Where is the coverage on her effort to fire the librarian who would not cooperate in removing certain books from the Wasilla library? Why not report the fact that Wasilla had a balanced budget when she became mayor and was 22 million in debt when she left or that she has taxed food?
44. Bob Loblaw | 09.08.08
After eight years of watching George Bush rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic, I believe I’ll be voting for Obama. Nothing personal against McCain, but it’s time for a change. As for Moosewhacker Palin, she fails to impress me. I don’t identify with her hick background or her hick accent. In fact, the general resentment toward progress and science that she brings to the table is enough for me and the rest of those blue states on the edges of the country (aka the majority of the population) to look elsewhere for our leadership.
45. Chris | 09.08.08
Larry, Larry, Larry. I will put it in simple words so as not to confuse you. Big Government Bad! High Taxes Bad! Less Government Good! Low Taxes Good!
46. Sean | 09.08.08
I’m a registered Republican, like my father and my grandfather before me. And just like my grandfather when John F. Kennedy ran, I’m voting Democratic this election. I truly feel that anyone voting McCain this year is not voting for McCain, but simply voting Republican for the sake of voting Republican. He may very well be the worst candidate my party has ever put forth.
47. Michael | 09.08.08
Sarah Palin is a fraud. She outright lies, and she’s a sensationalistic politician who uses the same old Washington lies to get where she is. Which is why she won’t be doing any unscripted interviews any time soon. It’s why she’s hiding from the press now. The GOP wants to keep her right-wing radicalist ideas out of the spotlight as long as possible.
Palin opposes the right of a woman to choose.
Palin actively engages in tired old Washington lobbyism (she hired her own lobbyist).
Palin supported the Bridge To Nowhere right up until congressional funding was lost and the cost doubled for her own budget.
Palin endorses violating the constitution by enacting laws promoting a single religion (a la forcing creationism to be taught in schools)
Palin is out of touch. Palin is corrupt. Palin is sham.
48. AsburyforObama | 09.08.08
I smack myself in the forehead as I cry out to God, “Why oh why did I just click that link to this blog…and why oh why did I read the user comments at the bottom!?!?”
1) Palin has yet to speak on her own, she gave 1 speech…big deal.
2) Go to Youtube.com and find out what Karl Rove had to say about Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine’s experience, and then apply his logic to Sarah “n00b” Palin.
3) After that look on Youtube.com for Peggy Noonan’s comments about Palin. And in case you’re wondering Peggy Noonan, was the head speech writer for Regan, she worked for H.W. Bush, and wrote 5 NY Best Selling books on politics, and most of all she is a GOP mouth piece…I think its quite telling what he “open mic” comments reveal about her and the GOP thinking regarding Palin.
4) Obama is NOT a muslim! This foolish lie has no place, and the hillarious part of it is that those claiming he’s a muslim are the same one who in the next breath will yell that he was a member of Rev. Wright’s United Church of CHRIST. You cannot have it both ways, and those of you who spread these lies about Obama should be ashamed of yourselves for the Truth is not in you. And as I read my Bible Jesus has quite a bit to say about truth, so I deeply suggest as a pastor that before you spread lies about someone that you check to see whether they are true and if you know they are false then you seriously need to discuss things with Christ about your spiritual condition.
49. 2Sun | 09.08.08
Culturally our challenge is to return to our foundations in the Declaration of Independence, not to turn government over to environmentalist dictators.
Economically, the greatest challenge for the next generation is to develop alternative fuels to replace the global decline in conventional light oil and OPEC’s stranglehold.
With $500 billion or $5,000 per family already going overseas for oil, our choice is fiscal sovereignty or slavery directly dependent on how fast we generate alternative fuels.
50. pepe | 09.08.08
I’m concerned about the disregard for the lives of babies. Killing children should not be the answer to life’s struggles. I can’t vote for Obama or any other anti-life candidate.
51. dean bell | 09.08.08
We have a saying here in Texas about big talkers.’Big Hat, No Cattle’. That pretty much describes Obama.
Dean Bell
San Antonio
53. The real Larry | 09.08.08
I have observed Pelosi and Reid in all of their Democrat wisdom and pomp for years. Look where we are at…. The last time America flourished, we had a solid Republican Congress. Republicans need to win the White House and I believe McCain/Palin will despite an enourmous gap in campaign cash.
We need to turn our attention to the Congress, where Democrats are on a permanent vacation while the country is mired in debt. We must defeat Pelosi, Reid and their ilk to move forward!
54. wolf | 09.08.08
Larry,
who do you think will pay for medical care, unemployment assitance, and help the poor? it won’t be the rich! the rich will always get richer! why? because the rich own the businesses, and when taxes are increased on businesses, the owners pass that cost onto the consumer. YOU — the poor — pay for it!
the only way around this is to overhaul the US tax system. Right now we get our income taxed on the federal level and our spending taxed on the state and local level.
A better solution would be to tax our spending on a federal level — with a slding scale depending on the type of product or service bought. (luxury items pay a higher “luxury tax”). this goes for intermediate goods too — not just finished goods.
55. DaMayor | 09.08.08
Friends don’t let friends vote Democrat. As demonstrated (and repeatedly proven true) on air in and in books by a certain personality, lIberalism IS a mental disorder. Keep believing the malicious lies and propaganda of the left, fools, and this nation is done. Wake up “working poor” and “middle class,” the Democrats are the true thieves you fear!!! I predict now that McCain will not only win this election, Palin will ultimately become Amercia’s first female president. Thank God, too, as Hillary is the Anti-Christ.
56. Paul | 09.08.08
Anyone who doesn’t want to be poor and votes Democratic in a nation election has be either naive or stupid. If you think the dems can tax their way to universal prosperity, you need Economics 101. If you think HillaryCare would be any less painful than IRS-managed root canal, you are evil.
The social rob-the-rich to pay off the crack ***** approach ignores the numbers: there are not enough rich to go around. So it becomes rob-the-working to pay off the un-employable … and their community organizers. Viewed objectively, the Bushes have actually - with the exception of Bush 1’s dem-foisted tax increase - been good for the economy. Thinking otherwise probably indicates you have drunk Saul Alinsky’s koolaide as served up by Hillary, Obama and their ilk. Blaming the housing crisis on the GOP ignores the dem-inspired easy lending crack party that caused it.
The god-**** we need to be concerned with today is the islamist god-**** and possible the resurgent soviet, uh, russian non-god ****. The christians understand this. The dems think the christians (except Obama and amazingly - Wright) are more dangerous than islamic extremists. Understandable, but wrong. It is not god, but the incredibly difficult to alter vast morass of government that will prevent any significant worsening on religious issues.
Neville Obama and Joe “Peace in our time” Biden don’t get foreign policy at all - even as Czar Vlad anchlusses Georgia. We’ve heard several different versions of foreign policy “vision” from them. Version 1 was to lock in the left during the primary, version 2 apparantly to steal the moderate vote in the general election, version 3 delegates it to Biden. Where does “O” really stand? He doesn’t know yet. But Putin knows. And Putin would vote for Obama. What does that tell you?
57. Commonsense | 09.08.08
Bush mistakenly thought he could wage a “cheap” war although history has said otherwise. Taxes were raised for World Wars I and II, the Korean and Vietnam wars.
You simply CANNOT wage a cheap war-at least not without having the huge credit bill coming to bite you back in the rear one day. The economy was fine, but as soon as the inefficient spending in Iraq snowballed, the economy started feeling the effects.
Three trillion over dollars spent in Iraq. And that’s just about how much the US owes China and the other countries- not particularly wise to owe so many countries a favour, no?
The humongous deficit needs to be paid off, otherwise it will just continue to snowball. No choice, taxes have to be raised-and why not make those oil corporations rolling in huge profits from stratospheric oil prices pay?
Anymore tax cuts for even the higher income- sure, cheaper for now but it’s going to come to a crashing (and very ugly) halt one day.
58. Paul | 09.08.08
Oh Larry, stay clear of the kool-aid. The Democrats have been the majority in Congress for how long now and have achieved what exactly other then bash President Bush and attempt to derail any chance of achieving a lasting victory in Iraq?
Anyone one who thinks that a rubber-stamp Democratic Administration and an unfettered Pelosi-Reid spend and tax machine is what we need should only think back to what they have yet to achieve in issues of taxes, immigration, rights for foriegn terrorists and get really behind the Party that still believes in the greatness of America and economy with the freedom to grow afforded by a less (not more) intrusive government.
And Larry, it’s nice to see that the Democrats have a spokesperson for God. I thought only Republicans suffered from ‘religious right-eousness’.
59. Tom | 09.08.08
My what radical comments, I hope you are up to date on your blood pressure meds. I see this as an interesting side line to my normal life, you folks seem to be in so deep as not to understand that neither of these two will have very much effect on government. But the spectacle of the two parties bringing issues to the for front is fun to watch. It also may cause the old guard politicians in Washington to take notice and quit spending our money on pork barrel projects and make them actually want to make a change. Of course both parties are claiming the right to the slogan “change” but it seems that the Dems have little actual voting history to support the claim while the Republicans have two individuals on the ticket who have made change and exposed governmental graft. At this point I think I am leaning towards the republicans and you know I don’t feel insane. The choice seems to be between an in-experienced Senator and an experienced Senator and an experienced Senator and experienced Governor. Just on this level it makes me lean to the Republicans. Then there is the issue of who is going to increase taxes and the Democrats have said that they will while the republicans have claimed to want to cut taxes. Cutting taxes is the primary avenue to recovery of our economy it will allow the manufacturing sector to take advantage of the depressed dollar and create thousands of jobs her in the US. We all have important choices this fall listen close don’t be closed minded and vote – it does not matter which what but get out and vote.
60. PalinRocks | 09.08.08
Larry needs to take a Macro-Economics class. Well now that you mention it, the Democratic Party could use a refresher couarse as well!
61. Jim | 09.08.08
Here’s an issue that’s not been discussed: If you vote for McCain, you had better be real comfy with Palin’s record and views. Why? Well, because McCain has had several bouts with cancer — the part of this campaign no one in the media has wanted to talk about. So the chances Palin will be president in the next 4 years are significantly higher. That is why Karl Rove and the GOP leadership pushed for Palin and told McCain he risked nomination if he did not choose someone who appeased them, over his personal list of VP candidate choices. And perhaps that is why the GOP base is so enthused now. Whether that bounce lasts remains to be seen. Part of the bounce is a result of a convention performance that exceeded a carefully managed expectations game that put those expectations pretty low, going into it. Remember, it is the independents who will decide the election, not the partisans. It remains to be seen if her views are those of mainstream independents. Should make a fun race this fall.
62. brent | 09.08.08
Larry…I make south of $100K per year as a self-employed man. Yet the government thinks I owe it 40 PERCENT of my income. Without write-offs, that would leave me with a little more than $50K. Do you think that’s fair? Do you think that’s smart? Do you honestly think REPUBLICANS caused this scenario? If so, I have some oceanfront property in Montana to show you.
I teach as an adjunct at a well known and respected university in Boston, Mass. My vote has always been for the GOP, and in this election I will particular enjoy exercising my right. I’m not insane, and I’m not stupid; in fact, I’m pretty smart and resourceful, not to mention savvy on the issues that matter and unimpressed by a GQ wannabe like Obama.
In sum, take umbrage at your stereotypical remarks.
I’ll simply add that Obama wants to RAISE the ceiling on the Social Security payroll tax that necessitates that I must pay tax TWICE — once as an employee of myself and a second time as an employer of myself. And that’s even though there’s only one me. I have no employees. I work for myself.
I guess your precious little Socialist movement thinks my ambition is something to be discouraged and penalized. After all, I’m not making enough income to be called rich. If I were, then you’d at least be able to label me as one of those evil rich people who never had to work for any of it. You’d still be wrong in your characterization of me, of course; every wealthy person I’ve met works his or her butt off.
Do you honestly believe, Larry, that someone like me, who makes south of $100K per year, must pay all that tax? Do you honestly believe I should count as TWO PEOPLE?
If so, YOU, sir, are insane AND stupid.
63. Preston | 09.08.08
I agree with Pat. I was for Obama until he beat the drum of McCain voting with Bush 90% of the time. Actually he voted with Peloski 97% of the time. (45% of the time he was a no show) In fact he was a top 5 of voting the Dem way, whereas most Dems voted 85% of the Dem way. Biden was also in the top 5. He showed only to support the Dem agenda. ( http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/party-voters/96/) Translation - Obama-Biden will not break the partisan gridlock and to finally think about Americans. He does not reach across the aisle. Wishful thinking that he thinks about little people is just that. He is a STRONG partisan. Wake up people, we got to break this grid lock so that government will be about solving problems, not furthering Dem or Rep agendas.
64. Someguy | 09.08.08
Hey Larry, what do you think the Son of Man will say about those who murdered “the least of these” in the womb?
65. Scott | 09.08.08
Larry,
Proverbs 26:13-26; 22:13; 19:24; 10:26; 13:4; 16:26; 21:25; 20:4; 12:27; 19:15; 12:24; 15:19; 18:9; 20:13; 24:30-34
Proverbs 15:19 specifically states that the life of the lazy will be full of obstacles whereas the righteous person’s life will often encounter smooth sailing.
To say that I am evil for voting Republican is purely nonsensical. And, if that is the rhetoric you sprew, woe to you when the Son of Man comes to glory. For no man need judge - God already judges what is evil and not. Unless of course you think you are God.
I vote Republican, though my household income is under 100,000 annually. I own a small business, not lighting the world on fire, but enough to comfortably pay my bills.
The reason I vote Republican? Because for as much as the bible talks about helping the homeless, the hungry, etc., it talks even more of sloth and laziness as detestable to God. I am not saying that all people who are hungry, homeless, or without insurance are lazy. But there are an awful lot who are. I already see a large part of my paycheck getting eaten up by the government. So much so that it becomes increasingly harder to tithe.
That being said, I know that my tithes go to help the homeless, hungry, etc. in the times that I am not there to do it personally (which I also do quite a bit).
If you are looking to elect Dems into office to satisfy Mt. 25:31-46, then you are essentially saying that you want to elect officials who will ‘take over’ your commission from God. Wow - how’s that for separation of church and state (a lib talking point).
Look, I am all for helping the homeless, the hungry, the downtrodden. But, scripture tells me as well that the lazy and the sloth are to be left to their own devices. It is one thing to help someone out of a bad situation. Life happens to all of us at varying stages. BUT - the dems create this culture of people collecting checks merely for breathing and breeding. THAT is unacceptable and against all that I read scripturally.
So, before you go beating your chest on a single verse, perhaps you should read the entire bible. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge in that book. Godly knowledge.
You mention that the Republican party robs the poor? No. Incorrect. The Republican party merely does not reward them for being so.
Don’t reward mediocrity or that is all you will get in return…
66. Realista | 09.08.08
September 2007: McCain voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments. At the time, nearly 65% of people polled in a CNN poll indicted that “things are going either moderately badly or very badly in Iraq.
May 2006: McCain voted against an amendment that would provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities.
April 2006: McCain was one of only 13 Senators to vote against $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans.
March 2006: McCain voted against increasing Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.
A Military Hero, or McBush with 95% Bush Vote in Congress?
McCain “Supports Bush/Cheney Iraq War of Choice and Continued Oil Occupation… For Next 100 Years if Needed For Victory”!
McCain Does Not Care About American Soldiers and Their Families!
McCain ONLY CARES ABOUT HIMSELF!
67. Leo | 09.08.08
People here refer to Obama’s desire to raise corporate taxes. As far as I know, he has not proposed such a thing. We have to remember that consumer spending accounts for about 75% of the economy. Therefore, by providing additional tax cuts for the middles class, we will ensure a better economic growth than by keeping enormous tax cuts at the time when we have 500 bil/year budget deficits. Obama’s economic team is proposing increasing the capital gians tax from 15 to 20% in order to increase health care availability and reduce the deficit. This is hardly steep. It’s actually a lower rate than the 28% rate we had during the Clinton years. Objectively, it should have a marginal effect on the stock market - at best.
Regarding universal healthcare - the high healthcare costs actually represent a pretty steep tax on many businesses in America. There are many firms that move jobs across the border to Canada because Canada has univesal healthcare and the business do not need to face ever increasing healthcare costs. Unlike many other issues, the availability of healthcare is an issue that has been resolved in ALL other developed countries - from the very capitalist Australia and Switzerland to the more moderate UK and Canada. It seems crazy for me that we feel we can afford the war effort in Iraq that costs us over 100 bil per year, but not the version of healthcare that Obama is proposing. No one is talking about some large government beauracracy overseing and providing healthcare, as McCain campaign wants you to believe. The main idea is to provide certain subsidies to those who cannot afford healthcare coverage and make healthecare insurance more affordable. 47 mil without any healthcare insurance is a shameful situation.
68. Playmaker | 09.08.08
The choice in this election boils down to this: For most of the last eight years, the GOP has enjoyed control of the White House, Congress and, some say, the Supreme Court. They have had ample time to build this country into their image…. and have. Corruption, greed, lies, and the lives of our youth overseas. We have the biggest nation debt in history, the biggest disparity between rich and poor, an over-taxed middle class, and complete blindness to the science of global warming.
The GOP has brought you to the state we are in, servicing the rich while the middle class bleeds. They have had the power to do it, and they have done it.
Maverick or not, she-wolf veep or not, the GOP platform is the same and they plan on continuing the same practices that brought you the last eight years. Even now before the election, the VP choice is surrounded in scandal, and these are the heroes of the GOP.
The choice is so clear. At least it should be clear who NOT to vote for.
Http://www.thinkgoodthoughts.com
70. Arnie 2 | 09.08.08
To Larry,
who thinks that anyone who is not a millionaire and votes Republican in a national election has to be either insane or stupid. I say this: Anyone who thinks that taxing businesses and giving the $$ to the poor or middle class are the ones who could have that label.
Businesses are started as a way to make money. They make huge investments and sometimes have investors. Profit is the $$ left after paying all expenses (including taxes). Raise their taxes & they will raise their prices to cover the added expense. They are after all permitted (and in the case of investors, obligated)to make a profit.
71. Drew | 09.08.08
I am surprised anyone would vote for Obama. He has no back bone. First he said he would filibuster FISA but then ten months later he voted for it. He said he would accept public financing then rejected it. Do you really trust him to stick to an issue?
72. Tom | 09.08.08
Wayne saide:
“Here’s how I explained it to my child …
Obama helps mommies kill their babies.
What has hapened to the Christians in this country? Can you just ignore the truth?”
Wayne,
Your own God kills babies. Can you just ignore the truth?
73. Steve | 09.08.08
Gary,
Not all socialist economies are miserable failures. There is one that is wildly successful. Norway has generous health/work benefits, high wages and low unemployment (2.5%).
But only because it has proven oil reserves of 7.7 billion and a population of only 4.6 million.
But it can happen.
74. Michael Wright | 09.08.08
I vote Republican, I am not a millionaire, I’m not rich, I’m poor, and I’m Black; but you know what I have had more success under George Bush that I did under the So-Called “Best Economic Clinton Years”. The Democratic Party practices a modern day form of slavery, using Welfare to enslave whom they may. Mostly affected are Blacks who are just too lazy to work hard enough to make it happen for themselves. Welfare destroys the family, and puts Government at the head rather than the father. The Democratic Policies will only bring disaster to this Country as it has already proven.
Our hunger for more and more freedom to do and say whatever we feel like doing or saying is is exactly what’s going to bring us down as a nation. “Our greatest enemy is OurSelf”.
Quit bickering and stop being so self-Centered and will be able to think clearly.
It is Time for America to Repent and Seek God for Mercy and Grace.
75. Leo | 09.08.08
#60/Brent: You are saying you like in Mass. But Mass is the state that implemented a version of the Universal Healthcare that is very similar to the plan Obama is proposing. You mentioned that Obama wants to raise Social Security taxes. How do you think we should fix the problem? I think McCain will be forced to raise SS taxes if he becomes president. The baby boomers and seniors are the most important and most powerful voting blocks and they want to get their full SS benefits.
76. Josh | 09.08.08
If the Democrats were truly in power right now, both Bush and Cheney would have been impeached for their solid track record of high crimes and misdemeanors. Imagine exposing one of your own CIA agents like that. How low can you go? These people are out of touch with true American Loyalty. Mr. Bush has had his Vietnam. Let’s show the Republicans to the door and move forward with higher moral standards.
77. Maureen | 09.08.08
And I quote, “Thus, Obama will NEVER have the ability to take on the heinous crime bosses that run Chicago and most of the state of Illinois. His up-line handlers/enablers are all corrupt.”
Have you been watching too many episodes of “The Sopranos”? Since when is it the responsibility of the President of the United States to take on the heinous crime bosses of Chicago? Those days in Chicago, when compared to New York and Jersey are long, long over anyway. You need to take a hard look at the GOP ticket and THEIR lobbyist handlers if you want a clear picture of the next 4 corrupt years. Rove and Haliburton and TrooperGate and BabyDaddy Gate and who the heck knows what else Gate. You will see the filthy rich get richer, the middle class disappear and a whole new face of poverty in America. If you’re not careful it will look a whole lot like you.
78. Bret | 09.08.08
Anyone who supports the Rape-ublicans deserves what happens. The economy will continue to crash; more and more people will loose their jobs to outsourcing; the US will go from being a 1st world country to a pathetic 3rd world nation. The more disturbing thing is that these Repub-lie-cans are more than willing to take the rest of use down with them. It’s pathetic. I don’t agree with everything that the Democrats say, or do, but I’m more than willing to give them the chance to fix what the REPUBLICANS HAVE SCREWED UP! Right-wingers can try all they want to pretend that George Bush has been President for the past 8 years, and for 6 of the past 8, they’ve also been in control of the Congress. And it’s the Democrats who are the problem?
Sarah Palin will fall flat on her face, and so will John McCain. Everyone is enraptured by a new face, end of story. Once she actually has to speak on the issues people are going to see her for what she is. Furthermore, when is the right going to excoriate her for having an affair? You may hem and haw that this story is coming from the National Enquirer, BUT keep these two little facts in mind: 1) the National Enquirer has only been successfully sued once, and 2) they’re the ones who broke the John Edwards story.
80. DougC | 09.08.08
I think people are confused about the 2 tax plans. Obama is not talking about taxing business, he’s talking about taxing individuals who make over $250,000. Yes, increasing taxes on companies can cause jobs losses, but increasing taxes on a CEO bringing home $100,000,000/year does not.
With businesses, some will be taxed more and some less under Obama’s plan. McCain’s plan gives an even tax break to all companies. Obama’s plan will structure those tax breaks so that companies that create jobs and spend on research will get them and companies that outsource and pollute will not.
Thou shalt not bear false witness. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Love thine enemies. Turn the other cheek. What you do to the least of these you do to me. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick. All these Christian principles run directly counter to the Republican platform. When did Jesus preach of preemptive war and intolerance to those who are different? Why do we act like this? Are we afraid? Why don’t we act like Christians on the world scale?
I am sad for my country and my religion. I watch these guys speak with malice and half-truths and nationalistic arrogance. One side is far more Christian than the other and it’s not the side most Christians are voting for. Where’s the faith?
81. nick | 09.08.08
@Ray
Just gonna say it…. Bill Clinton was a Dem. and when he left office there was a national SURPLUS. We’ve had 8 years of Republicans and all we’ve seen are tax payers bailing out big business because they made poor decisions, between that and a fruitless war we are now trillions of dollars in debt. Sure its nice to get those $600 economic stimulus checks, but that is just a bandaid! That won’t solve real problems!
I am also not wealthy and struggling to feed my family and pay for our housing. Obama has clearly said that he supports middle class tax cuts. And even if taxes went up, and the economy got better, wouldn’t it be worth it? Wouldn’t we all be better off with someone that has a real plan to stimulate the economy instead of someone who wants to “stay the course” and carry on with trickle down economics? It boggles my mind how they have you and everyone else tricked Ray. Look at the first Bush administration, look at Regan, look at this Bush administration, they all had the same failing economic plan and John McCain is going to carry that same torch on for 4 more years if elected.
83. Brian | 09.08.08
So, who wants 1/2 their checks taken to feed and home the woman who cant keep her legs shut, has 8 kids, and refuses to work… or the man who uses all of his money on crack, or liquor?
i was once asked this question.
when we were all in school… would it be fair if…
If you spent all night long studying for a test, did really well on it, and got an “A+”, is it fair to take a letter grade off of your test and give it to the person that went to a party, ignored their responsibilities and didnt study but for 5 mins before the test and got a “F”?
well thats what the democrats want to do…
84. Ron | 09.08.08
Larry, You forgot to add “Or wants to be a millionaire” to those who should vote republican. As Sarah Palin put ut, I don’t want to grow poor waiting for the government to take care of me.”
Just giver us a level playing field, only necessary government intervention and rules, and let everyone rise to their own level.
Meanwhile there are plenty of socialists countries who would love to have someone like you, Larry
85. Delilah | 09.08.08
My husband grew up in a dictatorship. He says the atmosphere is frighteningly similar here since Bush started removing our freedoms. In the name of national security, I believe that McCain will continue this incredibly dangerous trend. Americans need to take the blinders off and fight to retain (and regain) our rights!
86. Asfintit | 09.08.08
In reading the comments, once again I am 100% confident that this country, through its isolation, ignorance and stupidity, will elect a republican. A profiteer and a creationislist at that.Therefore, you will continue to be bamboozled, lied to and taken for everything you got. What, do you not give a damn about the folks whom have lost sons and daughters in a hopeless war, lost their jobs and lost their homes? Why should you care, you are all capitalists and out for yourselves, right? The dems are not asking for communism, only programs that work for the whole: part capitalism, part socialism, part ethical and part human. Unfortunately, Americans are too stupid to see the nuisances in government and always vote for the sure *******. I wish I could become an expatriot, unfortunately the economy is so bad because of the American downfall, you can secure a job or validity anywhere. I know I have tried for the past 8 years. So don’t tell me to get out, I wish I could.
G.C.
87. Mark Butler | 09.08.08
Larry,
Not rich, and I don’t believe I’m stupid or insane (although responding to your comment may qualify me) but I have to question Obama and how he proposes to pay for the programs he has stated he wants. His coments “close tax loophomes and tax havens” means corporate tax rates go up and that drives jobs out of the US and also means higher prices to pay for things (notice the higher cost of things as the fuel prices went up) so it ends up being a higher tax on me via the pass through from the corporations thanks to an Obama tax increase on corporations that will far outweigh the tax cut he has promised.
Now for my really insane thought! What if was George Soros who manipulated oil prices via the Swiss firm that was jacking up the oil price in order to affect the US economy in order to bolster Obama’s chances in the November election? Not likely but who was behind the corporation that did the speculating and who made the money? Inquiring minds want to know!
88. Kyle | 09.08.08
Larry is right. Obama is not talking about communism (which means NO private property, total government control of economy, etc.). What he’s saying is that without education, training, and healthcare, our population will not be able to compete globally. And he is saying that the government can have a positive role in these fields. This is not communism, it is simply a pragmatic way to develop our population and further our national interest. We will be better off as a country if we are better educated and healthier and more skilled. Our people’s hard work will yield greater benefits (and make more money) if we have more valuable skills.
The right wing seems to have convinced people of a false dichotomy, that they must choose between (a) people completely making it on their own with no help whatsoever, or (b) the government taking care of us like we are children. This is a destructive and dishonest perspective. The reality is that most people who end up succeeding had a lot of help, either from their families (in terms of money, values, love, education, etc.) or from institutions, many of which are government-funded. So what should happen to people whose families don’t have the money, or values, or love, or education, or whatever to provide that support? the republican response is, “they just have to work 150% as hard and if they don’t make it then it’s their own fault.” How is this a useful approach? Don’t we want to maximize the proportion of americans that succeed? Don’t we know that only very few exceptional people can pull themselves up “by their bootstraps”? What about the rest of the people? We know that in our present economy there is a vast swath of working poor, that work 2 or 3 jobs and are barely making it. Is their present predicament their fault? Isn’t it appropriate for we, as a society, to work together to help all of us do better?
We should embrace a fusion of individual and societal responsibility; people can’t succeed without individual responsibility, but everyone needs support and help from their environment as well. No one really makes it completely on his or her own. If you think that you have, then you are lying to yourself. Let’s grow up and recognize that we are in this together, and we rise and fall together. We should be competing with the rest of the world, not ourselves.
90. Uncle Buck | 09.08.08
It is very interesting to hear people quote the Bible who apparently have not read the whole book. There are 10 commandments, one of which says thou shall not steal. In all the social justice riga ma row we never hear a quote from the Bible that says that we should steal from those who don’t want to give.
The quote from Matthew does not give us the authority to tax the citizens against their will to help the under priviliged. Or many other projects.
Of course there is no Biblical prohibition against individual (non government extorted) contributions to housing funds, food kitchens, etc.
If you want to help, write a check directly to your favorite charity and leave the rest of us alone.
91. steve | 09.08.08
This is an election about leading a country. Not about who God talks to. It’s about liberty for everyone, regardless of their regligious beliefs. I don’t want to have to live the lifestyle of a christian, jew or muslim as dictated by a government. Government should’nt have the right to tell it’s citizen whom they can marry nor what I can do with my body as long as it doesn’t impinge on anyone else’s rights. If you wish to practice your beliefs great, just don’t try to legislate them into law. That’s why the right to bear arms is in the constitution, so citizenry can protect themselves from a government which has become totaltarian. Today, just like in the ww2 nazi movies American government officals routinely say: “may I see your identity papers???”. And they say it can’t happen here!
92. Deaner | 09.08.08
I don’t get it, the Democrats stand to pick up more seats in congress??!! They came into power in 2006, making promises and delivered, albeit reluctantly, on one.
They suck worse than Bush, in that most of us knew he was a dud. But the dems’ refusal to do anything meaningful or even controversial is nothing less than betrayal.
And if Obama gets elected, will everyone who criticizes him automatically be a racist?
93. GuyBlaise | 09.08.08
George Bush was elected by his people twice. The result is this chaotic situation. Now electing McCain/Palin will be another mistake-a continuation of the same politics. America, you have your destiny in your hands.
Stop blaming George Bush and take responsibilities for your actions. As the Yakomas of Central African Republic say,”It’s not weeds that choke out the grain, it’s the negligence of the farmer.”
http://guyblaise.com/
94. Gary | 09.08.08
McCain and Palin are back because they are for real. Unlike Obama’s smoke and mirror promises, ordinary people of this country believe that their promises will be kept. They resemble the book What If Everyone Lived Next Door to Jesus? (Hannibal Books) in that they are trying to do the right thing for those whom they seek to serve. They are not in it just for themselves, but rather for us, the other 300 million+ citizens of this great country. I for one am glad…
95. Gladius | 09.08.08
I am the perfect example of the modern moderate. For fiscal issues, I lean conservative. On personal issues, I lean liberal. In the seven Presidential elections that I have been eligible to vote in, I’ve voted Democrat three (Carter in ‘76, Clinton in ‘96, Gore in ‘00) , Republican three times (Reagan in ‘80 & ‘84 and Bush in ‘88), and Independent once (Ross Perot - 1992). I dislike party politics and just wish that I could get a candidate that would espouse the way I believe (and oh, I think that the majority feel this way as well).
I am voting for Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin. I think that the maverick really might be above party politics. I think that his selection of Palin was a masterstroke - it solidifies the conservative base and yet, is not part of the GOP good-ole-boys network. She is also a feminist worst nightmare - a wife, mom, working mom, and politician who made it - but is a conservative. (The feminist protesting that she is “not Hilary Clinton” makes it clear that feminists are really about power and their leftist agenda, not about the welfare of women). The thing I like the most about Gov. Palin is that she seems to be real and not a manufactured caricature.
I admire Sen. Obama but dislike the expansion of social welfare that he espouses. I think he has also evidenced that he is just another tired party politician, and worse, he’s done it while claiming that he is just the opposite.
I may not walk lock-step with all the things that McCain and Palin believe, but I really believe that, when all is said and done, they will do the best and most honorable thing for this country. Character matters, though not as evidenced by perfection, for no one is perfect. No, character matters because the way someone has already lived their life in the past will predict what they will do in the future. Give me someone who has sacrificed themselves in the Hanoi Hilton and give me someone who has worked outside the political system, with the sex-bias and children in tow, and I’ll show you someone who will do the right thing.
97. Jay | 09.08.08
If Sarah was not wealthy your taxes would be paying for her kids/grandkids.
To vote on a candidate because they do not support Woman’s control of her own body is idiotic. Sounds like something they impose on women in Iran or somewhere. All these unwanted children should be taken care of by the pro-lifers money.
98. Josh | 09.08.08
If the Democrats were truly in power right now, both Bush and Cheney would have been impeached for their solid track record of high crimes and misdemeanors. Imagine exposing one of your own CIA agents like that. How low can you go? These people are out of touch with true American Loyalty. Mr. Bush has had his Vietnam. Let’s show the Republicans to the door and move forward with higher moral standards.
99. vivifiant | 09.08.08
.
Sarah Palin is good news for the US Airline Industry. If she gets elected - together with her assistant McCain - then millions of women who want choice will have to travel from the US to civilized countries. Countries that recognize rape and incest are crimes and not god given fate adding to human fertility ….
If Sarah Palin gets elected by Christians, more precisely by extreme Christians who are OK with rape and incest and who interpret creationism literally etc., then I don’t want to be a Christian no longer.
Sarah Palin will turn us back a couple of centuries, to the time before enlightenment.
Vivifiant, Ohio
.
100. Julianne Barbato (NV) | 09.08.08
Why is no one mentioning the corruption that is key in having turned millions of Democrats off to the party and in the direction of McCain/Palin?
Any Democrat who watched the DNC’s RBC meeting on 5/31 and wasn’t fazed by its decidedly antidemocratic hijinks is either a dullard or part of the problem. Did anyone here notice how Nancy Pelosi, that disgrace to females everywhere, STIFLED the “nay” vote during the fake roll call at the convention? Do you know that delegates for Hillary were threatened and coerced?
And having moved from a primary state to a caucus state, I speak from firsthand knowledge of the caucus rigging, vote tampering, and thuggery that occurred. After 35 years as a loyal, active Dem, I quit the party on June 3rd and reregistered as a nonpartisan here in NV.
The extremist minority who hold the reigns of power at the DNC have been planning to install their puppet since 2004–by an means necessary. Well, I can’t condone corruption with my vote. Integrity always trumps issues. In no way do I thing McPalin will impose their personal views. McCain has always proved himself to be willing to cross the aisle in order to make PROGRESS.
And what I and other disenfranchised Dems/now-ex Dems have in common with McPalin is not only integrity but a love of untrammeled democracy, disdain for corruption, and the willingness to walk our talk.
The biased, unprofessional, and utterly disgraceful media have turned a blind eye to the ever-mounting evidence of foul play in the Dem primary. For those voters who are responsible enough to educate themselves to all the facts and info, go to http://www.wewillnotbesilenced08.com. Watch the preview of a documentary, directed by a Democrat, that recounts, in Democrats’ own words, the atrocities they witnessed at polls across the country. You’ll also find written stats and accounts of the cheating that stole the nomination for Obama.
When you hear African American Dems lament the reverse racism and strong arming that they witnessed, it should break your heart. That is, if you’re a lover of democracy. MLK is turning in his grave at such a hollow, ill-gotten victory. Now it’s incumbent on every decent American to monitor their respective precincts for more of the same cheating in the GE. And we’ll need to get the foreign press involved if we want fairness at the polls. The American media have been nothing more than a blight on journalism AND democracy.
We’ll remember in November, and we look forward to the implosion of the party that has left us: Herr Dean, Brazilla, the Gang of Losers, and the annointed one will be history!
102. Lord Ashley | 09.08.08
Republicans are spoiled children, and their politicians follow suit.
Pay no heed to the polls, soldiers. Obama’s support has been firming up significantly over the past few days, and it’s just getting stronger. That’s what really counts when we get to the general election. McCain’s bounce isn’t going to go on forever, and he’s not going to start pulling away Obama’s liberal base. It’s really the base that does the heavy canvassing and campaign work that ultimately determines the final outcome of the election. Remember this. Concentrate on maintaining cohesion, soldiers. Don’t bother with the ones on the other side. They don’t matter. All that matters is keeping yourselves ready for action come October. Let McCain have his ride in the polls, guys. It’ll keep his ground army lazy and overconfident if it looks like he’s on a roll, and they’ll stay that way if you don’t mess with them. Remember that. Don’t even talk to people from the other side. Don’t make eye contact. The thing to concentrate on now is getting a good ground force ready. Democrats use their heads. They don’t waste their time on the enemy if they don’t have to. We’re going to have to come out strong this November, guys. Don’t screw up.
This isn’t about taxes or welfare or even stinking Iraq. All those are tertiary. Our country is being sold off, you people. We’re losing our heritage. Do you really want to explain to your children why the lion’s share of your country belong’s to Saudi oil lords? Do you really want to live that? Don’t you realize how much of it belongs to them already? I’m telling you, guys, this is serious. It’s gone beyond all the old issues. They don’t matter anymore. They’re ancient history. We can worry about healthcare some other day. For now, let’s focus on salvaging what’s left of our country, alright guys? Don’t mess with the enemy, and don’t talk to them. This isn’t a game.
103. OMGPOLITICSLOL | 09.08.08
I love these online “debates”. Most are easily summed up like this; “OMG COMMUNISTS, OMG FASCISTS, OLOL IMA LIBERTARIAN I HATE U BOTHS LULZ”
104. Jess | 09.08.08
I am amazed at the ease with which people tout self-sufficiency and blame people for their own misfortune. Of course personal responsibility is necessary to achieve success, but it is not the only crucial ingredient. I am a first generation college student. I am currently working on my PhD, and I would be more than self-righteous to suggest that I have arrived at this point in my life only by hard work. The fact is, my parents had the capacity to guide me toward education and further, I have sufficient mental ability. Although I am uncertain which political philosophy will be most beneficial to America at large, I can be certain that there are masses of people who simply do not have the same advantages that I do.
105. Brigitte | 09.08.08
I’m fascinated, as a non-American, how “muslim” is such an insult in your country.
106. Nathan | 09.08.08
@42 Amanda,
So the poor should not get taxed for food? I suppose the farmers that grow the food don’t pay taxes? The companies that supply the fertilizer and agriculture machinery to farmers don’t pay taxes? The truckers who carry the food to processing plants or grocery stores don’t pay taxes? The processing plants and grocery store owners don’t pay taxes?
Anytime a politician tells you he is not raising taxes on the poor is not telling the whole story. The tax may not show up on your receipt, buts it is there; it may be hidden, but it is as real as it gets.
107. Paul G. Overend | 09.08.08
“3. Katy | 09.08.08
It will be interesting to see people’s reactions to Palin once she stops reading from her deeply framed script and has to actually speak to issues.”
Ditto Obama.
108. MichaelB | 09.08.08
When either party starts talking about restoring the Bill or Rights I could get excited.
Getting the government’s hand out of my pocket could be another win for the party who really wants change. Does anybody stop to consider what is the interest payment is on $9 trillion debt? We can’t afford to simply balance the budget, we must have a plan pay off the debt. Did anybody notice how successful interest only mortgages have been for Freddie/Fannie? The U.S. Treasury is in worse shape yet. We have run up such a credit card debt that we can’t even keep up with the interest payments alone.
Only one party is promising what appear to be effective solutions to these problems (hint it isn’t a “D” or “R”). The irony is everybody I discuss this with agrees with their positions bu then say a 3rd party can’t win. I call that a stupid self fulfilling prophesy. You call it a wasted vote? I call it voting with conscience.
109. Bubba Tex | 09.08.08
Take a deep breath, Dems, this is what is called a “bounce.”
Repubs, please keep all this high-minded talk handy as Palin’s record is exposed. She’s just another ***** for big oil and big god… useful to big interests to keep everyone shouting at each other. The thought that they give a damn about any of us as citizens is absurd and you’re fools if you believe it. The abortion issue is real (and you should support her unconditionally if this is your one issue) just as Obama’s focus on the lower-half of society is real. But Palin is neither a maverick nor a reformer, but only a ‘lil Bush in drag… and how’d his presidency work out for y’all? (notice how little Bush actually DID for the right in eight years… but a lot for the $$$… hmmmmm)
This election will turn on the debates and the economy, so will all the slime-throwers please return to the underside of the rocks that they call home until then? Thanks.
As a moderate I’m happy with both lead candidates and could live with either as pres. (BTW, if the conservative posters believe only half of what they write they would vote for Barr; most of what I read is mere posing).
Bubba Tex - chillin on the coast while waiting for Ike
110. Dave | 09.08.08
When you read all of these comments from nut job republican keep in mind this is being reported in the Christian Science Monitor.
Under Bush the middle class saw very little to no tax relief but got hung out to dry on some many things. I do not know how you can possible vote republican after all the problems Bush has caused. Wake up!!!!!!!!!!!
111. Bill | 09.08.08
Anyone who thinks Bush (or any President for that matter) has more than a minor affect on the economy is not insane, but stupid. Many Obama supporters must WANT us to live in a socialist society but right now we are still living in a (mostly) free market where business cycles come and go as they have since the founding of the country. The Federal Reserve can try to help keep the economy on an even keel and the actions of Congress have a certain impact but anyone who understands how the economy and our government functions knows better than to point the finger at the Oval Office. And it’s sad to see so many being brainwashed into thinking the US has ANY policies that “rob from the poor so that the rich can get richer”. Guess David Axelrod has succeeded by writing speeches that don’t really say what his guy will do differently while at the same time claim that George Bush is responsible for everything bad that happened since the day he was elected. The fact that Bush got elected TWICE demonstrates that Americans on both side of the political spectrum aren’t too bright but regardless of what the Obama campaign wants us to think, McCain is NO George Bush.
112. Michele Flippo | 09.08.08
I find it amazing how many people have said that those on the left just passively accept a bunch of spoon-fed information from Obama and his campaign. Yet those same people have been quoting some erroneous information themselves.
1. Obama does not by any means represent “communism.” His left-of-center politics are actually very different from communist politics. While he may support socializing something like healthcare, that does not make him a socialist.
2. Everyone also talks about the healthcare systems of Canada and Great Britain as failed, but I think you are missing the point. The vast majority of the citizens of those countries are shocked that the US does not take care of its citizens. While there are problems with every system (including our current healthcare system), most Canadians, Britains, and Germans would agree that healthcare is a human right.
3. There is no disagreement that McCain has more experience–that much is obvious. That, to me, is not the point. The length of experience does not matter to people who don’t care anything for the KIND of experience he has. He has lied on several accounts about what he supports and what he doesn’t and no amount of experience will fix that.
4. Having worked in social services as a financial benefits worker, I can tell you that since 1996 (during the time of Clinton) is is very hard to receive welfare benefits. Not only is it very hard, which “weeds out” a lot of people, but the benefits in the state of Georgia are about $285 a month for a woman with two kids. In exchange for this $285 a month, the mother must be working a minimum amount of time or be receiving educational training. So please don’t say that Democrats just pass out money left and right because that is just not the case. No one is living large off welfare money and I promise you it’s not just drug-addicted single mothers.
%. Finally, why in the world are people saying that Democrats support drug-addicted, alcoholic, lazy individuals. I’m sorry, but last I checked, the white-collar workers have the money and leisure to afford whatever drugs/drinks they want, but I guess it’s okay because they’re working (?) The poor, hardworking folks like myself can’t afford it! Lest we forget that white-collar criminals receive government handouts too!
113. rjbunny | 09.08.08
Yes, Leo, good points. While our country fritters away tax revenue on bogus war efforts that have made Halliburton and Blackwater shareholders wealthy beyond belief, Japan, S. Korea and other countries have invested in new technologies with an eye towards the future. Let’s let the industrial revolution era coal and gas engines go the way of the dinosaurs and pursue abundant and reliable solar, wind and wave energy sources. These technologies are possible with incentives and investment. Existing infrastructure is still massively profitable for oil execs, so without real government leadership, they will continue to be our ticket to the past.
Vote Obama.
114. Rick | 09.08.08
To everybody, think about this one thing. Obama started to plot his political career in the home of William Ayers. A homegrown domestic terrorist!
115. AZ | 09.08.08
Larry,
I will Quote Charles Barkely, “We folks have been voting Democrats for 50 years and we have more people poor & dependent on goverment”.
I suggest to better your self, get a job which pays health insurance, pay well, quit relying on Unions, Goverments and handouts, take it from a guy who came to this country with a High school education, went to college without any grants, scholarships or goverment help and earned a engineering degree (was it easy NO) but now I am enjoying the fruit of hard work living a decent life with my family and now that is what Democrats call rich and they want to punish me.
Get real and just remember what a JFK said “my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country” oh by the way he cut Taxes for everyone……
116. Vote Bush | 09.08.08
Larry,
I am a millionaire, and you are absolutely right. I’ll vote for Obama, because I HAVE a social conscious and truly feel for you folks making so little, and who have no health care. Trust me, no matter who gets elected, I’ll be alright. I can just fire a couple of employees to make up the difference. We say it all the time (behind closed doors of course) “fire them all, let God sort it out.” If American voters are to stupid to figure it out on their own, let them have their Christian fundamentalist government. The economy, if anyone cares to remember to it’s first hit directly after 9/11. Hard to believe you die hard GOP idiots can’t remember that. No - it wasn’t the democrats. The reason the economy is in the tubes is because George W Bush has no concept of economic policy. You can’t have the most massive increase in spending in 50 years AND cut taxes at the same time. Do you recall Dick Cheney saying, deficits don’t matter? Probably not, you weren’t paying attention. We’ll the way it works is this, there is only so much money, and if the government takes a whole bunch for it’s spending then their is less for the private sector to spend. That’s why Bill Clinton, the guy we all love to hate, balanced the budget, and the economy grew. As for Obama, I believe that he actually wants to cut taxes for most small businesses. Another pay raise for me !!! Is this country great or what!?!
Oh, and on health care - I tried to get our insurance company to offer me a policy so I could cover the majority of my hourly workers - you know the guys who make between $14 and $35 dollars per hour. I wasn’t able to do it - partially because of cost but mostly because the insurance companies won’t offer me the bare bone kind of insurance we need. They would rather people utilize the government safety net, so they can continue to make money. To bad GOP guys who think private insurance is the way to go mostly won’t be able to afford it. Sorry, but you guys get what you deserve. Me and my family will be rich, comfortable and alright regardless.
117. John | 09.08.08
JOSEPH - That was one of the most clueless rants I’ve seen in a while. Thanks for the entertainment. =) Palin, “military experience”? “Commander in chief” of the Alaska National Guard? As a governor, Palin never actually “commanded” the National Guard - she was quite content to let them operate under *federal* control during her term.
And what, pray tell, is the example of government you want Congress to emulate? The way Wasilla, a town of 8000 people, went from zero debt to $20 million with her as a mayor? The way almost a million of that was wasted on legal expenses because she didn’t do her homework when rushing to build her pet project, a near-useless sports center, and got sued?
Brent - What does the money from that cigarette tax go to? If it’s like most other proposals I’ve seen, it’s going to educating kids about the harm of smoking. The primary purpose of taxes like this one isn’t to increase tax revenue - it’s to decrease tobacco consumption.
And to everyone who keeps saying that individual charity is the only way to help the poor - do your homework as well. Look into the statistics on charitable giving. Which income group do you think gives the most to charity? (Hint: It ain’t the rich or the middle class. So much for your visions of the rich uplifting the poor.) How do you think wealth is distributed in America? (Look it up - the richest 1% of the country controls almost 40% of it, while the bottom 40% controls 0.2%. Yeah, one-fifth of one percent. Do you actually think that 40% of the country are lazy bums who could make their way into that top 1% if they only tried? Look at the wider picture - the bottom 60% of the nation owns less than 5% of it; the bottom 90% controls barely over a quarter.) Millions of people in this country can’t afford medicine, food and shelter, year after year - and the Republicans are just fine with that, because their priority is preserving the wealth of those top 10%. And you’re surprised that the poor tend to support Democrats, Dawn?
118. Debby | 09.08.08
Response to Dawn (number 12)
You say.. “People should have a county and economy where they can flourish with effort and take care of themselves. …. Freedom means personal choice…”
Without control over your own body, there is no other meaningful freedom. Even the perhaps praiseworthy decision to bring a child into the world knowing it will face health and social problems throughout life and beyond the years when you will be there to take care of it, will have no moral weight whatsoever, neither good nor bad, when the right to make that decision is taken away from women and the government takes to itself the right to control every womb in the nation.
Call yourself “Christian” if you like. Reducing this terrible and difficult moral problem to “baby killing” is to my mind about as simple-minded, and dishonest, as it gets.
John McCain and Sarah Palin believe that they know better than the women of America whether and under what circumstances a woman - any woman - should become a mother. MCCAIN’S STATED GOAL IS TO OVERTURN ROE V WADE. If he succeeds, to the hundreds of thousands of women whose lives will be lost as a result of botched, illegal abortions, policies about taxation, immigration and everything else, will be pretty much irrelevant.
The ONLY pro-choice candidate in this election is Barack Obama.
I am female and 63 years old. I remember how things used to be. We must never go back.
Ladies, vote with your eyes wide open.
119. Anthony Bruno | 09.08.08
Rich vs Poor is an interesting diversion too many
voters seem to believe the debate is about. But,
to me, I am a Republican solely because I believe
the battle is between free-market capitalism and
socialism.
BOTH parties disappoint most citizens, yet the
Republican party seems more interested in growing
our economy than dispersing taxpayers money in the
name of “fairness”
In closely, for the single issue folks (Iraqq, Iraq, Iraq)
I think we will win the war in Iraq long before we win
the “war on poverty”, unless of course we have Gen. Petraus.
is put in charge.
VOTE, for Mc Cain of course!!!!!!!!!!
120. Affirmative Action | 09.08.08
… well it seems to me Senator Obama is in a horse race…something the democratic mandarins did not plan on … they were so confident they offered their most loyal consituency a payback … a sort of negro…Senator Obama will be the first and last African American to run for the Presidency… the next minority candidate will be Hispanic…
121. Pamela Q | 09.08.08
I am shocked over the backwards, fear filled, hate filled, untruthful, selfish comments that come from a forum that is supposed to be comprised of “Good” people.
To vote Democrat is not a indorsement of blanket taxes for “hard working people” to support deadbeats -that’s a lie to create fear based on selfishness.
Obama is not a Muslim.
The economy was headed south long before Democrats got a foothold in congress.
It is the WAR that is draining %50 of our tax dollars -you idiots!
Think without fear or hate in your heart -for a change.
Stop allowing yourselves to be slaves to the uber rich -and if you are not part of the 1 percentile don’t even make me laugh by counting yourself as part of this sect just because you may have made a few $$ for yourself! You are kidding yourselves and flattering yourselves all at once. They want you to think they count you as one of them so they can divide the less wealthy masses and STAY IN POWER.
Spend a second thinking of anything other than your own best interest and WAKE UP and realize that you are being lied to by the Republicans.
Democrats are not weak or stupid -you are just led to believe they are by the corrupt and powerful who want to stay that way.
122. Ivan | 09.08.08
Sophomoric quotes like the one below are what is wrong with Obama’s supporters and the reason he will likely pull a John Kerry. I am a small business owner who works the 16 hour days that McCain was talking about in Saddleback. My family members don’t make as much money as me and some were out of work for a few years. During this period it was my money - %20 of my gross specifically - which allowed my father,mother,sister and her three kids to continue to eat and pay their mortgage to not lose the home where we grew up.
What do you think people who are earning more money than you do with it? Burn $100 dollar bills? Use your brain for a minute.
Guess what, I just finished a 43 hour shift with no food and no breaks (and no, I am not a doctor). I work harder and smarter than you so I don’t have to rely on Barack Obama and can help my family (all of my family) myself. God helps those who have faith in him and then help themselves by using the gifts he has given them.
Besides, it is not the government’s job to feed and cloth the poor. That is our job and if I’m giving money to someone because they do it better than I can I’ll give it to the Church since they can get more done with less thank you very much. I’m doing my part. How about you lay off my money and start doing yours?
Jesus said give unto Ceasar what is ceaser, he never said give onto ceasar what is not ceasar’s.
quote “Anyone who is not a millionaire who votes Republican in a national election has to be either insane or stupid. If you are a millionaire and you believe that amassing more and more unnecessary (in that you have so much that you can never spend it) wealth while the uninsured, the unemployed, the poverty-stricken, etc etc etc go hungry, without homes, without medical care, I do not envy your position when the “Son of Man” comes in glory - see Matthew 25:31-46l; however, I don’t think you’re stupid or crazy - just evil.”
123. mr_wizard | 09.08.08
McCain/Palin - PROVEN ethics, leadership, experience and judgement to work for the American people to do what’s needed, right and just to keep America strong, secure and prosperous for ALL.
Obama/Biden - Proven questionable in all the above disciplines.
***Patria Primitus***
Note: California and Nevada — please do your job and help our country work for the people — dump Pelosi and Reid.
124. SH | 09.08.08
I am a Christian and honesty is one of the virtues I value the most. McCain committed adultery, used other war prisoner’s story as his own (the part about the guard drew a cross on the ground), and Palin lied about so many things in her acceptance speech (you can do a fact check about her speech). Sadly, no body seems to care about this. Yes, Obama is pro-choice. But I do agree with what Biden said at Meet the press y’day. You can not force others with other faith to accept what you believe. It is their choice. Even the Lord gives me the choice to accept or reject Him.
125. RWG | 09.08.08
A vote for Obama / Biden is a vote for all the failed socialist dogma that has been tried and discredited before. That’s not change, that’s ignorance and stupidity. I know there are a lot of people out there who want the govenrment to take care of them from cradle to grave, but it just doesn’t work. Never has, never will.
McCain / Palin isn’t perfect, but a lot better than the alternative.
126. mike | 09.08.08
Socialized or Universal Health Care will never happen in our Country, and it shouldn’t. Granted, I do believe every child should have gov. health care if the parents can not provide it. However, if you think unemployment is high now, ****, it would be more then triple by removing the amount of insurance companies and employees currently in the US, not to mention, the health care system in the US, is far from perfect, but it’s a top 5 revenue generator for our country. I have spoken with many Europeans and Canadians and they wish they did not have the socialized health care they have now, they feel controlled by their government and TAXED TO DEATH.
127. Redneck4Obama | 09.08.08
I wasn’t polled, why didn’t I get polled? Where the **** do you get polled at? There’s not even a polling survey next to the news article. Who does these polls? I didn’t even get an unbiased phone poll call. Who/What/Where/ When/Why and how can I get polled?
Sad to see so many people BLINDLY supporting a party that has done NOTHING for the United States the last 8 years!!! Oh wait they have–took away more of our freedoms, got us into a costly war both monetary value and lives wrecked, DISREGARDS THE CONSTITUTION, gives tax breaks to the rich while making it sound like the middle class is benefitting, incessantly lies to the American people and the rest of the world, keeps people under a constant threat of FEAR, shows ignorance towards the Environmental Issues (drill baby drill), portrays anyone other than them as a terrorist threat, copies the other parties theme of offering change, etc, etc. How can you offer change when you are part of the party that the people want to change from? I know, blame the Democrats for the last 8 years…
The Republicans say they will cut taxes. HOW? By borrowing more and more money from CHINA? Yeah, the Republicans are experts at economics–raised the deficit ceiling a few times while their in office, what is it now about ($9,000,000,000,000–$12,000,000,000,000)$9-$12 trillion dollars?
I would rather pay $2.25 a gallon for gas and have a tax of say $.50 so it’s still about $2.75(still under $3.oo or in that ballpark area) and have that money pay for healthcare and road projects than to let the oil companies jack it up $2-$3 dollars whenever they feel like. You’ll never see an oil company pay for road projects or pitch in for health care.
The Republicans want the middle class to take care and fend for themselves while they help out the ones who already have the means to help themselves…Why is that? Am I missing something here?
How great will America look when the Republicans get through with it? No more middle class just the super rich and the dirt poor. So when people visit us from other countries they’ll see 2 percent of the population living in SEVERAL McMansions and 98 percent living in squalor. How great will America look then?
At least the Democrats are giving the middle class a fair chance and helping out people who need help. The way it should be. The Republicans want the families to help their old and crippled kin out who can barely help themselves out.
McCain didn’t even want to pass a bill that would help out his fellow Veterans!!! If he can do that to them JUST IMAGINE WHAT HE WILL DO TO EVERYONE ELSE!!!!
SCARY!!!!!!!!
128. Dan | 09.08.08
The issues have become so distorted that Repubs. are willing to revel in the losses of the 60% of Americans who are living in misery. 40% of these are voting for Obama, and the other 20% aren’t voting at all for one reason or another. That’s fine, because the system will likely collapse under our next president, so I’d rather have history blame it on 12 years of George Bush Jr. in power than “8 years of George Bush Jr. followed by a failed attempt at kicking the dead horse known as America by the young, naive Barack Obama.” Our next president will reap the worldwide grapes the wrath. I’m glad that it won’t be a Democrat in the history books and that our party will be remembered for the good in America.
129. Travis | 09.08.08
I am very suprised, maybe not, at the bigetry within this “Christian” discussion. This nation was stolen and then built by Christians, yes. However our founding fathers had the insight to seperate chruch and state because they did not want another country where the same old rich and conservative people ran the land as they saw fit. They wanted a nation that would look to the future and encourage people of all kinds to create a life and search for happiness. However it has taken only a few centuries to become the country that our fathers tried to escape from. All of the sudden we have this huge issue of immigrants. Have none of you actually studied the 1600’s? We came over and brutalized the inhabitants. Your mad because mexicans are coming over to pick your crops so you can pay less at the register. Would you like to work in a field for 12 hours a day at $4 an hour?? And then your complain about taxes. WHERE DO YOU THINK WE LIVE??? We have bombs that costs up to $5 million dollars each. We have subs and bombers and carriers that costs billions each. We are the most military independant country in the world. HOW DO YOU THINK WE PAY FOR THAT??? Do you not like driving on a safe and paved road? Do you not like have a police officer at your door when you hear a bump in the night, maybe you would like to have less legistlation and more ENRONS to steal our savings. We do not have a perfect government by any means, but get real. Paying taxes affords you the priviledge of having military, CIA, FBI, NSA and all other to save our butts when bad guys want to harm us. If you do not like paying for your services, move to Iraq.
130. Canadian | 09.08.08
I would love to see some real #s in the taxes argument.. just how much is 90% of the lower middle class contributing to the US tax revenue? Similarly, just how much of McCain’s lowering of corporate taxes contribute to the growing economy.
My Opinion..
An extra $1000 a year in my pocket will not change my life style. I will not buy a new car/house, my kids will still go to public school.. I guess I may eat out more.. but if I had a huge medical expense, I will be still have to scramble..
If I ran a huge corporation.. extra tax break won’t make me more patriotic and hire more Americans nor will I raise their wages. I will still continue to find ways to increase my profit.. because it is my job and.. yah.. I get paid more in bonuses..
The tax argument is kind of silly..
131. stop crying | 09.08.08
The morality tought to most americans would have us feed the hungry, house the homeless, and care for the sick. Please stop trying to legislate my good will. This act has a tendancy to breed malice twords the people we are forced to help. In a nation as generouse as our’s, take away the programs and let the people take care of each other. We’ll see if you can practice what you would legislate.
132. rjbunny | 09.08.08
Every developed nation has some form of nationally organized healthcare to insure every citizen. Healthcare costs are a huge burden to Americans. Without a comprehensive system covering EVERY person, we will stagnate as a country and continue experiencing economic and social decline. Obama has proposed lowering taxes on households making less than $250,000. The taxes which would be restored are those which used to be imposed on the ultra-wealthy. Obama will not tax small businesses.
By the way, taxes are a civilized way to support necessary infrastructure. It’s not an evil thing. When that revenue is purposefully diverted into the coffers of corporations with effective lobbyists is precisely when we need to review our leaders’ decisions and replace those responsible!
133. crypt212 | 09.08.08
All systems should have a safety net like Medicaid, short-term Welfare, and SSI. People with long-term, no trivial disabilities should be taken care of. THAT is a humane thing to do.
Beyond that, a system that gives it away at the expense of those who earn it is a pathetic existence hardly worth living in.
Last time I heard, the mentioned “SON OF MAN” said to be charitable to the poor; he said nothing of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. It’s not charity if you point a gun at someone.
And anyone on this blog that thinks the last few years have been bad needs to pull up a chart of employment and earnings numbers. You’d have to been a total loser to have done badly over the last few years. If one cyclical downturn makes a disaster then I guess Bill Clinton was a total flop or did you miss the Internet bubble bursting in 2000?
134. Vote Bush Again and Again | 09.08.08
And also, do you GOP idiots have any clue, how tax money gets spent? Do you think food safety, or clean air, no child left behind agencies are free (11% of budget total)? Since Social Programs (social security 20.7%, Medicare 12.4%, health incl. Medicaid at 9.5%, and other income security like welfare was 13.3%) take over 50% of the budget what happens when you cut taxes? Cut the military (20%)? Not in the middle of two wars. Again, I’ve got enough socked away for me, and my children’s life times. What about you? What’s your answer?
135. Jeff | 09.08.08
Leo,
“People here refer to Obama’s desire to raise corporate taxes. As far as I know, he has not proposed such a thing. ”
Really? Maybe he didn’t say he was raising taxes. However, he has proposed removing corporate loopholes. This is a politically correct way of saying he is going to raise taxes without actually saying it. If a loophole or a low tax rate helps me keep my job (I work for a large American corporation), then I am all for it.
It is already nearly impossible to hire an American because we are so expensive and, to tell you the absolute truth, many of those people overseas that are hired instead are JUST AS TALENTED. We need a corporation friendly tax environment aimed at making it cheaper to hire American workers. I don’t see how closing loopholes (tranlation: raising taxes), is going to help me.
136. El James | 09.08.08
I’ve been pretty middle of the road all my life. I’ve voted for both parties… UNTIL the 2004 elections. The policies of the Republican administration has driven this country to ruin. We went from a world leader to one of the most hated countries in the world, because of the Republican arrogance show to other countries. The Republican economic policies of relaxing controls on large financial institutions and mortgage companies over during this real estate boom is now causing many people to loose their homes, go into bankruptcy (if they can because the Republicans made that more difficult to protect big business); and ultimately cause the collapse of the real estate market, investments, and companies. Now the government has to bail out the 2 largest mortgage companies to stabilize the market. Bail them out with taxpayer money; while rich investors previously made BILLIONS. Meanwhile oil prices are 4 times what they were 8 years ago; while the President and Vice President are previously from an Oil Company and a company who’s biggest clients are Oil Companies. Coincidence, I think not. As for protection, I don’t need more protection, I need people to hate the U.S. less. And almost last, but not the least (and just as connected to oil), the Republican Administration (I don’t say Bush, because he’s just a puppet) pressed for the U.S. to attack Iraq, where no weapons of mass destruction , no Osama Bin Laden was near, and is a large oil producing nation. Meanwhile , other people are being exterminated in places like Darfur and nothing is done. Finally … three words… BIGGEST DEFICIT EVER!!!
If you vote for the Republican because of conservative religious beliefs, I can respect that… BUT UNDERSTAND THIS the Republicans cuddle up to those beliefs ONLY to get their candidates elected. They do nothing about it afterward, except make useless gestures to impress the conservatives. However they will stay up all night to make Billions of dollars for big business (just read about the Medicare Prescription Plan).
I’m voting Democratic this year across the board. Anyone who votes Republican is either a religious fanatic or a Republican cult member (and I didn’t believe this 8 year ago, really). Even if you’re rich, the U.S. will be in even a worse economic position if a McCain is elected.
Run to the polls… Save our country … I’m not saying vote Democratic, JUST DON’T VOTE REPUBLICAN… RUN VOTE FOR SOMEONE ELSE!!!!
137. Chris | 09.08.08
Pat says, “…our economy was just fine for the first six years of Bush’s presidency. The decline seemed to start just about the time the democrats took control of congress and the senate in the mid-term elections…” No, it hasn’t. Here are the numbers. National debt by year (in trillions)
2000: 5.7
2001: 5.8
2002: 6.2
2003: 6.8
2004: 7.4
2005: 7.9
2006: 8.5
2007: 9.0
And 2008 is projected to be the largest deficit in American history at 480 billion which would take our debt balance to 9.5 trillion dollars. Bush and the GOP have laden the nation’s balance sheet with an additional $3.7 trillion in debt. What will it take for you GOP fanboys to understand that your party of small government and fiscal responsibility has been lying to you? You don’t like to hear it, but even grammatically challenged, cigar-smokin, Bill Clinton, left the nation with a surplus after steady annual improvements while he was in office. Maybe you ought to take another look at Obama’s policies. They’re not wildly liberal. He’s not a communist or socialist. He’s a smart and considered professional, and we need him and Biden in the White House. We need to grow up, people. It’s too important this time. We don’t need a reactionary “maverick” and his tabloid-fodder sidekick. We need grown-ups like Obama and Biden.
138. marc christophe | 09.08.08
I am not a millionaire. I have been unemployed and I have been poor; but I worked my way out of it, completed college and law school and I have a successful practice (appellate and constitutional law) including more than 50 cases before the USSCT. I do not vote for liberal/socialist candidates because I have seen, first-hand, how they exploit the poor and work to foster dependency and destroy personal success. I remember an associate (a Dem) who worked for a federal welfare bureaucracy and who complained about President Clinton’s “welfare to work” initiative because “if the poor got jobs then he would be out of work”. That is the problem. What liberals do not seem to understand is that government only serves the poor when service to the poor does not interfere with government interests or the career goals of the government bureacrats. Obama is not a “savior” and he represents neither “hope” no “change”. What Obama represents is a Jimmy Carter do-over. Perhaps Larry was not around to watch Carter drag America sheepishly through the mud (telling Americans that our era was over and we needed to accept a lesser role in the world). Perhaps larry does not remember “stagflation”, 21% inflation and 9% unemployment and 22% Home Mortgage interest. Perhaps larry does not recall that the Dems had control of Congress(with a better than 2/3 majority) for 42 straight years (until 1994) and, in that time, bankrupted Social Security, did nothing about the energy crisis, gave fat tax breaks to the evil corporations, started the VietNam war, and then gutted the military and the CIA. The Dems took Congress back 2 years ago. In the past 2 years they have failed to pass a single meaningful bill related to the energy crisis, the home mortgage crisis or any other issue. The Dems did pass one bill, just prior to going on vacation, declaring August “national watermelon month”. I will never vote for a Democrat again unless and until that party starts to promote America rather than the malaise/welfare state.
139. David G | 09.08.08
The Republicans are saying that they represent change. They’ll tell the American public that it is Democratic spending that has caused millions to fall into poverty. That it is “community organizers” who have weakened our health and public education systems. The Republicans will imply it was the “antiwar movement” that destroyed our international credibility and misused and over stressed our military. It wasn’t the “angry left” who deregulated the mortgage and banking industries and sent millions of American homeowners into foreclosure. It isn’t “American progressives”, who believe in “borrow and spend” and who have burdened our children and grandchildren with enormous deficits and caused a gap between rich and poor greater than ever in our history.
We have to get back our Bill of Rights. We have to restore the dignity of hard work and a just reward. The Republicans and the Supreme Court stole this country in 2000, we have to take it back.
Working people and people of conscience have to use their common sense. Talk to your friends, neighbors, relatives about health care and college tuition and about a world of eternal war. Talk to everyone about Habeus corpus, warrantless wire taps and national security letters. The Democratic Party is the Party of individual freedom, don’t let the Republicans steal it from us.
140. Aura | 09.08.08
What about that the McCain/Palin ticket is too extreme? I don’t believe the earth was created 5,000 years ago. I believe in sex education, which reduces the numbers of abortions. I believe in the right to an abortion, a right that has saved thousands of lives. I believe that creationism SHOULD NOT be taught as science. I believe that talking in tongues is akin to believing in witchcraft (and I suspect anyone who engages in such activity as not thinking with all cylinders). I am appalled that anyone, who is not a member of such an extreme church would even consider voting for such people. I am appalled that anyone would believe that this represents small town values. As someone who farms for a living and lives in a small town, I know they don’t represent my values.
Lets talk McCain. Owning so many houses that he can’t remember, owning a liquor company worth 100s of millions, ugly divorces, cheating on wives, stealing other peoples wives, lying, lying and more lying. This doesn’t represent my values either.
Now the economy? What have the republicans done for you lately? They gave you a few hundred bucks (GREAT JOB PRESIDENT BUSH) but took away jobs, took awasy high oaying jobs, better roads, health care access for the middle class, they gave us the biggest debt in our nation (to China, no less) and they made lots of contracting and oil friends bloody rich. They have ruined our economy. Now, without a coherent plan, they say they have the answer! Maybe McCain should share it with Bush, so that he can start saving the economy now? Not! MeCain’s plan is a disaster and most legitimate economists have said so. His economic plan mainly consists of stopping earmarks, giving more money to corporations and oil companies and fighting wars!
What about that 100 year war? How many times did MdCain yell “fight” in his speech? It was his only passionate theme in his disjointed and rambling convention discourse. They will have us in a 100 year war, with an “enemy” who doesn’t exist in the country we are fighting for what reason again? Why are we there? They have not defined victory. They are not going after Osama, they are marginally fighting the Talliban and are failing in protecting us against further attacks.
What about McCain’s age, his cancers, his inability to read a teleprompter, his ignorance of new technologies (such as the Internet)? Frankly, the signs are that he is no longer running on all cylinders. So, who is going to run this white House? The same people there already. Rove and company are already in charge, the current staff will not change significantly. This is FOUR MORE YEARS, with a evangelical radicalist as a back-up. ummm Yummy. I can’t wait!
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU WANT IN OFFICE? The idea of these people running this country scares me silly.
141. Ray | 09.08.08
I think most republicans seems to ignore two important factors that have lead to the bad economy:
1. The high cost of the Iraq war has cost trillions. I would much rather see government funds invested here at home rather than seeing those funds used over wars fought on false pretenses.
2. Higher prices at the pump. The cost of everything has gone up. The symbiotic relationship between the bush adminstration and oil companies is filling both of thier pockets and leaving ordinary people struggling to accomdate for the higher prices at the pump.
I see the elimanation of the America’s dependence on foreign oil as great idea, personally.
142. Terri Adams | 09.08.08
That old story, Republicans are for the rich man, the Democrats for the poor man…if you aren’t a millionaire how could you vote Republican? I have heard this brainless analogy all my life. I have never been rich, never expect to. I also have never taken welfare, food stamps, wic, or any other government (which is us, and the programs paid for by our taxes) programs. I reared 5 children, by myself, not even child support, I worked two and three jobs to get it done..I am a senior citizen and am still working to support myself. My health insurance is earned by working..for a company that was not overtaxed and could afford to give us good insurance. Overtaxing the businesses is what has caused outsourcing, which has caused loss of jobs, which has caused loss of homes. Quit blaming your presidents for what your Congress does or doesn’t do. Watch who you vote for in the offices below the Presidential choices. These are the people who control your lifestyle.
143. Eagle Ch’áak’ | 09.08.08
Rove and Scmidt are attempting to brand our mainstream media, our favorite pundits and writers as “Piranhas!” which only means one thing The Republicans are trying to steal the fish pet Voters or the Nature Lover’s Vote? Or is this a Rove, Schmit and Davis Freudian Slip – They chose Piranhas - deep down they see themselves as Piranhas?
Democrats are courting all Republicans and Independents Goldfish, Dolphin and Killer Whale fans!
Trained Goldfish Performs Amazing Tricks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buQKZOaB6cY
Dolphin play bubble rings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMCf7SNUb-Q
Killer Whale and Trainer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpZFfzDg5nQ
Change we can believe in.
Vote Obama/Biden ‘08
144. I B | 09.08.08
I agree with Larry except for his religious comments (I don’t quote the Bible for political purposes). Anyone who thinks the economy was good up until 2007 was probably not a working middle-middle or lower-middle class person — aside from the phony inflated market prices for houses, which made homeowners look like they were doing better on paper, the bottom 80% in America got absolutely nothing from all of the productive, profitable work they did — the rich kept it all. Workers have ALWAYS gotten an increase in wages when the economy was doing well from a macro standpoint — until this past expansion (2003-2006), where workers got the shaft and actually lost wages. I will not work unless I am getting a fair pay for it (right now I am right at the borderline with my job, haven’t had an increase in 3 years but still hanging in there, although my spouse had to go back to work full time this year to keep up w/inflation), but with the Republicans in office, we have a pro-oligopoly govt. (which makes true capitalism impossible by the way). If you make less than $150,000 a year, you are not looking at tax increases under Obama, in fact, you are looking at tax cuts. We have already done the “cut taxes for the rich so they can invest and get the economy going” — problem is, once they got the economy going, they forgot to pay the workers who played a big part in getting it going. They want American workers to accept Indian and Chinese wages, while our cost of living is much higher than India and China - please get the Republicans out of the Oval Office.
145. Asfintit | 09.08.08
Brigitte
The word “muslim” is an insult in the mind of an idiot. Pardon our idiots.
146. Elliot88 | 09.08.08
Bush’s Brain is Now McCain’s Brain
After crashing the Ship of State as Bush’s chief adviser, Karl Rove has slipped into the Shadows to jump on the Double Talk Express to manage the McCain campaign. Not publicly in order to avoid strengthening the perception that McCain and Bush are the same. Our boy Karl is much to crafty for something so overt. As has been said, whatever happens in Washington happens with the knowledge of Karl Rove.
No Karl Rove is not listed as a McCain strategist, Steve Schmidt is. Steve who? No association with anyone I ever heard of before. People need to know that Schmidt IS Karl Rove’s clone, protege, or whatever title he deserves, but it should not be forgotten that he is Karl Rove’s voice in the ear of John McCain. McCain the Maverick pre-2001 would not vote for McCain the Opportunist!
147. Redneck4Obama | 09.08.08
“yet the Republican party seems more interested in growing
our economy”
As Dave Letterman would say: WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, Did I hear that correctly.
148. Asfintit | 09.08.08
I like Redneck4Obama and Travis…. of sound mind and spirit. Let me reinforce their dissertations! It is such a luxury to stroll down streets lined with posh boutiques and homeless beggars. And that is what we got, a fine example of the economic divides. But how would you know, you never get out of your SUVs or your Hummers to see what the world really looks like.
149. Todd Gatts | 09.08.08
I don’t understand the Republican desire to demonize people with dissenting ideas.
I think the US would be better off if we had a national health care plan. For some reason that immediately elitists a cry of “socialized medicine”. America spends the most on health care and has the worst health outcomes of any industrialized country, and as Americans we should be ashamed we can’t supply basic health care to millions of our fellow citizens. I’m not evil because I want a better health care system than we have today.
I think the US should spend a lot less on defense and put a lot more effort into diplomatic and foreign aid. For some reason that means I’m for “rewarding our enemies” and I’m part of the “blame America first” crowd. I think America gets a lot more done in the world when we lead by example, when we cooperate with our allies, and when we help people in need. I think preemptive war is a bad idea. That doesn’t make me evil.
I think our country is headed in the wrong direction. I’m pleased that both candidates plan to change things. I think Senator Obama has a better chance of changing things than does Senator McCain. I also think a President Obama would do a better job of repairing international relations than would a President McCain. I’m convinced Senator Obama will do more to help America in the next four years than Senator McCain will.
150. Randa | 09.08.08
Good for you Marc.. I am breathing a sigh of relief that McCain and Palin are pulling ahead.. If you want a prototype for what the entire country would turn into under “Obama”… check out Memphis,Tennessee and Chicago, Il.
151. Jim | 09.08.08
Below is the best post in this thread! I know because I sit in the management meetings weekly with the company bigwigs, though I am not one of them, and I see the very attitude you so aptly describe. All of our upper management describe themselves as Republicans, and none of them care one bit about the employees who make them their huge salaries. The employees are gos in a wheel that can be eliminated at will.
The best post in this thread is this one:
>>>Larry,
I am a millionaire, and you are absolutely right. I’ll vote for Obama, because I HAVE a social conscious and truly feel for you folks making so little, and who have no health care. Trust me, no matter who gets elected, I’ll be alright. I can just fire a couple of employees to make up the difference. We say it all the time (behind closed doors of course) “fire them all, let God sort it out.” If American voters are to stupid to figure it out on their own, let them have their Christian fundamentalist government. The economy, if anyone cares to remember to it’s first hit directly after 9/11. Hard to believe you die hard GOP idiots can’t remember that. No - it wasn’t the democrats. The reason the economy is in the tubes is because George W Bush has no concept of economic policy. You can’t have the most massive increase in spending in 50 years AND cut taxes at the same time. Do you recall Dick Cheney saying, deficits don’t matter? Probably not, you weren’t paying attention. We’ll the way it works is this, there is only so much money, and if the government takes a whole bunch for it’s spending then their is less for the private sector to spend. That’s why Bill Clinton, the guy we all love to hate, balanced the budget, and the economy grew. As for Obama, I believe that he actually wants to cut taxes for most small businesses. Another pay raise for me !!! Is this country great or what!?!
Oh, and on health care - I tried to get our insurance company to offer me a policy so I could cover the majority of my hourly workers - you know the guys who make between $14 and $35 dollars per hour. I wasn’t able to do it - partially because of cost but mostly because the insurance companies won’t offer me the bare bone kind of insurance we need. They would rather people utilize the government safety net, so they can continue to make money. To bad GOP guys who think private insurance is the way to go mostly won’t be able to afford it. Sorry, but you guys get what you deserve. Me and my family will be rich, comfortable and alright regardless.<<<
That post is completely honest and true, and remarkably free of ideological claptrap. It’s just the facts.
152. rjbunny | 09.08.08
The lies which fell from Palin’s lips will be oft repeated in the upcoming weeks. Why some in the media choose to foment these disingenuous attacks is beyond me. Obama is not musim, will not raise taxes on the middle and lower income brackets or small businesses. He will converse intelligently with the leaders of other countries to form coalitions which will decrease the virulent anti-american sentiment so deliberately engineered by the current administration’s policies.
Fear and hatred of the US has directly benefited the pocketbooks of many CEO’s. Without a scary world view, our leader has much less power to impose authoritarian laws and make unilateral decisions. Yes, there are extremists who would like to harm the U.S. It will take a comprehensive world effort to dissipate their organizations.
Think before you vote. Do you want to live under martial law? Bush and Cheney have been pushing this country towards an Orwellian authoritarian state. The coffers are sucked dry and then some. Where did all that tax revenue go? Obama worked hard in the Senate to get a GI bill for Iraq war veterans. Precious little of our country’s wealth has been spent improving the future of it’s citizens.
153. Jerry | 09.08.08
There is a gigantic red flag waving in the face of the American Electorate. Why is Sarah Palin being sequestered? Is it because she is a woman? Is that not a sexist reason? Do we not deserve, in fact should we not DEMAND to know the qualifications of a person striving to be our leader? Wake up, people. This is not the Miss Wasilla contest.
154. Nan | 09.08.08
Why is it that all the pro-B.O. rants sound like they have been written by children too young to vote? Thoughtless, unworldly, unreal.
155. jim bob redneck | 09.08.08
All the dems have left from their fear mongering deification of b. hussain in Denver’s styrofoam greek temple is ‘fear’ of Sarah.
The total hypocrisy of the ‘liberal’ left is a wonder to behold…
Anyone who has studied the methods of Joe (biden?) Stalin and Hitler
would easily discern the same in b.Hussain’s campaign.
b.Hussain vilifies via ad hominem attacks, then loudly accuses the
opposition of stooping low with false accusations.
Dude, maybe you could get away with having your cake and eating it
in Chicago where the daley enforcers propped you up, but nationally
folks are starting to catch on to your empty (re: marxist) words…
Now that you’ve trashed Hillary and are using her as your new attack
dog, what message does that send to women?
We didn’t vote for David Duke because of his racist history, and the
same applies to b.Hussain with his racist (and marxist) history…
156. steven | 09.08.08
Ha! Ha! you left wing losers are all the same the world over and you will never stop trying to rob and social engineer thru targeted social engineering by taxation.I pay taxes but unlike you I would rather choose who I donate my money to. My biggest problem with both parties right now is the influence of outside forces
157. Chris | 09.08.08
How have the republicans forgotten that Reagan was a MAJOR tax machine and retired taxpayers are STILL paying tax on the same income limits that Reagan established in 1981? He is also the reason why personal interest is no longer deductible. SO STOP THE BS THAT DEMOCRATS RAISE TAXES!
Bush I……was a horrible failure and he raised taxes as well.
Then… we had the Clinton economics where EVERYONE seemed to do better! Remember that time? Remember when Clinton left Pres. Bush with NO DEBT and a surplus of money in the bank account???
Well - Bush wasn’t much of a banker and the money went away and 9/11 happened and the stock market took a huge hit…so Bush decided to lower the taxes on capital gains. What a blessing. Did anyone HAVE a capital gain in 2002 and 2003? I always thought that was funny - ppl thought they were getting a break and all they got to do was $3,000 loss per year on the $100,000 loss their investments took! If he REALLY cared, he would have raised the loss to $5,000 a year.
And McCain’s plan to change this is…….???? Sarah Palin???? Going after the republican party? btw - were any democrats involved in the Alaskan corruption, or was it all republicans?
Unfortuntely, after the last 8 years I have realized…the wealthiest Americans can be the most out of touch because they don’t do their own taxes and have no understanding that VOTING REPUBLICAN IS WHAT IS RAISING YOUR TAXES YA NINCAMPOOPS! Regardless of what McCain says…..there will be no change, there will be higher taxes and…unfortunately there are enough people in this country who can’t think for themselves and get caught up with the celebrity of Sarah Palin.
McCain picked her - because he had no choice. If he died today - should she be our next President?
158. marc christophe | 09.08.08
Dan writes that all of the problems in the nation are the fault of the GOP , and that 60% of all Americans “live in misery”. There, in a nutshell, is the problem with liberal/socialists. Dan sees a world of “misery”, but fails to identify this “60%”. Does Dan refer to a misery-laden nation that is so horrible than thousands of people immigrate (legally and illegally) every year? Gee, Dan, under your theory I would think that the immigration problem would involve mass migrations to Cuba, North Korea or China. Liberals suffer from a form of “Munchausen’s Syndrome”, whereby they wallow in filth and misery and picture themselves as the “helping hand”. Liberals do not believe in ambition, success, or even the prospect of workers enjoying the fruits of their own labor. Instead, Liberals obtain emotional arousal through their vison of a miserable world, with people lined up for their rations of food and medicine, while the all-loving liberal dispenses the rations. Dan’s grasp of history is conveniently terminated 8 years ago. Again, this is typical. Perhaps Dan is unaware of the fact tha the GOP is the party that ended slavery, gave minorities and women the right to vote and hold public office, outlawed corporate monopolies, and protected worker control over labor unions after the union movement was co-opted by gangsters and thugs. Perhaps Dan bemoans the loss of the Berlin Wall, the Gulags, the killing fields, the murder of 2 million russians and untold millions of chinese who dared to oppose the communist party. As for the Democrats, their place in history is secure: Slavery, the ***, opposing the right of black children to attend schools , etc. Don’t worry, Dan, free people everywhere who have read their history and studied the Constitution will not forget the Democrat party.
159. jefflz | 09.08.08
Yes, we have had the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and McCain will keep the nightmare of the last 8 years. He can run from Bush but he cannot hide!! So much for the myth of the Maverick, the clean-fighting War Hero. McCain is up to his eyeballs in the muck that is being flung about by his Karl Rove handlers. And to top it all off he has now picked a woman to do his dirtiest fighting for him. What heroic behavior!! Furthermore, rather than choose the best qualified VP candidate, McCain chose to mobilize the hard right wing of the Republican Party and they are coming out in droves -you know- the Ralph Reed, Phyllis Shlafley, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly crowd. They were the power behind Bush and now with Palin they will be the power behind McCain all carefully orchestrated by the Karl Rove band of dirty tricksters. When people are losing their jobs, their homes, and soldiers are losing their lives McCain has turned to extremist social issues. Why are we talking about Roe v. Wade again instead of the economy? Why has religious fundamentalism reared its ugly head again instead of a debate about energy or foreign policy? The McCain of 2000 is dead, meet the McCain of 2008, former war hero who now hides behind the skirts of PitBull Palin ! He can run but he cannot hide from 8 years of failure. Wake up America or the nightmare will be baaaack!!!
160. Another Democrat | 09.08.08
The Republicans are back, all right. The meretricious and moronic mantras have begun, as we see here in the comments. “Obama’s a Muslim!” “Big Government Bad!” “Marxism!” “Slavery!”
Does anyone here have any idea what Marxism is? Socialists usually want to nationalize industries. The only thing I see being nationalized around here lately is Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and that’s being done by, er, conservatives. The only thing likely to be nationalized, and then only partly, by a Democratic victory will be health insurance. And if you think that makes slaves of people, why don’t you ask any of the hundreds of millions of people who enjoy universal health coverage in the slave states of France, England, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, or Japan, how unfree it makes them feel? They’ll laugh in your face.
As for high taxes, perhaps you energized conservatives would like to continue the game played by Bush and Palin: pay with money borrowed or raised elsewhere. Pass the costs on to our children. As mayor, Palin raised Wasilla’s debt substantially, and as governor she can keep state taxes low by getting enormous subsidies from the US Treasury. Yes indeed, that’s well-managed government.
And while we’re at it: she DID NOT “stand up to Congress” and tell them to forget the bridge to nowhere. Congress stood up to her! They cut the federal portion of the money, and, faced with a higher price tag for Alaska, she cancelled the program. Her version of the story is the OPPOSITE OF THE TRUTH.
Like so much else we’ve been hearing from the Right side of the fence lately.
161. bhh | 09.08.08
When a democratic working class person becomes a successful middle class person, he becomes a republican. So why would the democrats want any working class perosn to become successful?
Do rich people make more when the general population makes more? Yes, the richer the population gets the richer the factory owners and store owners get. Only the democrats, socialists, communists benefit from a poor population. (As evidenced by the fifty years of power by the democrats not changing a thing)
162. Jim | 09.08.08
Oh, I forgot to add, on the corporate tax increases — um, most corporations paid ZERO taxes last year. Two-thirds paid nothing. Link: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/NEWS07/808120358
Now, that means all the lil guys and gals out there paid more in taxes than big biz did. Go figure. It won’t take long to figure out the businesses with their hands in the pockets of the politicians get the breaks. The only time the politicians have needed the lil folks is election time.
I’m a lil guy, and I want to see someone in there who looks out for me. I did fabulously well with Clinton. Pretty much all that wealth has been dried up just keeping up with inflation during Bush.
On health care, no mater what the politicians say, within the next 10 years we will have some form of national health care insurance. Businesses are cutting back or cutting out health care insurance in droves now. It is approaching a sitution where workers will be able to say they have health care insurance, but it will be so hollow that it barely covers anything. This is happening in my own company now, as it is across the nation. But the executives? They needn’t worry. And that class disctinction should drive this election.
163. peter | 09.08.08
Wow….there is good deal of plain and simple ignorance on this blog. The posts reflect most have not done their homework on the specifics. It took me more than 3 hours of research to discover only a few of the major points of Mcain’s health care plan alone. And the post on taxes is a downright lie. I don’t think I will be back here for any enlightened discussions. Whom I support is irrelevant but this blog nothing other than soundbites, unverifiedand factually incorrect. If one has the interest of the country at heart, and of her citizens, it helps to be informed on platforms, the truth and not only your personal needs but of those everywhere. It is “we the people”..not “i the american”…
peace
165. seano | 09.08.08
To all those posters who equate “big government” and high taxes with the Democrats, how, may I ask, do you plan to eliminate our presently god-awful deficit created by the enormously BIG cost of this admistration’s 10 billion dollars per month WMD mission?
166. Lance | 09.08.08
Obama lost my vote the moment he chose Biden as a running mate: both are far too liberal. What we need today more then anything is unity, and in this McCain has a solid history. McCain has always reached across the aisle - while Obama has consistently pandered to every special interest group. The Economist said it right when the magazine said that Obama will have problems pulling in men in large part because he does not care about the needs of men. Until I start hearing Democrats talking about the Life Gap, the Education Gap, the Parental Rights Gap, the Reproductive Rights Gap, the Health Gap, and other gender gaps I care about as a man, they won’t get my vote. McCain will be the first republican presidential candidate I vote for in large part because the Democrats have nothing for me…if anything I am looked upon as the enemy. Why should I vote for such a party so full of misandry? At least McCain may make an honest attempt at listening to the needs of men…Obama/Biden are non-starters in that department!
167. Jim | 09.08.08
The Republicans showed us exactly what they do when they’re in power, they had a Congressional Majority for the first 6 years of the Bush admin. The voters kicked them out after 6 years of Insanely wreckless spending (deficits don’t matter, says the genius Cheney), unneccesary wars, and tax cuts mostly aimed at the wealthy to make sure there’s no way to pay for any of it in or lifetimes. And don’t forget the long lasting disastrous effects on the Constitution and Supreme Court. Oh, and you want renewable energy funding? Well, Mrs loudmouth OIL State Governor says Global Warming is ‘not man made’ (what a surprise!) so forget it. Drill drill drill, nuke nuke nuke, so we can have a 3 CENT reduction at the pump in TWENTY years, and nuclear waste everywhere. Nuclear also uses ALOT of water, which is fast becoming an expensive commodity. Seems to me the New Geothermal reported on a few weeks back is an actual permanent solution.
168. The man | 09.08.08
I want a president who will end the partisan fighting that is our current government. The current leaders of congress (Reid, Pelosi) seem to like this situation, but the result is nothing gets done. Until this is fixed nothing will get done.
Both presidential candidates want to fix this, but only one of them has a proven record of doing this. That same candidate has made the elimination of partisan politics a major point of his campaign.
That candidate is McCain.
I have not been a McCain fan in the past, but he is best positioned to get govt. working again. When govt. works properly then issues such as the economy get addressed.
Barrack Obama is an imprssive guy and I would vote for him is he had more experience. I believe he will be the first black man to be president of the united states, but not this time around.
169. Lance | 09.08.08
Dan, if 60%(!) of Americans feel they are living in misery, then Americans don’t know what misery is. That’s a completely preposterous number (talk about hyperbole - you should be a politician).
170. JoeFreekinBlow | 09.08.08
I clicked on this story thru Google. I am sorry I did. So many bigots. 84,000 fellow citizens out of jobs in July. A total of 600k plus for 2008. One in nine fellow citizens are two mortgage payments behind or in foreclosure. These citizens are my neighbors, friends of relatives. They are Americans just like you. And you can’t see past party politics.
171. Ivan | 09.08.08
“Your mad because mexicans are coming over to pick your crops so you can pay less at the register”
Nonsense. We are made because there are cutting people coming from other countries who are waiting in line doing it the right way. Ever try getting into another country without a passport? They deport you. It is racist to think that these people don’t know exactly what they are doing and we should excuse their behavior because of their ethnicity or country of origin. The argument about it somehow making my food prices lower is also unproven. More likely the owner’s of the businesses that hire the illegals keep the profit, they don’t altruistically pass them along to the consumer. Grow up. As far as your view on taxes, you work harder to pay taxes but if you work too hard (longer hour the same rate) you go up another tax bracket and there is a point where you are rewarded for your work by making LESS. If you think this is ok you are insane.
172. mb here we go again! | 09.08.08
Why does the republican agenda always turn the Presidential race into a religious Race and Evangelical vote. I cannot believe that some People of the United States would even consider another 4 years of the same old, same old Republican selfish agenda. The United States has lost alot of there identity just ask the rest of the world. Bring back Manufacturing and jobs and alot of the Economics will take care of itself. Concentrate on real issues and keep religion private too the individual.
173. Joan | 09.08.08
We need change guys, that’t it.
The problem is not being taxed more. The problem is that government spending needs to change. We need less redtape and more action.
I am voting for Obama because We need to make sure that this country gets the chance to make it (or break it); but we can’t have 4 more years of the same thing, which to tell you the truth is not working.
One the commenters said that the ever since the democrats took over congress it was when the economy went down. THIS IS NOT TRUE. The economy went down because of sup-prime lending (wich started in 2001) and because of the job losses caused by the boom of the world economy. This has nothing to do with politics, but we need a government that will be able to take measures to make sure our lifestyles are guarded.
This election is about not letting the top 20% of the population to run our country. This is also not about the bottom 20% that leeches of our country either. This is about the middle class that is becoming poorer and poorer by the minute. We need better taxation if that’s what it take to make sure that the middle class doesn’t dissapear, and believe me, middle class professionals are earning as much as they can, is not a matter of being lazy or drinking; its about being able to achieve the american dreams, and not giving it up because a dearone has cancer and cannot pay a hospital bill.
am talking too much.
174. vivifiant | 09.08.08
.
Just one other little thought… if Sarah Palin wants to have creationism taught in public schools she must be holier than the Pope (who officially accepted the evolution in VATICAN CITY, OCT. 23, 1996)
Sara Palin is consequently siding with a very small extreme fringe of Christians.
Vivifiant, Ohio
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175. Martie | 09.08.08
Re: taxes- Travis has it right. You don’t get something for nothing. I don’t mind taxes so much - it means I have a job and am helping to keep American together, infrastructure, military to protect us, codes and inspectors so our buildings don’t fall down because the builder slipped too much sand into the concrete, food inspectors, EPA, NASA, all of it. I do mind when they try to fund a “bridge to nowhere” in Alaska (which Palen supported before she opposed - so don’t buy the hype she is against pork spending). I would suggest that the first six years of the W administration were running on the good economy left by Clinton (remember the now-defunct budget surplus W inherited?) These last two years have been catch up with the failed policies of W et al. Even his first Treasury Secretary resigned over the second round of tax cuts. You can’t increase spending ala Iraq and decrease revenues ala tax cuts and corporate loopholes without shrinking what’s in the middle, and of course that’s the core of the problem. We have had 8 years of an administration that believes government is the problem instead of a solution to problems, except when it comes to the military, military spending, and don’t forget the no-bid contracts to buddies and contributors (what Truman would have labled war profitiering). The stench of corruption, cronyism and incompetence is stifling (lest we forget FEMA and New Orleans). Time for a change, and McCain isn’t it.
176. Creamsykle | 09.08.08
17. Wayne | 09.08.08
Here’s how I explained it to my child …
Obama helps mommies kill their babies.
============================================================
Typical Christian fear mongering. That’s all you know… do as i believe or be tortured forever!
177. Thoren58 | 09.08.08
A better question to ask than, “Are you better off today?” is “Are we better off today?” The columnist, Mark Shields wrote, “Are the strong more just and are the poor more secure?” I think the purpose of government is not to help you but to help us. I know government programs all have problems and I know to cynics that I appear foolish. But I am following my heart and doing what I think would be best for everyone, not just me. I have hope for a government with a strong Christian ethic and I don’t think claiming a strong faith necessarily leads to that. This year, I feel the candidate who has consistently spoken from a solid Christian ethic is Barak Obama and he has my vote. That doesn’t mean I believe he is the Messiah or anything like that. I simply believe he is most accurately expressing values reflective of a traditional, Christian ethic.
178. Jose | 09.08.08
The only reason Obama may not win is the extreme racism in the United States on the part of whites, who make up the largest voting bloc. The fact is that neither Obama nor McCain runs CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC, or FOX. Rupert Murdoch, Disney Corp., and the other conglomerate owners are the ones who control public opinion, polls, and the news you watch and hear on a daily basis. I keep hearing “Obama’s going to ruin the country,” but I can’t see how it will change at all, given that the Democrats already control the electorate, and there is no way McCain will ever get anything done as a Republican in the lead of a Democratic Congress-not to mention that Sarah Palin will be the head of the Senate, which will be Democratically controlled. The only way anything is going to be passed at all is under the Obama/Biden administration. Under McCain/Palin, you are talking about extreme political and legislative gridlock. Sure, hit Obama because of his tax plans. How is McCain going to pass anything at all? If white Americans weren’t so extremely racist today, or at least the majority, this election would be over.
179. Josh | 09.08.08
Wait you mean to tell me that Sarah Palin is a rock star? Wasn’t Obama accused/ criticized of being an uppity celebrity by McCain and some of his followers?
Something stinks about all this biased coverage for McCain.
Where is the dissent?
They were told they couldn’t cover the election anymore.
MSNBC has let Chris Mathews and Keith Olberman know that they will not be allowed to cover or make comments about the McCain/ Pailin ticket.
No good will come from this. We are passing through the jaws of ****.
180. John | 09.08.08
Let see 8 years of Clinton= best years of stock market,best years of realestate markets, and we were at peace and well respected around the world.
Under Bush we are going broke, stuck in an endless war that we enter under Bush lies, realestate market is lower than ever, we have lost all respect around the world…It amazes me how Republicans are so willing to give away money over seas,rebuild cities in countries that hate us but think helping other Americans is charity and we should never help our fellow Americans.There is something wrong with praising the effort to rebuild Iraq and ignoring our gulf coast and New Orleans..They are willing to spend a Billion dollars a week in Iraq but are outraged when we talk about basic medical care for Americans that have worked all their lives. They are willing to send our sons off to some oil war but wont do the same with their sons. They are willing to send the Sec of State around the world to complain about what others countries are doing but continue to do the same. It will take decades to get back the respect we once had throughout the world, keeping on the same path isnt the answer…..Osama Bin Laden is laughing at us and the way Bush and the republicans have ruined this nation, and our international reputation…McCain will be more of the same….
181. TX-Obama>McCain | 09.08.08
As a (hard working with a job so don’t go telling me to stop collecting unemployment, etc.) Texan, I disagree with the guy from San Antonio (with Ann Richards, Jim Hightower, and Molly Ivans hailing from our great state, that’s the best quote you could find?) I’m throwing my hat and cattle in with Redneck4Obama because:
1) In addition to paying for this atrocious war in Iraq and our bloated military (as well as some other programs), tax dollars, through subsidies and government projects, made possible the very infrastructure and research that gave us the internet we are all now using to debate whether or not we should be paying taxes.
2) If people don’t want a candidate who kills babies, why support one like McCain who is going to kill babies in other countries by dropping bombs on them, and kill our babies by allowing business to poison the air our babies breathe and the water our babies drink? Why support a candidate who is going to rob our babies of money, food, and health care to help pay for his and his friends’ mansions?
3) We have not had 50 years of Dems, so at worst, the blame for unemployment, etc. still existing should be shared by both sides. But, if instead of stopping at 50 years, we go back further, we see how Hoover (Republican) failed to lift the US out of a depression by offering a “get out of business’s way and let the poor lift themselves up by their bootstraps”. On the other hand, Roosevelt (Democrat) got this country UP and RUNNING again, by arranging for people to WORK for PAY (not handouts) to BUILD THE THINGS WE ALL USE AND NEED (like roads and bridges). It was called the WPA and the PWA. Look it up.
4) NAFTA, WTA, and all those other “great” ideas pushed by the neocons are what is sending all the jobs to China, India, etc. Anyone who thinks the Republicans are going to bring those jobs back should start lobbying to repeal the minimum wage today and learn to be content with the $2.35/hr they and their kids will be making in the sweatshops. (But, of course, that’s that’s how much they deserve to get paid, right? I can hear it now: “If only they weren’t so darn lazy, sleeping 3 hours every night when they could be working and showing their loving, benevolent bosses that they deserve $3/hr! What are those lazy 8-year-olds thinking?” Now that’s Christianity!)
5) I had to move from TX to MA for economic reasons. I tried looking for teaching work, but it never paid enough. (”If only those teachers would pull themselves up by their bootstraps and all become private tutors on the free market!”) So I’d like to talk to the ( no job security ) guy making almost $100k/yr as an adjunct up here and learn how he does it. He must be smarter than me. Too bad we can’t all be that smart and make that kind of money.
182. philko | 09.08.08
Point #1: If taxes are raised on corporations (as Obama plans), many jobs will be sent overseas. If taxes are lowered on corporations (as McCain plans), many jobs will be sent overseas.
Point #2: Blaming the Democratic Congress, which has been in power less than 2 years, for the current economic mess is akin to blaming Bush, who had been in power for less than 2 years, for 9/11. Yes, each of them *might* have been able to do something to prevent the disaster, but the seeds of the disaster were sown and well fertilized before they took power.
Point #3: Check out INDEPENDENT analyses of the candidates’ tax proposals before claiming one or the other will lower or raise taxes for certain segments of the population. (Here’s one for you, but it’s easy to Google others: http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/11/news/economy/candidates_taxproposals_tpc/)
Point #4: Come November, the least scary bogeyman is going to win, so get busy quick with trying to make the other person’s candidate look realllly scary.
183. cafenitro | 09.08.08
Lower taxes does not mean good jobs. Our best recent economy was under the higher-taxed Clinton Administration. We had the lowest unemployment and best jobs since John F. Kennedy’s time. Sane people don’t mind paying higher taxes for a better, stronger, happier country. Hording your money does not make a better society and therefor ultimately does not make you any happier.
184. Larry Talbot | 09.08.08
Osamabama needs to come out of the closet and admit that he is a Commie Muslim. A strange combination but what I read and read, it seems to be true and probably is. I wonder where he keeps his Koran?
185. Zak | 09.08.08
To the person who said that the republicans “rob from the poor so that the rich can get richer”… you’re mistaken… that is not the policy at all. The policy is not to rob from anyone but rather let each person keep the money that they earn for themselves, each according to their own talents and hard work. It is rather the democrats that are doing the robbing, stealing from those that earn the money to give it to those that did not earn it and do not deserve it. Democrats subsidize stupidity, and the end result of this feedback and control system (go take some electrical engineering classes if you don’t know what this is) is that there are more and more stupid people born every year to bad parents that have neither the skill nor the means to raise children. On the other hand, democrats aren’t the only ones guilty of foolish subsidies… the republicans make dumb subsidies to corporations instead of individuals, that’s the difference. Personally I would end both types of subsidies and let both individuals and corporations shand on their own two feet. Rather than that, spend the money on education, to give everyone an opportunity to excel. Educate more doctors and nurses, so that health care costs go down due to supply and demand for medical services being more in line with what’s desireable for the US as a whole. Then everyone wins.
187. Malik | 09.08.08
Old white man McSAME is gonna have a stroke when he see the “White” house painted a nice coat of black. An Palin is PUTIN. Obama bringing the power to tha people, and its about dam time that we get paid in full!!!
Sad, but true - IT PAYBACK TIME! Im gettin mine!!!
Obama! Obama! Obama! 08! 09! an 010! Every dam year for now on!
188. Zak | 09.08.08
I guess what bothers me about the democrat’s position… they’re in favor of abortion but opposed to capital punishment… maybe someday they’ll explain to me why they want to punish the innocent and free the guilty… in my experience, you get far better results in society if you protect the innocent and punish the guilty.
189. Dave | 09.08.08
Funny how the right always talks about how we will be bogged down in this socialist quagmire if a Dem gets elected did they forget about the balanced budget and prosperity we had under our last Dem? Well it has been replaced with the biggest deficit in history and unemployment through the roof. Oh and under bush my health care cost me $1200.00 a month with a $50.00 dollar co pay when it was $400.00 a month with a $10.00 co pay 8 years ago!!!!!!!!!!!
190. tamroi | 09.08.08
I am a white American. White Americans are quickly going the way of comfortable imperial Romans at the time a few years ago when they made official our current politically dominent cosmological opinion.
The US can get away with being unkind to poor Americans. That is not what the issue of US taxes and the US economy is about. The US can not get away with the fact that billions of non-white non-Americans are now a lot smarter than we are. It can not get away with continuing to be the main international reason for the misery of non-white non-Americans while the latter provide the non-miltaristic things we personally use.
The only serious qualification given by the latest convention for its candidate is that he bombed a lot of innocent non-whites and was a long-time prisoner for it.
Despite establishment efforts since the fall of Rome, not many people hold the opinion that having the opinion that a certain non-establishment hero rose from the dead is the key to immortality.
191. Bill | 09.08.08
National polls would mean something if we had a national election, but we don’t. We have state elections. Give it a week and we’ll see what happens then.
192. Chris | 09.08.08
Who would believe the republicans would bring in the first true communist subversive to our government. The left should give this woman a chance.
Last year, 2007, Alaska’s legislature approved a major tax increase on those windfall profits of the oil industry. The state of Alaska has received more than $10 billion this year from oil revenue.
Thanks to the addition of these new taxes, that is double the amount it received the year before. The idea on how to spend the money comes from Alaska’s governor Sarah Palin. Her administration now gives $1,200 to every single Alaskan to help them pay for gas. On top of that, each resident will receive an annual dividend of $2,000 from an oil-wealth savings account. Think what a family of 7 could do with that money (Gov. Palin has 7 members in her family).
That’s a fancy way of describing wealth redistribution , i.e., downright communism. And that is real change we can believe in. Will she do the same for the Lower 48 states?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvPNXYrIyI
Congrads secession party just 6 months ago. 7 year membership as subverive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PizrJLV30yI&feature=related
God will punish America – her pastor knows America is evil just listen
Two months before the election we are not looking into her background and subversion of the U.S. No. we are preoccupied with her instant celebrity status. Her coming interview with ABC morning talk show host rahter than a real reporter who spent a career investigating politicians is the biggest joke of all.
Michelle Obama says she is proud of her country for the first time, and the media goes crazy on her disloyalty. This women and her husband are communits and secessionist, therefore the most unamerican couple to be elected, and we are preoccupied with her being a preppy soccer mom.
Well, in my state I want to know why Arnold Schwareznegger hasn’t go those big fact checks from the oil companies for every citizen of California. What’s wrong with him? Common Arnie, get us on that gravy train, too.
193. Rob Stoddard | 09.08.08
Allow me to put this into perspective. There was a day when a millionaire was Daddy Warbucks, the obscenely rich feasting off of gold platters during dinner. I, on the other hand, am trying to save up for my property tax payment here in California, land of the left. I am less than a paycheck from being broke, and my single saving grace is the fact that I own my home. The other day, my wife and I counted up our assets just as an accountant would, and discovered that our worth was over $1.5 million.
So the moment you think that a millionaire is rich, think again. Today, to be able to retire, it is suggested that one accrue over $10 million.
Another thing, conservative isn’t necessarily rich. Conservative people want their rights to stay theirs. They want a minimalist government and fair trade. I wouldn’t call the Republicans today very conservative, however, I wouldn’t ever consider a Democrat as conservative. What I find odd is there are those who don’t trust their government, but they vote to expand and empower their government. Most Democrats are very confused in this manner. Don’t think that Democrats won’t start wars either, Clinton started a war in Yugoslavia, enabling the Kosovo Liberation Army to take control of Kosovo, and infiltrate Europe with heorin. Clinton also started a tussle in Iraq just to deflect the public’s attention away from his extramarital affairs.
194. Jamo | 09.08.08
I tend to be more of a Greenpeace conservative, a crunchy con, and I would love to see some of the promises made by the dems come to pass. But …
First, if the dems cannot countenance any legitimate conversation on abortion, it just is not going to happen. It isn’t even a matter of religion, it’s just a matter of inflicting a horrible chemical scalding and dismemberment upon a baby waiting to be born. Women naturally have plenty of reproductive choice, but reproduction has already taken place when the child is aborted.
Secondly, if you all knew the level of corruption in Illinois and Chicago, you would not inflict it upon the nation by voting for Obama. That’s what he is and it’s what you’re going to get. The whole Obama candidacy is a put up of Mayor Daley’s machine so he can get $50 Billion for his Olympics 2016 shot, and every thing else he wants, out of Washington DC. It is all bogus. The only difference between the Republicans and Democrates in Illinois is who controls the corruption. It will be inflicted on the nation. They don’t know any better here but, believe me, you don’t want it.
195. Ment | 09.08.08
Wayne
It is simpletons like you that are helping run the country into the ground. And of course your child will be another simpleton because of your “enlightened” teachings.
Btw. being pro-choice never meant that you’re encouraging mommies to kill babies. No one is putting a gun to their heads. “Mommies” decide on their own what to do and if there’s a God, HE..not you… will judge them for it.
In the mean time, the country is heavily indebted, riddled with lousy policies, foreign and domestic, because jackasses like you view a brain as an unnecessary gift from God.
To the other simpletons who come up with “Small Government Good, Big Government Bad” and other jewels like these…
How do you explain that the Scandinavian countries are at the very top of any rankings you throw at them, happiness, education, employment, wealth, health care? They are BIG GOVERNMENT BIG TAXATION countries after all.
Also, big companies are typically global companies. Saving them money by not taxing them does not lead to more employment in America….most likely more money for them to create new factories…in China or better yet, line the CEO’s executives pockets and provide them with “golden parachutes” for mediocre performance.
And last but not least… both Reagan and Bush Senior (and Clinton) INCREASED TAXES ON THE VERY WEALTHY at least 6 times in order to balance the budget. Bush Junior in his wisdom, CUT them.
196. Dianne George | 09.08.08
How can you agree with a Senator who, when asked to vote in the Senate, usually votes PRESENT?
197. Dianne George | 09.08.08
PERHAPS I SHOULD CLARIFY MY QUESTION ABOUT THE SENATOR WHO USUALLY VOTES PRESENT….
ITS OBAMA. JUST SHOW UP AND SMILE. HE ISN’T TOO GOOD AT TAKING POSITIONS AND FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN, EVEN UNDERSTANDING THEM.
WHEN ASKED ABOUT WHAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE ABOUT THE INVASION OF GEORGIA BY THE RUSSIA,HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE IT TO THE UNITED NATIONS.
DUH….RUSSIA HAS VETO POWER THERE!
198. Lance K | 09.08.08
The poll just shows that “thinking voters” are now waking up to the facts that this Barrack Hussein Obama, aka, BO is just an “empty suit” running for Pres…the facts about him are becoming evident,i.e.,: thatBO LACKS all the SKILLS needed for one as Pres., that BO is woefully LACKING in the EXPERIENCE required for the most demanding job on the planet, that BO is a product of the Chicago ages old “Boss Tweed” type of political machine, that BO is most liberal candidate to ever run for office of Pres., that BO has no MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE, “NADA”, that the most BO’s ever managed is a 20ft X 30ft Sen. office…that BO has never served our country, etc., etc., and the list goes on and on, so do your own research/homework and don’t rely solely on the bias media and news hacks, and if you do that you too will a “thinking voter”, that realizes BO is an empty suit running for President.
199. Dave | 09.08.08
By the way the whole republican being for smaller gov. and more freedom is a farce (like most of what they say)
If they are freedom first then why don’t they want you to have control of your own body?
200. Bill | 09.08.08
I am astonished at the decidedly UNCHRISTIAN postings on this site!!! Slurs, innuendos,outright lies. All in the name of maintaining the power of the neo-cons. The Christian Base. SO QUICK to run to the Old Testament to support some ridiculous position or promote some bizarre prediction. What ever happened to following Jesus? Where’s the following of the Beatitudes? Where’s the forgiveness? Where’s the not worrying about the mote in your brother’s eye while you have a beam in your own? Ever hear of the Keating 5? Tell me about Chicago Politics after THAT one. John McCain himself had bragged he voted with President Bush 90% of the time when McCain was seeking the nomination. It was on Fox News and you can find the entire statement on YouTube. Now it’s all downplayed as “just procedural votes.” John McCain mocked and scorned the suggestion of keeping tired properly inflated until EVERY knowledgeable motoring source, including NASCAR, came out and said doing so and keeping your car in tune were the most effective ways to save gasoline. John McCain mocked Obama for suggesting we go after Al Qaueda targets of opportunity in Pakistan, saying we would be attacking a friendly nation. now the US government has done so repeatedly and with good effect. John McCain SCORNED Obama’s call for timetables for troop withdrawals in Iraq as “surrender,” now the Iraqi government INSISTS on them and the Bush Administration is struggling to find words that mean the same thing but don’t exactly say timetable, like the vacuous “Time Horizons.” The Republicans chant “drill, drill, drill” but apparently don’t believe in free markets or American ingenuity enough to force oil companies to give up the millions of acres of leased drilling rights they currently have in the “use it or lose it” legislation. And when you talk about the Democrats leading a “do nothing” congress since 2006, you CONVENIENTLY omit the fact that Republicans have broken the record for the number of filibusters in a session of congress, doing EVERYTHING THEY CAN to tie up legislation that could be helping America. The entire Republican convention consisted of speakers mocking, lying, taunting, and wisecracking, but not ONE tangible program, not ONE mention of how they would produce any change. JUST MORE OF THE SAME. They hypocrisy is overwhelming. The Earmark Princess from the Earmark Kingdom running on a record of reforming earmarks and McCain blathering on about how he will not sign any legislation with earmarks. Palin was against the bridge to nowhere after she was for it, but you note they KEPT THE MONEY!!!! Some reform! The only change the middle class and working class can expect from the Republicans is CHUMP CHANGE, as always.
201. Bilal | 09.08.08
Republicans are destroying the world. we a fighting a useless war for a cause that changes every six months. We’re sabre rattling at russia whose economy is terrible and doesn’t war anymore than we do. America is on the brink of losing everything that makes us the most powerful country in the world. And all of this happened during the last eight years. Instead of being fooled into believing that mccain is so pro- christian because he’s a pro-life canidate how about you look at his track record the last few years and who he’s been voting with. Surf the web look at how the rest of world views america. We are on the verge of losing support from the people of the world and soon after the Goverments of these naions will soon follow. McCain talks about spending money but this war is the number on econmic plauge in the world. We need a canidate whose for diplomacy and flexing the muscle.
202. Dave | 09.08.08
By the way the whole republican being for smaller gov. and more freedom is a farce (like most of what they say)
If they are freedom first then why don’t they want you to have control of your own body??
204. Rich Ord | 09.08.08
The Democrats are the party of higher taxes and more government programs. Why can’t some of you accept the fact that despite your income it is un-American to tax people as high as Obama wants to tax them? After all, the United States is not a communist country where hard earned wealth is redistributed. Vote for Obama and you are voting against capitalism and freedom. It is really that simple.
205. mb here we go again! | 09.08.08
It’s the kind of attitude that Creamsykle has, that the majority of reasonable people base there opinion on the typical Baptist and Evangelical ideological thinking.I’ll bet your for capital punishment. Double standered. Anyways move on.
206. Tosher | 09.08.08
I find it really concerning how easily people get swayed by things. First of all, the dummies who call Obama a Muslim are probably the same folks who think Iraq caused 9/11… Why is there so much ignorance? Otherwise, I can understand why some people would be moved by the Palin pick I guess, but do we want another George Bush, someone extreme and unqualified who has other people making decisions for him or God forbid makes some stupid ones on his own? We need to know who’s going to be in the White house possibly. Obama, he may not have as much experience as McCain, granted, but we know EXACTLY where he stands on foreign policy and he’s been involved for years now as well.. And please, for those who are Christian, there’s no place for bigotry and racism, let alone from Religious folks… If you see it somewhere, in any form, stand up against it. We have so much tough talk and pumping up of conservatives with values discussions, but I often feel very offended by the rhetoric (I’m Indian and not Christian but have nothing against Christianity)…
207. Charles | 09.08.08
I agree with Larry, the Gospel and right wing politics are mutually exclusive. You can’t serve both God and Mammon. Don’t take my word for it. Read the book of Matthew yourself. It is the nature of evil to pretend to be good. The republican right are so much like the Greedy Old Pharisees it’s startling.
Using government to help people is the Christian thing to do. Using it to assist in their exploitation is downright wicked.
208. DKint | 09.08.08
It is amazing how divided this country is. Vitually everyone sees things thru a very narrow prism that reflects their pre-existing beliefs. Christians are among the worst. Obama is a democrat so he is for higher taxes, more abortions, more bigger & badder gov, etc. Don’t even start with the Muslim, unpatriotic nonsense. The man has been recognized as a Christian even by those who actually understand & disagree with his positions. Mc Cain I am not so sure about, but as they say only God knows. Be careful as he seems so reasonable & sincere, yet the facts reflect he would be even more dangerous than the current occupent. If your legit research does not reflect this please email me. I am also concerned about the profoundly unChristian behaviour of Sarah Palin. I’m not talking about “stretching the truth” which Obama is very guilty of as well. Is there an * in the Bible I’m not aware of that says lying is ok in a political context?
Good news is whoever God wills will win for both good & evil. But I don’t believe that relieves us of our responsibility to dig a little deeper and try to overcome our biases. I know a lot of people that are diehard Repubs, Dems, & neither that are great people. Let’s start electing those who will bring us together & end this awful polarization.
209. DKint | 09.08.08
It is amazing how divided this country is. Vitually everyone sees things thru a very narrow prism that reflects their pre-existing beliefs. Christians are among the worst. Obama is a democrat so he is for higher taxes, more abortions, more bigger & badder gov, etc. Don’t even start with the Muslim, unpatriotic nonsense. The man has been recognized as a Christian even by those who actually understand & disagree with his positions. Mc Cain I am not so sure about, but as they say only God knows. Be careful as he seems so reasonable & sincere, yet the facts reflect he would be even more dangerous than the current occupent. If your legit research does not reflect this please email me. I am also concerned about the profoundly unChristian behaviour of Sarah Palin. I’m not talking about “stretching the truth” which Obama is very guilty of as well. Is there an * in the Bible I’m not aware of that says lying is ok in a political context?
Good news is whoever God wills will win for both good & evil. But I don’t believe that relieves us of our responsibility to dig a little deeper and try to overcome our biases. I know a lot of people that are diehard Repubs, Dems, & neither that are great people. Let’s start electing those who will bring us together & end this awful polarization.
210. Susan | 09.08.08
Dawn you are right on…
Larry let me ask you a question - who do you think is going to pay for the Free Health Care??? the Government? WRONG- you, me and everyone else. It will come from the American People, OUR TAXES. So about 4 to 5 months of our earnings will go to taxes so basically we will be working for free for 4 months so that I can support you and your issues and problems and all the rest of the people that just don’t feel like working or what ever…
This country was built by Blood, Sweat and Tears- by HARDWORK!!! People working day in and day out, not by sitting around and doing nothing.
WAKE UP AMERICA!!!! WE HAVE RIGHT TO HAVE 7 HOUSES IF WE WORK OUR BUTTS OFF FOR IT- IT IS OUR RIGHT AS AMERICANS. Good Grief, what type of nation are we becoming- just look at the minds of it’s People and that will give you a clue!
Go McCain and Palin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
211. John Shermer | 09.08.08
McCain is a fraud desperately trying to become whatever the Republican base asks him to be. Palin is insane. Outlaw abortion for any reason. Teach creationism. Prays to God for our troops in Iraq to do God’s work. Is America that lost? Is the Republican party that nuts? How can 50% of America be that crazy? It’s shameful. It’s embarassing.
Meanwhile you have Barack Obama who track record over the last 15 years of is something amazing. Did you know that he did not only graduate from Harvard Law but was the President of the Harvard Law Review? And he was the first black president of that. That after graduating from Harvard Law instead of taking a 6 figure job on Wall Street he headed back to the streets of Chicago to start actually helping making people’s lives better.
On the other had you have McCain who’s claim to fame was that he was tortured. Also he literally has so many homes and properties that he can’t exactly tell you how many he has.
His wife looks like a cardboard cut out.
Michelle seems warm and alive.
McCain says he’ll change Washington but he’s been there for 20 plus years and could have changed things at any time. But he didn’t do as much over the last 20 years as he ‘talking’ about doing now.
Barack will cut taxes for 95% of the working class. Everybody under $150,000.
McCain thinks wealthy begins at $5MM.
Is our country composed of that many religious fanatics that they will actually put religion before the welfare of their own country.
Barack and Biden need to take off the gloves and smack McCain/Palin right on the chin.
Republicans are generally either fear-based, ultra religious, power hungry or uneducated. There are exceptions but that is about 90% true.
The most detailed commentaries are from people coming from the left. The shortest and most vile comments come from people on the right. That is also about 90% true.
I am saddened by the mental midgets who don’t know how to think for themselves but unfortunately somehow realize when the date is November 4th.
212. Duncan | 09.08.08
Obama and Palin both live in mansions they did not pay for, but at least palin did not get her current residence through a bag man’s largess.
213. oneapart | 09.08.08
I am a college student, paying my way through school by working two jobs and taking a full class load. I do not have health coverage in the state that I live in, I recently sold my car so that I could pay off a loan as I could no longer afford gas/insurance/repairs (a car that I bought in high school with money I made). I did not ask anyone for help, I went to a state school so that I could pay my way through. I struggle every month to make tuition/rent/ and bills, which I pay for unassisted.
So don’t tell me that I don’t work hard enough, don’t tell me that I want a hand-out, don’t tell me that I don’t know what is going on. You can all argue about how hard things are for the ordinary American, but I am an ordinary American, I already know.
I hope that next flu season when I am sick and exhausted and pushed to the limit again during finals that I can afford to go to the doctor. I pray that I get to go home and see my family for Christmas this year.
This is my first presidential election, and I will vote for Barrack Obama. I will vote for him because before Bush became my president, he was my governor, and I saw him destroy my state and watched hard-line conservatives let him destroy my nation. I will vote for him because I am a biochemist and I know how much it costs to run labs and take MRIs and create drugs and split bones and draw blood. I will vote for him because I intend to be a public servant, I INTEND to be MIDDLE class the rest of my life, so in 6 years when I finish my doctorate I need for there to be a middle class.
Don’t patronize me because I am 21. I am a young female scientist, but just because I am young and female doesn’t mean that I don’t know what’s going on. No, I don’t have 10 presidential elections under my belt to give me the experience I need to circle a name on a piece of paper, but I have a high enough level of education to know how to click on one on a computer screen.
214. Asfintit | 09.08.08
Yes… they want the freedom to carry a gun, however not the freedom to have control over one’s bodies. Take abortion back to the streets Sarah, kill more women than just mammalian embryos.
215. McCain Voter = Short-Term Thinker | 09.08.08
Dear Voters,
Please vote for Barack Obama.
Why?
-Smart, makes well-planned decisions.
-Will invest in infrastructure that we all use - Energy and Transportation
-Not wasting money on fabricated wars and tax cuts for the rich (>3 Trillion $$$)
Vote in McCain, and I will leave the country.
I work in health care.
If you vote in McCain, when you get sick, I will be gone.
I do not feel alone.
God Bless America. Do her right.
217. Roy | 09.08.08
I’ve seen a lot of presidential elections (14), and have the advantage of historical perspective. After the shame of Watergate and Vietnam, the country was in worse turmoil than today. The parallel tracks are pretty clear when one considers the 1974 mid term elections happened in the previous election cycle.
Gerald Ford had assumed the presidency of an admittedly corrupt administration, only a couple months before the congressional majority changed to the Democrats.
By 1976, the country was desperate for “change”. Jimmy Carter won in a very close election, and we suffered through four years of economic disaster. President Ford lost a close election, because he did not distance himself sufficiently from the previous administration. In my opinion, I think Ford could have pulled us out of the mess in the late 70’s, he was a moderate centrist, the very reason he was confirmed almost unanimously. .
John McCain is in effect, subtlety creating a new approach that is in effect a “third” party; in line with some of the previous administration, but well aware of the failings of it. Putting Washington on notice to clean up earmarks, working in a bi-partisan way and doing everything possible to fix our energy reliance on foreign oil.
This represents change in a better way than Obama’s “Jimmy Carter Plan” that promises more taxes, a weak military and complete economic failure, including holding citizens of our country for some 444 days and witnessing Russia’s occupation of Afghanistan, and fuel shortages and interest rates that nearly bankrupted America.
So bad, that Ted Kennedy, of his own party challenged him for the 1980 presidential primary. Of course, we realized our folly by 1980, and Reagan won in a landslide. Reagan wasn’t anybody to mess with, and Iran knew that. The Soviets also knew it, and the Soviet Union crumbled.
The whole concept that Senator McCain will clean up Washington, work across the aisle and acknowledge there have been missteps in the previous eight years is a very reasoned approach that will resonate with voters. He also will stand up to our enemies; not playing a wishy-washy, undecided game of fence sitting.
The pick of Sarah Palin is perfectly positioned to be a sure passing of the torch to the future energy intense world of the future years, who also is an outsider, and reformer. Granted, she might only get 10-20 percent of “Hillary” voters, but that in itself may be enough to win this election. There is no denying that the liberals that are so “pro-European” cannot argue that the Europeans have found women are perfectly capable to be in the top position of government, let alone Ms. Palin (with an 80+% approval rating as Alaska’s governor) as the number two.
Let’s not repeat the Jimmy Carter years. In four or eight years, Ms. Palin will be more than ready to take the torch; in the meantime, Senator McCain can lead us out of this crisis.
This quote is taken from the book “Carter Presidency and Beyond” does THIS remind you of anyone?
“What Carter had that his opponents did not was the acceptance and support of elite sectors of the mass communications media. It was their favorable coverage of Carter and his campaign that gave him an edge, propelling him rocket-like to the top of the opinion polls.
This helped Carter win key primary election victories, enabling him to rise from an obscure public figure to President-elect in the short space of 9 months.”
218. kristianjl | 09.08.08
If the Democratic party primaries were any indication, the Republicans are in real trouble. Voting records were shattered nationwide. You couldn’t even walk down the hall in our precinct. None of the old timers had seen anything like it. This will carry over. Obama - Biden will take the electoral college and they will be sworn in come January 2009.
219. Rich Hanner | 09.08.08
Why is it that we keep seeing Dems say things like “the Republicans took more of our freedoms”? what freedoms have you lost? Name them for us unenlightened masses, won’t you please? You harp on the “Gay Agenda” of republicans…have you noticed that there are more state now that allow gay marriage than before 2000? How about the Abortion agenda? has ANY president EVER affected that? If Roe v. Wade were going to be overturned as the Democratic supporters claim that the next republican would do in EVERY campaign in the last 30 years, don’t you think it would have been done by now? There has, after all, been a Republican in office for 20 of the last 28 years. And tax breaks on for the rich? I cashed rebate checks more than once while Bush has been in office…did you send YOURS back? I didn’t think so. I have also seen a decrease in the amount of taxes that I pay,and I’m right in the middle of the middle class.
While you’re caught up in pointing fingers at Bush for all the financial woes, keep in mind that most of that really started around January 2007….any guesses what else happened around that time? Yep, you got it….Democrat controlled Senate & House!
220. Aaron Truitt | 09.08.08
I’m noticing that the closer we get to the election, and the better McCain’s chances are of winning, the more psychotic the Liberals (including most of major media) are becoming.
People see this and it scares them. It’s the obvious insanity of the Left that made me an independent about 15 years ago (the “Mute Newt” thing wasn’t even remotely appropriate), I expect many, many more to see the light during this contentious race.
221. Anthony | 09.08.08
What can we say?
The arrogant Obama combined with the stupid, failed leadership of the Democratic party just handed the election to McCain and Palin. Let’s just hope McCain+Palin is not Bush+Cheney.
The future of Clinton just keeps looking brighter and brighter!
222. Canadian | 09.08.08
I love Americans.. Some are dumb, a lot are smart.. majority are hard working.. (I spent 10 years in PHX). Your political system is awesome.. electing house, senate and the president keeps the right balance and accountability.. too bad Canadians don’t understand what little representation we are getting..
223. Rich Hanner | 09.08.08
Dave….Where are you getting your healthcare, buddy? I pay Blue cross $125 a month with a $25 copay…You might want to exercise your freedom of choice on that one.
224. John | 09.08.08
The self-centered, self-righteous extreme Left still cannot fathom why all Americans do not agree with their politics. When someone votes against one of their chosen candidates, they deride that person as “stupid,” “racist,” “elitist”–about every pejorative adjective one can name. And I was once dumb enough to think that Democrats really believed in tolerance.
225. Pax | 09.08.08
22 years in the Senate and what does Senator McCain have to show? Someone please tell me 3 things that Senator McCain has championed in his 22 years that he STILL believes in now that he is the Republican nominee. Something that he didn’t flip flop on when he decided he wanted to be POTUS. I will take the 173 days of Senator Obama and his “meager accomplishments” than the political expediency and vascillation of McCain anyday. McCain had his chance- he failed. This country cannot afford another term of Bush.
226. Sombahde | 09.08.08
The same problems have faced our nation for more than 2 decades; high cost of health care, social security, lost jobs to foreign competition, dependency of foreign oil, broken education system, etc. The ruling parties, Democrats & Republicans, have promised every national election to solve these problems, yet nothing happens. Regardless of the outcome of this election, the only change that’s coming is higher taxes and more debt. Neither candidate has the solution to save our great nation. It’s the hard work and ingenuity of Americans that drive our economy. The clowns in Washington are just another hurdle we must overcome to compete in the marketplace.
227. Mary McCurry | 09.08.08
“And, although no one seems to mention this, our economy was just fine for the first six years of Bush’s presidency. The decline seemed to start just about the time the democrats took control of congress and the senate in the mid-term elections.” AMEN to that!! And the low approval ratings of GWB are still nearly double that of Congress since Dems took over. Having nothing to lose but my soul let me publicly state that I think George W Bush is the best President that I’ve seen in my 61 years and John McCain with Sarah Palin are our hope for the future.
McCain/Palin ‘08
228. vb | 09.08.08
It’s disturbing to hear religious arguments thrown into the mix. Religion has no place here.
229. Common Man | 09.08.08
Larry Talbot: How can you read with your head up your ****. What are your sources please cite them before you continue to slander the preseidential candidate of 1/2 of this great country. God Bless America!!!
230. Ed | 09.08.08
Right on Larry! To those “non-millionaires”, who have piled on Larry — it is you who are so gullible — letting the Republican right (wealthy) sell you down the river, while jus juken it up. You may not live long enough to see what you are permitting the wealthy to do to you; but your children and grandchildren will. They will, unfortunately, inherit the results of your stupidity.
231. Rob | 09.08.08
This issue for me is fiscal conservatism versus the recklessness we’ve had over the past 8 years. With the Republicans, I really fear that we are going to get more of the same borrow and spend fiscal policy, with the resulting ballooning deficit and weak dollar. With Democrats, one can at least hope for a Clintonian policy of spending what you are willing to pay for.
I just can no longer vote for a party that has done such damage to our country’s finances. The last 20 years of Republicans in the White House, starting with Reagan, has seen a reckless disregard for sound fiscal policy. That, to me, is this country’s greatest national security threat. And it seems to that making the problem worse is a core value of the Republican party at this point.
232. WW Terry | 09.08.08
What is happening here? I have never read so much hate and anger. Is your marriage that bad. Smile, have some happiness in your life. Remember Latin word for left is SINISTER. Bring happiness in your life, become a rightwinger, become a winner in life. Caio!
233. John Shermer | 09.08.08
And if you want to see how Republicans spend our money as compared to Dems take a look at this National Debt chart.
Republicans suck.
http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/cgi-bin/blogs/media/budget_deficit_chart.gif
234. AsburyforObama | 09.08.08
“81. Brian | 09.08.08
So, who wants 1/2 their checks taken to feed and home the woman who cant keep her legs shut, has 8 kids, and refuses to work… or the man who uses all of his money on crack, or liquor?”
I guess this is compassionate conservatism at its best, I wonder what Jesus meant by loving your neighbor, guess it meant abandon those in need, and spit on those who don’t have it as good as we do. I’m sorry, but as a Pastor myself reading through these responses I am deeply ashamed if this is the response of CHRISTIANS in the United States. Shameful, nay…sinful.
235. D. Torrance | 09.08.08
Few comments:
“The only reason Obama may not win is the extreme racism in the United States” Mostly true. You really do have to wonder what the democratic party has been thinking for the past 8 years. Gore was the wrong candidate because he was associated with the disgraced Clinton administration and was not personable. Still, he would have won had it not been for Nader. Kerry was too elitist and geographically challenged (much of the rest of the country hates New England). Then, in 2008 they give us a choice of a woman hate by conservatives and a black man with a muslim name! In a country that still has many sexist and racist people. They are getting worse at this not better! And that woman promising to essentially bring Bill Clinton a 3rd term in the oval office. It doesn’t really matter whether they were qualified or not…their minority status couple with their baggage would be a non-starter with just enough people to throw the election to the Republicans. I was hoping it was going to be Edwards because he seemed the most electable…glad that didn’t happen! Given such bad choices, any reasonable person would begin to wonder whether our 2 party system is really an illusion of a 2 party system.
“That’s fine, because the system will likely collapse under our next president, so I’d rather have history blame it on 12 years of George Bush Jr. in power than “8 years of George Bush Jr. followed by a failed attempt at kicking the dead horse known as America by the young, naive Barack Obama.””
Exactly. Whoever wins inherits a disaster and won’t be able to clean it up in 4 years. They might not be able to clean it up in 8 years. Even if Obama doesn’t invade Iran as McCain will, just getting out of Iraq will cost a fortune. Do you know who buys the most US debt? The US government! Kind of nifty isn’t it - would we all like to be able to lend ourselves our home mortgages! After that - it’s the Chinese and Japanese. Now would be a good time to start learning Chinese. In 20 years, you’re going to need it to do well in the business world.
236. judi | 09.08.08
Micheal you are for sure a stupid male pig that does not want any woman in any control and it is males like you that keep messing up our great country. Palin did not support the bridge to nowhere she sympathized with those that wanted it. get your facts straight and i also suppose since she has five kids she can’t help run our country. get over yourself and realize that this is 2008 not 1500. it males like you that make me want to throw up!
237. Fed Up | 09.08.08
To Reason,
Strange choice of handles for someone who seems to lack any sense of reason.
You should read the Patriot Act, investigate the Bush/Cheney illegal wiretapping, read any of the transcripts of the Abu Grahib investigations, maybe show us the Weapons of Mass Destruction, explain more than one half trillion dollars wasted in Iraq while Americans are losing their homes,their jobs, thier businesses and their way of living, explain Afghanistan, tell us how gas prices rose at the pump in conjunction with rising crude prices but as crude oil falls pump prices remain the same, justify no-bid multi-billion dollar contracts awarded to Haliburton, justify Blackwater’s illegal private army on U.S. soil, explain the Repulican deregulation of the biggest financial instituions which brought about their ongoing collapse, tell us all how Iraq was responsible for 9/11, tell us why Bin Laden has not been brought to justice, enlighten all of us as to how McCain is an agent of change when he lines up behind the Bush/Cheney crime families on every issue. I could go on and on but I know how pointless it is in attempting to deal with sheep like you. The Republican’s are for total deregulation coupled with unbridled greed and we are all seeing what that combination produces. In closing let me say that I want no part of a born again, snake handling, speaking in tongues nut case involved in any aspect of my life and any woman who doesn’t want her freedom of choice ripped from her by a religious zealot should stand up to these criminals and vote Democrat.
238. aGermangun | 09.08.08
An old soldiers viewpoint.
We do not understand you Americans over here. Every little thing that you don’t like, you start to point fingers at each other. You are like a bunch of children — he did it — it is his fault. It’s as if you have lost your ability to reason. Just like prison inmates all around the world — no one is guilty.
Everyone knows what’s best and everyone else is stupid. It seems so strange to us how you people knock and tear down your own father land. Wasn’t it one of your very own popular movie stars (I think Alic Baldin, or something) said he was going to leave America if your president Bush won last time ? Did he ? And your Rosean Barr singing your American anthem and then spitting on the ground ? We heard this even improved her ratings.
Your reverend Wright thing had us all rolling round on the floor. He is a man of the cloth ? And justifies his actions because of the color of his skin. Are these things what is left of the once great America today ? Is this what your obsession with freedom has brought you ?
This is what the world thinks. It’s as if you have the freedom to kill one another, and at the same time the freedom to not have to go to prison for it. Are you sure your great all encompassing freedom is not a cancer in sheep’s clothing ? It seems to be eating you from within.
We do not look at your government, they are not the people, they are your elite. We look at the people to form our opinion of a country. The people are the country. With your news media these are the kind of people we see. I am sure that you have many people in your country that are not of this type. But the world doesn’t seem to know that.
Judging from your people that we see you are a very bitter country and full of hatred, even for yourselves, how sad. I am sure you can blame this attitude on one of your political parties. Just pick one. What a joke. If America is so bad, why does everybody want in and nobody wants out ? And now it seems that America cannot even make the undesirables leave. Another joke.
Most of us who are reasonably comfortable no longer have a desire to even go visit the once great America, we would be afraid to walk down your streets. Only those who wish to get on your great welfare system are willing to go there. Americans have always wanted to have their cake and eat it to. Here in Europe we learned long ago that it cannot be done.
But the America news media has the public thinking that if they elect “the chosen one” it can be done. Another joke. What little American news we get over here it has become very obvious that the American news media has become extremely biased in favor of one of your candidates. We sometimes are able to get your CNN news, under the table, we do not have the freedom of speech that you do.
I don’t know about other American news media, but over here people are beginning to laugh and call them BCNN for Biased Cable News Network. Another joke. How can you Americans believe your own news media ? America, spoiled cry babies — the rest of the world is laughing at you.
You are putting on a show that your own Holywood cannot match. We will be sorry to see the show end in November
239. L.B.E.G. | 09.08.08
My, how polarized we are! I used to be a Republican. I am a Christian. I am concerned about where the Republican party has gone in the last dozen years. It is not the party I once belonged to. For example, many of these posts advocate a position of financially taking personal responsibility for making one’s bed and lying in it while giving minimally, through taxes, to a government they feel should not have to provide for its citizens. That would include many elderly, orphans, disabled people, the unemployed, and mentally ill homeless people. With so much of the current Republican party also labeling themselves Christians, among whom I count some of my friends, I don’t understand how and where “Christianity” applies to this way of living, thinking, voting and acting? My former Republican party was more truly compassionate in its views and its votes. What brought the change?
I left the Republican party reluctantly at first, but have no problems with that choice today because the way of life I lead, trying to follow the Golden Rule and loving my neighbor as myself, comes first. Some call that being a Christian. It seems hard to know anymore, as demonstrated by some of these “Christian” posts to a thoughtful paper that happens to be called “The Christian Science Monitor”. Many of these posts aren’t written in the same spirit that this newspaper was founded nor within which its articles are written. Yet I appreciate this forum and the opportunity for all of us to speak out, as these comments help clarify things for me.
When a VP candidate speaks out in a convention as negatively about another as Palin did last week of Obama, and her party rejoices and dances and roars in approval, that clarifies and confirms for me that my appreciation of civility and brotherly love expressed in a “Christian” fashion in speech and action doesn’t seem to be the same Christian-ly appreciation that the Republican party of today is presenting.
This plus many of the comments posted here help confirm that this Independent will be voting Democrat because my humanity and not my finances, my single issue concerns, or political party comes first.
In the meantime, may we all rediscover our common brotherhood more easily somehow soon in the future than witnessed during this election time.
240. Anne Russell PhD | 09.08.08
Palin reminds me a great deal of Chance the Gardener in the wonderful Peter Sellars film “Being There,” uttering simplistic statements which are perceived by her adoring Republican hard-core as profound simply because they come from the congenial lips of an obscure hockey mom with an out-of-date hairdo and good legs. As a women’s-lib mother of four daughters, I ask myself, is this why I marched for equal rights for women?
241. Dan | 09.08.08
Anyone who espouses the GOP talking point that the economy starting going south when Pelosi became speaker of the house is just full of shi*. Does Bush admin. take any responsibility for anything negative? Remember the economy was going south at the end of the Clinton admin. according to Bush admin., so Bush inherited the problem economy. Please people just take a look at the stock markets during Bush’s years. The averages have all just stagnated. There have big days of gains and big days of losses, but overall it is just been pretty flat. So anyone who thinks that the Dems have caused the weak economy is just flat out partisan stupid. I can see the under the surface racism rearing its ugly head. That is what is happening here and it is a sad commentary on American life.
242. ModDem | 09.08.08
Aaron Truitt
I find it funny that you talk about the Left saying innappropriate things and yet if you go look at what the Right has said about Obama you could easily come to the same conclusion. Face facts. People are people. And no matter which side of the political spectrum you are on you will have idiots spouting hatred. The bottom line is what do you believe in? What issues do you hold near and dear? If you are a Democrat and believe in their platform then that should not change just because a few on the Left are mean and noisy. And the same applies to Republicans, where you can find just as much anger. And believe me if Obama wins there will be Right Wing nut jobs who from day one will be discrediting every move he makes.
243. KENT | 09.08.08
ATTENTION CHRISTIANS:
Have you heard? Jesus is coming back to save you all, on November 4th 2008. He will be making an appearance on FOX News that day at an undisclosed time.
He asks that you all wait patiently by the TV that day to hear what he has to say. Going to the voting booth that day IS a violation of the 10 commandments. You must listen to JESUS, STAY HOME NOVEMBER 4TH!
245. tamroi | 09.08.08
The most intelligent U.S. political news might come from Canada.
Check out:
The shockingly liberal legacy of George W. Bush.
http://www.macleans.ca/world/usa/article.jsp?content=20080820_86797_86797&page=1
Today the Canadian Federal Government announced that it will have a Federal election on Oct. 14, 2008, needless to say without what is being spent on choosing the American 4-year monarchy.
The U.S. has what might be the most foolish of democratic systems, thanks to its worship of the efforts of some noble antique landlords.
246. animal lover | 09.08.08
Just like Bush, Palin supports arial gunning of wolves. You read that right, shooting wolves from an airplane.
Boy, thats really really low down, shooting at defenseless animals from an airplane. How yould she feel if someone killed her baby for being disabled, because thats what would have happened long ago.
Wolves are an endangered species by the way. I hope a pack of wolves get ahlod of the palin family on their next snowmobile outing. Im crossing my fingers…
247. Peakmom | 09.08.08
As long as “Flip Flop, Caribou Killing-Moose Field Dressing, Abstinence Hypocrite, Sole Definer of God’s Will, Alaskan Independence Party Member, Power Abusing, Earmark Embracing, Lobbyist Hiring, Drill Baby Drill” Barbie, is sequestered in her vinyl case, the republicans will command the public’s attention. It’s become obvious that we prefer quantity of attention over quality.
How can the republicans be ahead when Bush has…no, there isn’t time to go there now…maybe not ever. Wake up people! Their one-liner, Don Rickles approach to politics provides good TV. Entertainment is what we have become accustomed to and that’s what McCain/Palin provide. How I long once more for news of Brittney & Paris to take me away.
“Just wait until she gives an interview on her own, then we’ll see the real Palin.” Ah, if only the world were that perfect. She will not be seen without “POW Exploiting Ken” anytime soon. In fact, the odds favor a Keith Olbermann interview with Jesus over a Keith Olbermann interview with Sarah Palin before this campaign is over. And no, the election is not about McCain and Obama, the republicans have made sure of that by spreading the lies about her in the first place, forcing record numbers of issue-ignoring morons to rally in her defense. Exactly according to republican plan.
Why her? Sarah Palin appeals to the part of us that sees an accident on the side of the road and slows down - not to help, but to satisfy our bloodthirsty curiosity and to rate the morbidity. The republicans stood up at their ingeniously orchestrated issue-less but tissue-ful convention and hurled insult after insult at our party and at the hopeful people they represent faster than we could say, “Rudy Gulianni is a cross-dresser.”
I know that the Obama/Biden team is taking the higher, classier road by reiterating the issues in order to keep us educated and engaged, but it aint working. How long are they supposed to get sucker punched before they throw a few “left” hooks of their own? I like to think the democrats have plenty of ammunition and are only waiting for the right time to launch, but I am afraid if they wait too long they’ll lose their position and be forced to admit defeat - again. The insults to our intelligence have had their night - it’s a new day and it should be ours.
If all else fails, hold a mirror in front of McCain/Palin - with any luck they’ll turn to stone.
248. Peakmom | 09.08.08
Oh gosh, did I post the same thing twice? Sorry - too emotional today after 4 point republican lead discovery
249. Roger Harshaw | 09.08.08
I am a small business owner, I have been fortunate, and for the record, I am a millionaire.
I am now at retirement age, and have never been so concerned about the future of this great country. As I see it, we must be careful not to let the rhetoric of our rugged individualism be used against us to create selfishness.
Yes, I worked hard for many, many years to become financially independent, but it would have been impossible without my customers having middle class incomes to buy my companies products. The concentration of wealth in this country is more out of balance than ever before. Small businesses depend on customers with disposable income. Small businesses actually need a government to balance the playing field–yes impose regulations to control all powerful corporations. The playing field is now so slanted toward the rich and powerful,that it is much, much harder for the worker of this country to obtain the American Dream. Warren Buffet, I think said it best when he said, “it is a disgrace that my secretary is in a higher tax bracket than I am”. The current worker has increased productivity, year after year, but it is the wealthy that have benefited. We business owners have done very well, in the past 20 years. The middle class workers–not so good. Voting to help the rich and powerful has not been successful for the middle class. Our country is in huge debt because of this war, and tax cuts to the very wealthy. Who else but the rich can actually pay taxes to get us back on a fiscally responsible footing. I would not be too concerned about some tax increases for the rich, We in the top 2-3 % are still getting richer in these “difficult” economic times. I firmly believe Obama’s economic plan of putting more money in the hands of the majority, will cost me personally more in taxes, however, it will put more money in the hands of my customers, which will earn me more income, and my business will prosper. I think that is as it should be. Let’s have some money flowing up, instead of trickling down.
250. L.B.E.G. | 09.08.08
“..we must be careful not to let the rhetoric of our rugged individualism be used against us to create selfishness”. Bravo, Roger Harshaw! Our ancestors left various “old countries” to eventually team together and create a new order and a new country because the gap between the rich and powerful and the poor and unempowered was too great to allow a cross-over in their homelands. We are starting to see signs that the gap in the U.S. is getting wider and wider. At the same time, American teamwork has been taking a huge hit these last dozen years–9/11 being the exception–with increasingly polarized politics entrenching the two parties into divisiveness and self-protectionism. I’m grateful both presidential candidates seem to be trying to reach across the divide. Yet I resonate more fully with the inclusiveness the Democrats are currently demonstrating of trying to narrow the gap for all. This isn’t so much a redistribution of wealth: it’s the price one must pay to be a citizen of a country that is founded on working together for the greater good, and not just the individual’s good alone.
251. from Texas | 09.08.08
This is silly, Chicago was then and still is run by organized crime. Think about it, Africans DO NOT use the net, and NEVER, I mean NEVER give to polictical; anything. This money Obama is getting is DIRECT MOB money. The MOB HATES BUSH and the current system, Hilary did not take it and she LOST. Obama, Helmsley, Capone, and Trump if not in ORGANIZED CRIME, they did not get hurt by the friendship. OBAMA is black to get that vote, but it is MOB power that gives the money and really cares. What does it take for you to see it, Clinton, then Kerry big time MOB ruled. This OBAMA guy is just a puppett that crime bosses can EASILY control. Remember Pro-Obama is 100% anti-Bush, every one I know likes 99% of Bush (especially the blacks) except that 1 thing, or 1% for that reason they back Obama, who represents 90% or more of what they HATE. SORRY, at what point in History did CUTTING taxes become BAD.
252. I B | 09.09.08
“231. judi | 09.08.08
Micheal you are for sure a stupid male pig that does not want any woman in any control and it is males like you that keep messing up our great country. Palin did not support the bridge to nowhere she sympathized with those that wanted it. get your facts straight and i also suppose since she has five kids she can’t help run our country. get over yourself and realize that this is 2008 not 1500. it males like you that make me want to throw up!”
I looked for Micheal’s post and could not find it.
I just want to caution “judi” that women are not interchangeable pieces in the political game, and to paraphrase a famous quote, “Governer (Palin), you are no Hillary Clinton.” I also flat out do not believe the poll results claiming a huge amount of white women went over to McCain because of Palin — I am a white women and it just doesn’t click with me. Why didn’t McCain pick a more qualified woman for the VP role? It just doesn’t make any sense to me anymore — God help America in November, help each person vote on what is best for us as a country going forward, not on which candidate has the image you like or the most entertaining TV ads. By the way, the rest of the world wants Obama.
253. I B | 09.09.08
“201. Rich Ord | 09.08.08
The Democrats are the party of higher taxes and more government programs. Why can’t some of you accept the fact that despite your income it is un-American to tax people as high as Obama wants to tax them? After all, the United States is not a communist country where hard earned wealth is redistributed. Vote for Obama and you are voting against capitalism and freedom. It is really that simple.”
Why can’t you accept the fact that we have not had capitalism in this country for many years, especially the last eight (government helps big business too much for true capitalism to exist here — ideal capitalism does not allow oligopolies, which is all we have with the top international corporations), and that it is time to balance things out and give small business owners and all workers the chance at the American dream that this country was founded on? also, not everything is appropriate for capitalism, and I think the majority of Americans think health care should be public the way that education, infrastructure, utilities, etc. are — there can still be private medical organizations as there are private schools, if you want to go that way, but there has got to be a public system available for every citizen.
256. ziadora | 09.13.08
Isn’t it ironic that evangelical and fundamentalist christians are rewarding a political team, McCain/Palin, who are so obviously committing the sin of lying? Last I knew, “thou shalt not bear false witness” was one of the 10 commandments. What will I tell my children?
257. Paulene | 09.16.08
I have NEVER read more jokes in my life. This website is better than paying to go to the Comedy Store. Where are you people????? It must be with your head in the sand because your views are hilarious. The reason our economy was in such a good position was because Clinton left us with a surplus after 12 years of deficent by republicans. Within 6 months of him stealing the election, his dumbness threw us into a war that has torn this country down further than any other time in our history. Why the word depression hasn’t been said is beyond me, but that is what is happening. You all need to open you eyes and see the truth and get off the drugs you have all been given by these so called “good guys” you back. Wake up and smell the coffee. All you will get with McSame and Quaylin is private emails and more secrecy than up in Alaska. Shame on you.
258. ziadora | 09.17.08
Written by John McCain’s Cousin, Adam Vaulx Boles
What contortions has this new John McCain twisted himself into in order to win this election? When asked last year about his stance on abortion, he told a group of supporters, “I do not support Roe vs. Wade. It should be overturned.” This statement not only sharply contrasts with what he said back in the 2000 election cycle, but is also at odds with a majority of American public opinion, according to the most recent Harris poll on the subject.
Further, McCain’s decision to put the antichoice, creationist Sarah Palin on his ticket appears to be motivated completely by a political desire to shore up the radical right evangelical base with whom he’s been at odds for so long. This is the same woman who claimed in June “that our national leaders are sending (our soldiers) out on a task that is from God.”
As he continually demonstrates in this campaign, my cousin John is long gone. “Straight talk” has been replaced with “flip-flop.” Saddest all, this is the same man who, when campaigning in 2000, told a crowd of supporters, “I don’t think Bill Gates needs a tax cut. I think your parents do.”
My parents, John, need some help after the economic destruction Bush has wrought in the last eight years, but it’s clear you’re not the one who’ll give it to us. America’s working families no longer recognize you, nor does your own. –St. Peterburgs Times
Adam Vaulx Boles lives and works in Tallahassee
(Full letter available online)
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Larry | 09.08.08
Anyone who is not a millionaire who votes Republican in a national election has to be either insane or stupid. If you are a millionaire and you believe that amassing more and more unnecessary (in that you have so much that you can never spend it) wealth while the uninsured, the unemployed, the poverty-stricken, etc etc etc go hungry, without homes, without medical care, I do not envy your position when the “Son of Man” comes in glory - see Matthew 25:31-46l; however, I don’t think you’re stupid or crazy - just evil.
The social conservatism that the Republican party supposedly espouses in order to woo the evangelical Christians and other sincere religious groups is only a cynical ploy to cover up their policies of robbing from the poor so that the rich can get richer. Bush has been disastrous for the economy, for the American worker, for the country in general. As far as religious issues are concerned, God will take care of us.