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election08
Posted Friday, September 5, 2008, at 2:18 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
Well, looks like the time is nearing to get serious about presidential politics. As any who know me or have followed my blogs knows, I am an independent and eschew all organized Parties.
I have taken the position for years now that Parties have outlived their usefulness. I have suggested voters look at the candidates and pick the best man/woman for the job regardless of Party. I fervently remain in such a poster and encourage all to look at the actions of the candidates and determine, given what they have done in the past, who is best qualified to lead this Country in all aspects. Note I said actions not words. Words are very cheap and ring hollow but actions are on the record and must stand on their merit. When I say "lead the Country in all aspects" I recognize no one can be all things to all people. This being unarguably so, one must access candidates on their leadership qualities. Leadership is the ultimate trait required by the President for he must choose many people to cover all the bases necessary to operate the massive machine we call the Federal Government. While leadership may be a little ill defined in the minds of some, it really is simply the ability to attract competent people for all required positions who will serve and do a good job because they want to, not because they have to. Being able to attract and motivate those with such qualities defines a leader. A boss is someone who you work for and do the job because of "fear" of the outcome if you didn't. A leader is someone who you work for and you do the best job you can because you want to. Management is bossing. Leadership is leading and motivating. Of the two candidates, no matter which strikes your fancy, one should view their qualifications through their history. All academics who study human behavior agree a persons future behavior is best predicted by one's past behavior. Given this truism look at what the candidates have done and not what they say they will do it determining the best qualified. After all, isn't the best qualified what we all want. I think the greatest "problem," among many," in Washington at present is the vicious partisanship. Both parties cannot deny ownership to some degree of this phenomena. The "do nothing" Congress of the present Session is due in its entirety, I think, to partisanship. Pundits are quick to point out President Bush's approval rating, presently around 30% but fail to point out the same polls show the Congressional approval at a historical low (around 17%). That's the lowest in 220 years or so! Why is this? I think it is totally partisan politics. Either Party puts Party first and works only to see they get credit for anything beneficial and the other Party get the blame for all things negative. Perhaps the best example is Pelosi evoking probably the most infantile action ever by a Speaker of the House when she actually shut down the House including turning the lights off and dismissing security so the dastardly Republicans could not run an energy bill and get credit for it before the election. This for the aggrandizement of a Party to the detriment of the people. If those inside the beltway considered only what is good for the Country and didn't care who got credit, wouldn't this be a wonderful Country. Remember true character is revealed by those who act properly even when no one is looking. Now who is better equipped to reach across the aisle to the other Party to accomplish the people's business in the most proper way. One candidate has absolutely no record, only rhetoric, of working with the opposite Party. One has a long record of working across the aisle. One candidate has advocated in the form of a Bill and marshaled support and passed said Bill as prime sponsor or prime co-sponsor. One has never passed such a Bill that had a significant impact on the Country. Many Bills in the State Legislatures and Congress have dozens or hundreds of co-sponsors. Many members jump on "do-gooder" Bills which is totally meaningless with regards to having the creativity and skill and willingness to be a prime sponsor and nurse the Bill through the body of which he is a member. To emphasize this point there have been Bills such as McCain-Feingold and McCain-Kennedy, et al, but no xxxxx-Obama or Obama-xxxx. I would hope those who are really interested in doing the right thing will study the legislative process. This process is where the real work is done and no President can successfully survive a fruitful term in office without being able to work with Congress on both sides of the aisle. I hope people will consider the two candidates on their merits. Not on someone else's. I don't believe George Bush is running for office this year. What he has done or didn't do has no bearing on anything but history at this point. I cannot believe the number of people who, mostly anonymously of course, spew such hatred and viciousness at Geo. Bush. My experience is those who are driven and motivated by hatred and other deep, negative emotions usually come to grief and in the end they are the only ones who suffer for such negative feelings. I just hope all will look as objectively as they can, without regards to Party, ethnicity, gender or any other superficial trait, and for the benefit of all, choose the one who can and will most likely lead the Country to prosperity and fairness and look at what they have done not what they say they will do. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Near lifelong resident of Bedford County. Will comment on the issues of the day in, hopefully a cogent and certainly an honest manner. Will propose discussions not usually fully addressed in the mainstream media.
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Well said. I have to agree about the party politics. Just from my experience on here, almost everyone bases a candidates ability to lead by whether of not there is an "R" or "D" by their name. Even if you try to claim you have an "I" by your name, as I do mine, more than likely you get thrown in the "R" pile. I would love to see both parties dissolved. I think it would do wonders for the country.
although it will probably never happen, i agree completely. well said guys. we should vote on the person(s), not the party. there are way too many "red dog" voters out there in both parties.
I've said it once, and I'll say it again...
For me, it's M.C. CAIN IN THE HOUSE...lol...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWicJNCiyAk
As it was well said by Gov. and McCain running mate, Sarah Palin, Obama has written two books about himself but not one piece of legislation. He is driving a cult of personality, and I hope people can see through the slick talk.
I agree - well said. I think for far too long we have been convinced to vote for the "lesser of two proverbial evils" until now the proverbial "evils" are all we have left. Until Gov. Palin entered the picture I had decided to write in "none of the above" - now - I'm conflicted. Much as I like what I've been able to find out about her - but- she isn't the candidate and I have to say that I don't know if having her as the VP is enough that it would entice me to pull a lever for McCain - even from the "lesser of two evils" perspective. I absolutely believe Ron Paul is a whacko nut - but just the fact he isn't a Dem or a Rep - makes him look/sound better all the time.
There is a decent chance that whoever is the VP, they will have a solid shot at being the party candidate for President after the President has had his run. By that time it could be his or HER run.
Palin doesn't love America! Why don't people do their Homework?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmt0rLtgm...
Good find mayberry!!!
Mr McClanahan, you are wrong sir.
You wrote,
"To emphasize this point there have been Bills such as McCain-Feingold and McCain-Kennedy, et al, but no xxxxx-Obama or Obama-xxxx. "
That is a bold-face lie.
http://www.statesurge.com/members/923-ba...
In just four years as a U.S. Senator, Obama has sponsored 427 bills, and authored 152 bills
1. Co-sponsored with Richard Lugar (R-IN) legislation funding the destruction or securing of "loose" nuclear weapons in other countries. This was a major piece of nonproliferation legislation.
2. Co-sponsored, again with Lugar, the first federal bill dedicated to pandemic flu preparedness, including vaccine research and antiviral stockpiling, in addition to state and local planning and preparedness measures.
3. Sponsored a bill regulating genetic testing, which directed the government to develop special proficiency tests for labs that do genetics work.
4. Co-sponsored, with Hillary Clinton(!), legislation to help hospitals to develop programs for disclosure of medical errors They even co-wrote an article for the New England Journal of Medicine on the subject.
5. Introduced his "health care for hybrids" bill, an energy security bill, various bills on relief for Hurricane Katrina (including aid for kids and a ban on no-bid contracts by FEMA)
6. Introduced legislation, which passed, to create a public database of all federal spending and contracts
7. Introduced legislation trying to raise CAFE standards, i.e. mileage standards for US-produced vehicles
8. Introduced veteran's health care legislation
9. Introduced legislation making certain kinds of voter intimidation illegal
10. Introduced a lobbying reform bill
11. Introduced legislation to revamps ethics oversight, replacing the present Congressional ethics committee with a bipartisan commission of retired judges and members of Congress, and allowing any citizen to report ethics violations.
12. Introduced legislation to suspend and repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry
13. Introduced a joint resolution clarifying that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the AUMF Against Iraq, or any other resolution previously adopted
14. Introduced a bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans
15. Introduced a bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel sold in the US
16. Introduced a bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to establish a Climate Change Education Program
17. Introduced a bill to required accountability for contractors and contract personnel (e.g. Blackwater) under federal contracts
18. Introduced a bill to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the U.S. foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, and the elimination of extreme global poverty.
Palin doesn't love America! Why don't people do their Homework?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmt0rLtgm...
-- Posted by mayberry on Sun, Sep 7, 2008, at 2:19 AM
Speaking of half-truths and homework:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/0...
Mayberry - can you please give us some of the actual names/numbers of the bills you have listed? I discovered not too long ago that our government likes to "tack on" items that have nothing to do with a bills initially stated intention. An example of this is #18 The Global Poverty Act. It is my understanding there are items attached to this bill that would make law/cede athority to the UN on such matters as our 2nd amendment, energy, and parental rights. So - I would like to do a little more "homework" on these other bills.
Sorry - I forgot to include my sources:http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-3605&tab=related
and:
http://www.aim.org/aim-column/obamas-glo...
and:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd...
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?f...
Mayberry,
Yes he joined Lugar on the Lugar Obama Bill that was a based on the Lugar-Null Act of 1991 and was to keep weapons out of terrorist's hands. It pass on voice vote. By the way, how's it working?
Most of what you mentioned were "housekeeping" bills that had nothing to do with anything of substance. Even on your list, you didn't mention the word passed until number 6, which is not correct. The remainder of the items you mentioned said introduced. Any trained monkey that is elected can introduce measures. So I'm not impressed.
If he is so good at introducing creative and desireable legislation, perhaps you could encourage him to outlaw poverty and cancer. Shouldn't be any problem for one of his abilities.
Lugar-Nunn Act
Sorry for the triple posting this evening - but I was finally able to connect with the youtube link provided above regarding Gov Palin's involvment with the Alaska Independence organization. Giving a taped welcome message to a convention? How is this any different than McCain or Obama giving a speech (in person) to pledge their committment to and solicit support from oh what the heck...let's just say The LaRaza organization?
GeeWoman
If you looked at the tape, it plainly shows a member of the Alaska Independence Party saying she was a member of that party until she was a mayor, A party that her husband is a part of since 1996. A party that hates America.
People just don't care about the US anymore because the republicans are using people to vote for them because of religion values. Mccain does not have Christan values. He cheated on his first wife for Cindy because she was in a car wreak, Has Bush stopped abortions? Abortion have increased since Bush has been in office.
Mrs. Palin teaches Abstinence only , but can't even keep her own under age daughter from getting pregnant so what makes people think that it will happen in the next 4 years? The republican party has been saying they are going to do all the things and haven't did a thing. We are slowly moving into a economic depression and people are losing their homes and cannot find jobs.
Can anyone here tell me ONE policy John Bush purposed during the convention?
People get what they deserve when they vote for someone who has voted for Bush 90% over the last 7 yr.
Mccain will not cut taxes for people who need them.
Overview
Bush and the GOP's effect on the economy
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/article...
has resulted in the worst severe poverty since 1975 and the worst job creation since the Great Depression, leaving America with the worst poverty, education, and health care of all civilized countries, and resulting in 38% of Americans struggling to pay for food; in addition to the world's largest bond fund manager declaring that tax cuts for the rich and deregulation have been a failure,
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/i...
the evidence shows that Democratic Presidents are better for the economy,
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/20/c...
and that since 1900, Democratic Presidents have been better for growth, employment, the stock market, and reducing the deficit.
Taxes
Obama's tax plan
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12186720...
will cut middle class taxes three to eight times as much as McCain's plan according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, and 97% of Americans will not see a payroll tax increase under his plan; despite their other criticisms, the conservative WSJ admits
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12191011...
"For Obama, Taxes Are About Fairness", and even the ultraconservative Weekly Standard notes that "McCain's charge that Obama is planning a massive tax increase doesn't apply",
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Pu...
adding that, "every day that passes makes one thing clearer and clearer: Barack Obama knows precisely what he wants to do to the U.S. economy, and John McCain is intent on proving his self-confessed lack of knowledge with a charming set of homilies." Indeed, McCain has been untrustworthy on both tax cuts and reducing the deficit; he embraces thirty cent gas tax gimmicks and claims to want a level playing field, but he has no problem with the fact that Republican policies impose a hidden $1 per gallon gas tax, or the fact that 2/3 of US corporations paid no annual taxes from 1998-2005.
We will keep sending jobs overseas,
We will continue to send money to terrorist for Oil,
We will continue to have high prices for everything we buy.
WE will still have no heath insurance for 50 million people,
We will stay in Iraq and maybe go into Russia or Iran.
We will still have soldiers coming home without getting their benifits and not helping them get jobs when they come back.
US Troops support Barack Obama over John McCain by fifteen percentage points, and our troops overseas contributed six times as much to Obama as they did to McCain. It should be no surprise, as McCain has voted against increasing veterans benefits ten times since 2003, and despite his multimillion dollar fortune, accepts a yearly $58,000 veterans disability check while opposing an Obama supported bill to give all veterans the same benefits McCain gets; John McCain has also said the VA should stop treating routine medical problems, has suggested bringing back the draft, and receives a score of 20 out of 100 from the Disabled Veterans of America, while Obama gets an 80 out of 100.
http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_de...
A staggering 70.6% of US military donations last spring went to candidates who advocated withdrawing from Iraq.
Out of Touch
Unlike Barack Obama - who was born to an eighteen year old single mom, who took a $13,000 a year community service job, and who was only able to pay off his student loans in the last couple of years - John McCain has had access to tens of millions of dollars for the last three decades and has never had to stress about paying a bill in that time. McCain doesn't know how many houses he owns,
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/080...
doesn't know what kind of car he drives, and spends $250,000 a year on house servants;
http://nitpicker.blogspot.com/2008/08/wh...
when asked about what income level represents the line between middle class and rich, McCain said five million dollars a year. His chief economic adviser says we have become a nation of whiners and that the recession is all in our minds, his chief adviser on health care said that anyone with access to an emergency room effectively has insurance, and McCain himself called Social Security a disgrace.
Solvency
Obama explains how to pay for his programs better than any Presidential candidate in recent history:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archive...
"his agenda actually does come pretty close to adding up. It's really not normal for a candidate's budget numbers to be even in the near ballpark of making sense... when was the last time we had a presidential candidate who came [so] close? Hell, I think McCain's plan, if you put a number to it, would fail to add up by about ten times that amount. Obama's is the most restrained, least pandering budget plan we've seen in a presidential campaign for a very long time." John McCain said that he does not understand the issue of economics
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/18/mcca... as well as he should, and his economic plan is a mess of contradictions
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?i...
that has several serious problems,
http://thepage.time.com/obama-camp-memo-...
providing nothing but more of the same George W. Bush approach; while Obama's plan has received endorsements from Nobel Prize economists and the SEC chairs under Reagan and Clinton, the McCain campaign had to trick 300 economists into signing a short statement later attached to an economic plan they never read.
No Maverick
With a record of voting with George W. Bush 90% of the time and rising,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBfngOsvm...
John McCain's views are costing him among moderate to liberal Republican voters; McCain's allegedly moderate record on energy and the environment is a fiction, and his position against a woman's right to choose is far outside the mainstream.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/...
While McCain's phony reformer image has long been propped up,
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jul/02/...
it has fallen apart under a desire to be President in the worst way
http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/200...
and a staff of Bush advisers who have McCain so far out of the decision making process that there is actually someone on his campaign to make sure he sticks to the campaign's message.
So, if people are not voting on issues and voting on life stories and personality or Color
VOTE Mccain/Palin
If people are voting on the real middle-class issues, Vote Obama /Biden
Mayberry,
I "did" look at the full tape - for many of the things you've pointed out - can you blame Alaska for wanting to pull out of the Union? Heck - if I moved up there I would include signing up right along with having the utilities turned on. Again - not much difference between that and LaRaza another organization that is quite vocal in not having our interests at heart. As you have pointed out she was a member of this organization until she accepted Public Office - at which time she presumably set aside her personal feelings and quit this organization to "serve the greater good"
You are right - there are a lot of apathetic people out there - but I think this is the fault of politicians on "both" sides of the fence. As Mr. McC has pointed out in several of his postings on this and other related topics - there really is "little if any difference between parties any longer" In fact - both sides are donated equal sums from special interest groups within a couple of thousand dollars - and this results in a return of about $8 to $1 on their investment by way of government contracts.
http://ourcaucus.com/index.html
First of all let me point out that I am "not" a McCain fan (in case you have missed my first post). Do you really want me to list other Presidents through history (both Dem and Rep) that have cheated on their spouses? I would be someone who thinks we are darn lucky that Monica did not sue us for sexual harrasment in the workplace.
Many married men who go off to war, are changed when they come home - I believe in general the divorce rate among them is very high. (I'm sorry I cannot quote a source here...so some actual veterans may have to back me up here).
As to Gov Palins daughter - do "you" follow your teenage daughter on every date? Unless you can honestly say that your wife is the only woman you have been with in your life - how can you judge her? Remember - any woman outside of marriage you have had intimate relations with was/is someones daughter, sister, etc. Why wouldn't she promote abstinance? Having sex these days is not just a matter of unwanted pregnancy - it can be a matter of life, death, and fertility. I would rather my tax dollars go towards abstinance than "alternative lifestyles education"
As to the Abortion issue - get over it. That genie has been out of the bottle how many years now? Whatever their "personal" feelings may be I sincerely doubt they would "ever" be able to overturn Roe v Wade. It would take an act of Congress and/or the Supreme Court - not going to happen in "our" life time or that of the next generation. I do not agree with Abortion - but more than that - I think there are too many women out there using it as a form of birth control instead of ....birth control. My gynocologist once told me that whenever a woman has an abortion - she cuts her chances for ever getting pregnant again by 50% - I have a close personal friend who made that decision - and the guilt she lives with over it is horrendous. Interesting post - I have to stop and go to work now and will address your other issues when I come home.
Mayberry;
Please inform us as to your stated positions:
1. Who is John Bush?
2. Please cite source of Bush's voting record. I am so stupid, I didn't even know he had a vote in Congress.
3. Obama born to a single mom....????? That's a revelation that belies all reported items on this subject of all political stripes. Source please!
4. How did McCain trick 300 economists?
5. "serious problems with his (McCain's) economic plan." From that well known unbiased source.......Not....Time Magazine.
or the fact that 2/3 of US corporations paid no annual taxes from 1998-2005.
-- Posted by mayberry on Mon, Sep 8, 2008, at 12:00 AM
You could say 100% of corporations paid no taxes and it would not matter, since the consumer pays the taxes. A corp. is their to make a PROFIT no matter how you look at it and pay their employees wages. A local example would be saying our county govt. decided to add a "newspaper" tax to all news publications in the county. I can guarantee that the price of the paper would instantly go up, since the publishers would pass that tax to the consumer. The same happens with any corporation, the taxes will always be passed down the the consumer in some manner.
Ms. Palin was never a member of the AIP, but her husband was. This was misspoken by a member of the AIP and the head the the AIP backs that up. She has been a member of the GOP since 1982.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/us/pol...
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-...
The NYtimes and LAtimes both have their individual slants, but both clearly state she was not a member. I also found it interesting that the convention she attended, either in person or on video tape, was held at the Best Western in Wasilla, Alaska, must have been an awefully big convention.
Ponder this dems, here some truth for you...We found a legislative accomplishment that Obama can be proud of!
He co-authored sex-education for 5 year old children in Chicago. Nice!!!!! A 5 year old can barely recite their ABC's and Obama wants to teach them about the birds and bees!
Now lets talk about something else. Everything Obama has ever dome is related to Chicago ( a city ) or he voted present and thats about it.
Here are some FACTS sent to me via email earlier today...
Here are the facts ...
Sarah Palin was a vocal supporter of the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" -- the symbol of the Republican culture of corruption -- turning her back on it only after the project's bloated pork-barrel waste was exposed.
Their ad also claims John McCain has "reformed" Washington -- which would undoubtedly come as a surprise to the Washington lobbyists who are running his campaign and the special interests who have been funding it.
The most "maverick" thing about these two politicians right now is that they continue to support George Bush's disastrous policies long after we have all seen the damage they are doing to our country.
Barack Obama and Joe Biden are ready to bring the change we need to Washington. They're on the campaign trail every day talking about it -- just today, Barack laid out his plans to transform education.
I just read a NYT article about Barrak's education plan. While I like his ideas and even some of the ideas they had in Chicago, I still see good money put to waste. I also see tax increases with most of the ideas and more money coming out of my back pocket. Here's a link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/us/pol....
I thought that throwing money at everything was the only way to accomplish anything, lol.
I thought that throwing money at everything was the only way to accomplish anything, lol.
-- Posted by greasemonkey on Wed, Sep 10, 2008, at 11:38 AM
Sort of like Bush and McCain's idea of the Iraq War AND the economy... And Sarah Palin's idea of the Alaskan Pipeline, oh wait those were "tasks from God"... YEAH RIGHT!
Disturbia,
Bush and McCain have thrown as much (or more so) money away as anybody, thats why I have labled them both liberal.