An Undecided Voter Listens to McCain’s Speech
As someone who has been a fence-sitter for this whole election cycle, I went into McCain’s acceptance speech not expecting much. I especially didn’t expect to be swayed into moving to either side of that fence. Acceptance speeches are mostly grandiose ideas presented with a lot of style but very little substance behind them. They are, after all, merely words, not actions; words that speak not to the nation as a whole, but the nation of believers sitting in the audience.
Unlike Obama, McCain has never been perceived as a great speaker. Where Obama’s speech was expected to be almost evangelical, the expectations for McCain were simply that he had to at least stir up enough emotion to compare favorably to Sarah Palin’s “home run” of the night before. Most of us watching were not expecting something as electrifying as Obama’s speech or as riveting as Palin’s. I was more prepared for a Grandpa Simpson-like commencement, without the onion belts.
McCain’s low-key approach had me worried that I would not make it very far, and I struggled to really listen to what he was saying instead of concentrating on his delivery. It was hard. Thanks to a dose of Robitussin, I kept drifting off into dreams about mortgages and oil and the Dallas Mavericks, and Grandpa Simpson kept showing up, talking about Vietnam. I came back to consciousness here:
I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice, and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for.
If McCain started the speech there, cutting out everything else, and recited the rest of it with fervor and a spark of life, he would have sold a lot more Republicans who are still sitting on the fence this election.
In one part, McCain seemed to be both echoing Obama’s ideas about contributing to society and making up for one of the few missteps in Palin’s speech, where she brought on the wrath of community organizers everywhere.
If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you’re disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them. Enlist in our Armed Forces. Become a teacher. Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed. Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier. Because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.
They aren’t words we have not heard before in dozens of political speeches, but they are words McCain needed to speak in order to grab the attention of the more liberal-minded fence-sitters.
One phrase struck me as the crux of this election. “I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for.”
When both candidates speak of change McCain speaks of change that brings our country back to it’s old, idealistic, revolutionary ideals.
Obama strikes me as wanting change to through out those same ideals as bing old, archaic and calling on much to self reliance.
I’m curious how Michelle Catalano or other Americans can be undecided at this point–the two candidates are so different. I wish
MC had said more about this.
“They aren’t words we have not heard before in dozens of political speeches, but they are words McCain needed to speak in order to grab the attention of the more liberal-minded fence-sitters.”
Michelle, McCain didn’t make comments in his speech because he “needed to say them.” He said what he really believes.
Huxley – I find myself squarely in the middle. I’m neither conservative nor liberal, but have ideals that coincide with both parties. As much as there are things I like about both candidates, there are things I dislike just as much about both.
I agree that McCain defied my expectations, and not because the speech was masterfully delivered or particularly energizing. Like Michele, I was having a hard time focusing on McCain’s speech during the first half. But when he started talking about the “me-first” type of person he was when we was shot down over Hanoi, and how he was “blessed by misfortune,” I sat up straight and started listening. With the exception of a sex scandal press conference, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a politician admit defeat, weakness, and selfishness. I’ve never heard a politician admit the limits of their own strength, or the extent of their ego. McCain admitted that the Vietnamese “broke” him, and yet by leaning on the shoulders of his fellow officers, he got back up and fought. That authenticity stunned me. In fact, by the end of the speech, my wife (no fan of McCain) was on the verge of tears.
I wasn’t moved by McCain’s delivery last night, but rather by his honor, character, and—above all—humility. Despite all the hoopla over Palin, her selection as VP and her scathing speech did nothing to win to my vote. Rather, it was McCain talking humbly and quietly about who he was and who he is that won my vote. Character counts more than anything else, and modesty and determination are two of its most important attributes.
Obama is eloquent and intelligent, but he does not seem rooted in anything. For two years I’ve looked for signs of integrity and character, but he always seems blown by the wind. I don’t think that even Barack Obama knows who Barack Obama is.
McCain knows who he is, and he got through to me last night. I don’t know about you, but I’m going with the old warrior in November.
Jonathan eloquently summed up what made me so moved by McCain’s speech.
Wait, you’re the undecided voter? Come on now. I didn’t agree with any of the reasons you gave for voting for Bush last time, but very few of them have substantially changed in the last four years.
Ryan Rhodes is an undecided voter. You’re — I don’t know — dissembling.
And yes, that is my version of the loving embrace of the Democratic party, in case you were wondering.
I’ve not been a fan of McCain, particularly because of McCain-Feingold, but one thing that happened last night did impress me quite a bit. It was the way he accepted the fact the Sarah Palin has become the ‘star’ of his team. He actually seemed proud of having introduced her to the nation.
That takes a real man.
I loved it!!! Democrat for McCain. He sealed my vote!!
I haven’t liked McCain in years, wasn’t even going to vote! I’ve always voted, but this year I thought ‘brand protection’ would be better for the GOP. I was wrong. McCain is the real deal. I may not agree with him on everything (ie., AGW) but I respect him and I have a new found admiration for him.
It could be that the single best thing he will do for his country is introduce it to Gov. Sarah Palin, but somehow I have more hope than that.
A few weeks ago McCain didn’t have my vote. But since last Friday I’ve donated twice and plan on volunteering to work on his campaign. Sarah Palin opened that door, but John McCain’s closing words last night invited me to walk through it.
I believe he is the man who can perform the reform we so badly need. The WH with 37% approval is in the stratosphere compared to the democrat Congress at 9%. The American electorate are saying fix it.
Obama is saying “Change” and I think he means something unrecognizable. He’s throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
McCain is saying “I’ll Fix it” and by that is appealing to those of us who believe our system works, and will work better once the pigs are gone from the trough.
I prefer it to be repaired, not experimented on. As Gov. Palin said, (paraphrasing) ‘the Presidency should not be a journey in personal discovery”.
I was only a luke-warm supporter of McCain pre-convention. I was delighted and surprised by the Palin pick but I know that it isn’t the VP pick that matters in an election. I was waiting to see what the old man would say to close the deal.
And he closed it with me last night. I agree with all of the criticisms of the speech’s aesthetics, but throughout McCain impressed me with his character and his sincerity.
In the final few minutes though McCain simply outdid himself. I was not expecting to be electrified but I was swept away not only by the his raw admissions of imperfection or by his moving account of how he became a servant of this country through being “broken” first. (WOW!) but by the last lines in particular. He finally really connected with me. The passion was obvious and the words couldn’t be more true but those lines were all the more effective for me coming from him, from the man that he is and considering where he has come from. In those moments his limitations as a speaker actually helped him. His character, which is his real strength was perfectly highlighted by the simple and honest delivery.
Oh if only he could speak like that all the time. But last night was enought to convince me. He means what he says. He will be the good steward, over all the President has to oversee, that we need him to be. He will give nothing less than his everything.
Josh: Wait, you’re the undecided voter? Come on now. I didn’t agree with any of the reasons you gave for voting for Bush last time, but very few of them have substantially changed in the last four years.
No, but I’ve changed. And I have missed you so much, Joshua. Nice to see you again.
If McCain gets any significant bump from his speech then America wasn’t paying close attention. His speech threw out a pastiche of ideas, several of them, in fact, cribbed from Obama’s plans. McCain was shockingly unfocused.
For one thing he brought up a few sad stories of struggling Americans and said that he would “fight for them,” but no details were given how he’d really help…end of story. NO matter what the Repugs say snidely about Obama’s styrofoam “greek columns” or denigrate his time spent actually helping Americans in Chicago with job training and job placement (his bad apparently) Obama’s speech had a lazer like focus with actual proposals on how he plans to help Americans get through the economic mess left by Bush.
I will also point out that Fiscal Conservatives should give a closer look to McCain’s mishmash of New Government programs including a costly Tax Credit to purchase Health Insurance (paid for, ironically, by partially taxing it as income), and the afforementioned new subsitute for Unemployment Insurance that he would replace by enacting a program for retraining displaced workers, encouraging them to take any job in the meantime, including low paying ones, and supplimenting their loss in income with a Government pay-out (actually after taking a look at this idea, it doesn’t sound too bad, but it certainly doesn’t sound like it will be cheap.) Not to mention the cost of an expanded Military.
Most economists have said that these new programs combined with McCain’s proposed tax cuts will dig this country into an even bigger hole. At least Obama mentioned fiscal responsibity in his fine speech.
OP I urge you to go back and read the transcript to appreciate the true emptiness of the effort in terms of laying out policy, beyond the relevatory material regarding his experience in Vietnam, and its meaning to him personally that made some misty eyed, in addition to his no doubt honest, heart felt boosterism of our fine Country, there was truly no “there there.”
This is a good review, both Michele’s essay and many of the comments. The expectations for his speech were lower than for Obama or Palin, and in delivery he did well enough. But in content he did some surprising things. In addition to those mentioned, I liked how he emphasized that we are all Americans first and Republicans and Democrats second (let Palin go after Obama while he stays above the fray). The two sides may go after each other because that is the nature of politics but our commonalities outweigh our differences. Both sides are honorable, both sides are an asset to the country.
McCain brought back a concept we don’t hear to much about anymore–the loyal opposition.
Let me confess, embarrassing though it may be, that somehow at the very end of the speech quoted above, I found a knot in my throat and some sort of liquid coming out of my eyes. Just a little. Very dramatic, very passionate, very powerful. We NEED McCAIN and PALIN in the WHITEHOUSE.
contrast McCain’s speech to Obama. McCain didn’t mention Obama that much. traditional Presidential candidate speeches does not mention opponents and McCain stayed within that mold last night.
Obama’s speech was full of attacks on McCain. This is the Obama camp’s reaction to other dems demanding that Obama should come out swinging. at the end, Andrea Mitchell herself narrated that the hotel worker that brought here tea (nice to be part of the elite isn’t it, you get great service, LOL!) told her that the speech was too mean. Obama’s campaign staff later asked Mitchell who the hotel staff was and that they will track her and explain the message of the speech to her.
At best, a lot of analysts have declared Obama’s speech as VICE PRESIDENTIAL at most. While Sarah’s speech is being hailed as an excellent “coming out” of an outsider coming to change things in the political scene. again, people are saying Obama’s just another politician, and Sarah is the true outsider that would bring about change. that will be a very tough opinion for the messiah to quell.
if Obama’s camp needed to do a double take on the speech in order to clarify it to a regular non-elite voter then they have problems.
Obama’s reactionary speech is the result of his party’s demands that he should give more punches. SHOWS HOW MUCH OBAMA’S STRINGS ARE BEING PULLED BY HIS PARTY INSTEAD OF HIS OWN PERSON. says a lot about a man who HAS no experience yet is applying for the highest office in the world.
Obama’s camp keep saying Sarah is not qualified. Rasmussen polls show that more people think Sarah is more qualified to be POTUS than Obama. Peopl are now casting Obama as just another political hack. notice that all of Obama’s appearances now shows a “makeover” designed to show him as more of a regular guy and not the elitist that he is. they took the coat and tie out, yup, that’ll make people think he’s just one of us! LOL!
the polls are clearly showing that the messiah is losing his power. I expect the attacks on Sarah to intensify, but it will only fuel the ever growing backlash and sink the messiah further. even their stunt to go to O’Reilly’s No Spin Zone is backfiring as Obama got cornered into saying that the Surge SUCCEEDED but he still won’t admit that his opposition to the surge is a mistake even after being given by O’Reilly a good reason to say so. Per O’Reilly, he himself thought it was wrong to go into Iraq, but the surge was a good idea, yet Obama stuck to a very bad statement that shows a very contradictory if not clueless opinion that the surge succeeded but it was still the wrong strategy. shows a man of inexperience and a man that lacks judgment.
Obama’s hole that he’s been diggin for himself since day one is getting deeper. when he falls into it, the dems would simply cover the hole up, with him in it, like they did Jesse Jackson.
Obama’s meteoric rise is now going to be a catastrophic fall, no matter how much the media is helping him win this election. the leftwing media had gambled with him and is now losing creditbility in the international scene as journalists outside the US start pointing out how biased their coverage has been. Not only has Obama managed to put the corrupt Chicago Political Machine into the national and international spotlight (if he loses, would Chicago still win the bid for the 2016 Olympics), he managed to lure the leftwing media, like the lemmings they are, to dump their ethical journalist standards that has compromised their credibility.
Obama is going to induce a major hangover after this election and will hurt the democrat party for years to come.
many will not agree with what I’m saying, but it is setting up to be a major catastrophe for democrats, the elite, and the leftwing media. the election may be very close, but when McCain/Palin wins, many in the media will look back and wonder why they got duped into supporting an empty political hack and cause them to throw their journalistic ethics out the window.
It’s amazing to see many of the leftwing pundits declare that their coverage was fair yet not one of them question why Obama was given a pass on the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, his lies on how Ayers is just a guy who lives in his neighborehood, or his full relationship with Rezko, his gerrymandering of his district (to drop lower income areas in favor of high income areas to secure more donations – typical corrupt Chicago political tactic), his endorsement of the Stroger family – the firs family of corruption in Cook County Illinois, etc.
no matter. the more the media “ignore” all of the messiah’s questionable dealing, the bigger the wave it’ll make after the election, and the less Obama’s, and the entire democrat party’s, chances of ever winning a presidential election for a generation.
Huh? Wait! What the hell? How did I end up getting dragged into this?
Damn you, Joshua! Damn YOOOOOUUUUUUU!
/Not actually upset.
//Still love slashies.
///Wait, this isn’t Fark.
“I will also point out that Fiscal Conservatives should give a closer look to McCain’s mishmash of New Government programs including a costly Tax Credit to purchase Health Insurance ”
LMAO! only a democrat would call a tax credit COSTLY!
after I read that, I tuned the rest out.
His was a speech that keeps coming back to you again and again. There is nothing but love, dedication and service to his country….almost a lifetime of it….written all over this individual. there is no “ME” to this man.
his words have given me hope that , with his guidance and leadership, our Congress can begin to work anew serving American citizens without rancor or some dibilitating struggle for personal power.
America first.
Its all we ask
Let’s extrapolate a bit on your initial declaration that you were truly uncommitted. The way that McCain and others were talking, you would get the impression that some party other than the Republicans have been the party in power for the past 8 years. More to the point, how can you possibly look at McCain as anything other than the consumate insider? A senator for over 20 years, fully plugged into all aspects of the power and seniority grid. And what about the Keating scandal?
I think McCain is the true moderate in this election. He’s not really owned by a party but by certain, and very American, ideals.
Radical Moderate,
No moderate I know, and I am one (voted for Bill Clinton twice) would ever use the ugly, unhinged word “repugs” to describe Republicans as if they were monolithically evil.
You need to go back to the dictionary and look up the word “moderate.”
But to answer your charge that McCain offered no specifics beyond a promise to fight for the people, I would suggest that you simply do not understand the Republican party.
The foundational values of the Republican are smaller, less wasteful government and more individual liberty. Itemized plans for how the government will solve the problems of the people so that the people won’t have to, do not fit the Republican model at all.
By stating that he would lower taxes and create more freedom and choices for the American people so that the American people can solve their own problems (thats a paraphrase of course), McCain laid out the sum total of the plan, in time honored Republican terms. The details are to be supplied by the ingenuity and work ethic of the American people once the government gets out of our way.
Of course, if you were a real moderate, I could reason with you and you might be able to see what I am saying is true, even if you didnt agree with it. But since you are not, I don’t expect you to understand. I just hope that some real moderates come to understand the very real distinction though between the minimalism of a Republican plan of governance and the Democrats “detailed” government schemes to solve our problems for us.
“Kaspu:
More to the point, how can you possibly look at McCain as anything other than the consumate insider?
the same way people consider Obama as nothing but a political hack that would praise voters in Scranton and insult them in San Francisco.
A senator for over 20 years, fully plugged into all aspects of the power and seniority grid.
as much as Obama has fully plugged into all aspects of corruption in Chicago and Illinois.
And what about the Keating scandal?”
the scandal that McCain was cleared off? is it as big as Obama squandering $100 million of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge’s money as he doled them out to communists like Bill Ayers?
Let’s extrapolate a bit on your initial declaration that you were truly uncommitted.
I am still truly uncommitted. I liked McCain’s speech. I was moved by it. I see how that last (edited) paragraph can be misconstrued as saying I was swayed to vote for him, but that was not my intention.
Ryan, you know you loved being dragged in.
/love slashies too
radical moderate – if that isn’t taken from a pre-written Dem talking points handout, i’ll eat my hat.
anyhoo, i look forward to hearing your pre-programmed response to being busted. Or are they letting you guys extemporise on that?
“And they broke me. When they brought me back to my cell, I was hurt and ashamed…”
Okay, McCain is an average speaker at best but OMG I had no choice, my eyes welled up. I now believe that McCain and Palin are real people and not just average run of the mill politicians. People with flaws but who want to make America better. It was the little things that won me over. The grace under fire. The loyalty they have shown their friends and family. The resolve to stand up when so many wanted to push them down. I was actually for Obama early on. He seemed too good to be true. Unfortunately, he was. My crush is officially over.
McCain/Palin.
Three candidates now have their Cults.
The Cult of the Obamessiah. The Black Moral Redeemer of guilty-feeling, wealthy liberal Jews and WASPs.
The Cult of Sarah, the Perfect Woman they didn’t know a week ago. And likely still don’t know much about other than Spinmeister “narrative” from both sides.
And McCain with the oldest Cult of all he has been milking for 35 years for more power and wealth – the Cult of The POW/MIA.
I’m surprised he campaigns with an American flag instead of the black POW/MIA flag. Maybe even one with a pink udder ornament on the Black Flag.
McCain’s speech was OK.
But about a third of it was martial in theme or allusion…to how the New Bob Dole will “fight” like he did as a military guy long ago. But for real estate investors, “the heroes”, the people who have jobs outsourced in the Global labor market McCain supports that can be retrained for a “new, exciting job” at 54 in community colleges…
He sensibly left out the “new wars” America may have to fight that factored in other speeches – but I think misses the mood of the American people sick to death about “heroism” 40 years ago in Vietnam, the Kerrys, Clelands, and McCains milking it – and endless troop worship as an excuse to duck America’s intense domestic and international problems having nothing to do with Vietnam or “evildoer fighting” or the premise that we “owe it” to sacrifice American lives and treasure to spread democracy and freedom down the throats of resentful 3rd Worlders and autocratic European and Asian regimes.
McCain needs a lot more substance to go with his POW symbology and the “Sarah is the adorable tough chick with Religious Right bona fides!” meme.
Like the inadequacy of saying he will address a trillion dollar trade deficit by “fighting” to open markets for American goods and services priced 6X above what China and India can do it for. Or saying that health care can be fixed by good old free market forces – no gummint! Or his saying he will keep tax cuts for the wealthy amid a socioeconomic chasm being formed between the 2% that got 90% of the wealth gains in the American economy the last 8 years – and everyone else.
Obama doesn’t impress me at all as an arrogant con artist. But Republicans better offer an alternative to his policies past militarism and the 30 year-old failed voodoo economic policies of Reagan and the 30-year old “wedge issues” and groveling to Southern Fundies that Reagan initiated back in 1980.
I’m a longtime democrat – initially a huge fan of Obama – now turned truly undecided. So I’ve been watching both parties’ conventions carefully…
The line that stays with me from McCain’s speech was simple:
“I hate war.”
Last night he explained why few Americans have as much reason to hate war as he has: his personal suffering and the toll wars have taken on his family and friends are clear reasons why we should trust that he won’t wantonly rush into conflict.
But he also has personally experienced the true horror of a despotic regime – he knows exactly what evil exists in the world. He knows what the stakes are. He knows what we must protect, and against what threat what we must protect it.
Who could be more qualified to make decisions of peace and war for this country? Isn’t this exactly the kind of person you’d want to ask for advice, if you had to make these decisions yourself?
After hearing his speech I looked around online and found this account he wrote in 1973 of his time in captivity:
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/2008/01/28/john-mccain-prisoner-of-war-a-first-person-account.html?PageNr=1
He really has proven himself to be a trustworthy person of depth and character. So compared to that, it’s getting harder and harder to remember what I liked so much about Obama…
I will also point out that Fiscal Conservatives should give a closer look to McCain’s mishmash of New Government programs including a costly Tax Credit to purchase Health Insurance
Ha! Root Cause #1 of our health care problems is that the Federal Government gives employers a tax break for buying health insurance for their employees, but doesn’t give the employees a break for buying their own. Moving away from third-party financing of health care is the single biggest step we can take in fixing health care in this country. It’s not the only step we need to take, but it’s the most important step.
how can you possibly look at McCain as anything other than the consumate insider?
Because he’s been more or less constantly at war with his own party over something or other for years? Because he’s never aske for an earmark or voted for a tax increase? The biggest problem with “insiders” is that they worry more about their standing with their fellow insiders than with the voters who put them in office. Whatever other faults McCain has, worrying what other Senators think of him ain’t one of em.
Fallon, I completely agree. I had to fight tears as I saw McCain call for us to fight. It was definitely patriotic even though it’s supposed to be out of style. It is so clear to me McCain is honest and speaks from the heart. He’s doing this because he feels it is his duty. Obama just wants to feed his gigantic ego. I’m sure he has good intentions but he is wrong on the issues and a big chance to take. No one is perfect and we have all done something in our lives we regret, but McCain’s character leaves me fully convinced he is the right man at this time.
Michelle, I’m just happy to see you and Joshua and all the old gang back together again. It’s like a disfunctional online version of a “Cheers” reunion.
/Could go for a beer.
//Or two.
//NORM!
Call me a cold-hearted SOB, but McCain’s speech REDUCED my enthusiasm for him. Certainly no one can argue his love of country or his dedication – both are necessary but not sufficent. He certainly beats Obama on these. But come on, the man’s never had a paycheck that wasn’t from the taxpayers and he wants to serve us yet again? Being a warrior is serving; seeking high political office has a much stronger self-interest.
He had to go and remind me again why I opposed him in the primaries and disliked his performance as senator. What business is it of the federal government to impose educational policy on local school boards? That’s a states rights issue. He’ll reach across the aisle to what end? More bad legislation that should have been fought?
I’ll vote mccain/PALIN this election but my energies and contributions go to state issues and candidates.
BTW, Cindy McCain will be a GREAT First Lady.
Really? Because I seem to recall that he voted for this thing called the Military Commissions Act that, in addition to unconstitutionally limiting the application of Habeas Corpus, retroactively limited the prosecutable definition of torture; it went from any breach of Article 3 of the Geneva Convention to “grave breaches” of the Article. And who gets to decide what constitutes a “gave breach” of the Geneva Convention? Why, the President, of course. According to the MCA, “the President has the authority for the United States to interpret the meaning and application of the Geneva Conventions.”
So that’s McCain’s trustworthiness. After all his public statements about being tortured and how he would never allow Americans to do it, he voted for the Military Commissions Act and lobbied to get it passed.
Obama voted against that, by the way.
Joshua, I don’t care. When we get the enemy and they are in civilian clothes we will just shoot them as spies. That would be better besides the last enemy of ours to follow the Geneva Convention was, uh, that’s funny I dont think any of them did.
I notice the left wing trolls have been hitting hard lately. They must be afraid of something.
Cedarford,
You sound so bitter, jaded, and cynical that I find it amazing that you are able to get up in the morning. Do you kick puppies and steal children’s candy for fun?
You illustrate perfectly why I tend to vote Republican. Disaffected people like you tend to vote Democrat. They see the glass half empty and look to the government to fix all their ills. They think the world is against them, and they must fight “the man” for their fair share. That explains why so many of them are lawyers.
Republicans tend to see the glass half full. They recognize that the world is imperfect, and they strive to change it. They do not look to the government as a nanny. In fact, more often than not, they see government as an obstacle. Increased taxes, regulations, and rules are road blocks to actually fixing what is wrong.
You complain about the “2% that got 90% of the wealth gains in the American economy the last 8 years,” yet you make no mention of the fact that these same 2% are paying an incredibly disproportionate amount of taxes. In fact, the lowest 40-50% of the population doesn’t even pay income tax. Please save your class warfare rhetoric for your socialist buddies.
McCain did a wonderful job last night, and he sealed the deal for me. I will be voting for McCain/Palin this year.
HRPKathy says:
“Obama is saying “Change” and I think he means something unrecognizable. He’s throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
McCain is saying “I’ll Fix it” and by that is appealing to those of us who believe our system works, and will work better once the pigs are gone from the trough.
I prefer it to be repaired, not experimented on. As Gov. Palin said, (paraphrasing) ‘the Presidency should not be a journey in personal discovery”.”
Wow I read a lot of punditry and this is perhaps one of the most intelligent, deft things I’ve read written about the core differences between McCain and Obama. Brilliant.
“Republicans tend to see the glass half full. They recognize that the world is imperfect, and they strive to change it. ”
Conservatives tend to see the government putting dirt in the glass. They recognize that government is imperfect and they strive to keep it out of their lives as much as possible.
The Republican Party is the other liberal party now and since George HW Bush.
Michele Catalano,
If it takes a speech to wake you up to the wonder of living in America, I have just one thing to say to you.
Go back to sleep.
Go back to sleep.
Obama’s campaign staff later asked Mitchell who the hotel staff was and that they will track her and explain the message of the speech to her.
That is so frickin’ creepy. Did Obama’s staff want re-educate the waiter?
If it takes a speech to wake you up to the wonder of living in America, I have just one thing to say to you.
Rachel, don’t take everything so literally.
“So that’s McCain’s trustworthiness. After all his public statements about being tortured and how he would never allow Americans to do it, he voted for the Military Commissions Act and lobbied to get it passed.”
I’ve studied my fair share of international law and human rights law, and I do tend to lean toward the left. But I don’t pretend to have a better understanding of these issues than a person who has actually lived through both sides of the issues. McCain himself invoked the Geneva Convention (to no avail) against his torturers in Hanoi … I don’t know about McCain’s reasons for supporting the MCA, but I am sure that he had valid ones – it’s not as though he would have risked any kind of cordial relationship with his party by opposing it!
So, all I’m saying is that if someone in office is going to be calling the shots on who gets tortured, I’d want him (or her) to be someone who can consider those victims with un-doubt-able compassion. McCain has taken an absolute stance against torture – and regardless of the legal definition of torture, he knows exactly what he means.
Would Obama reach the same conclusions? Probably. He has a great respect for human rights and great, intellectual understanding of these issues. But McCain’s understanding was beaten into him in a way he’ll never forget. If there was ever significant pressure on either to act against their professed beliefs, we can be certain that McCain wouldn’t give in. We can only assume that Obama wouldn’t give in – though, as a young democrat assuming the presidency, he might be inclined to act tough to prove himself … but again, he might not.
But that’s why it’s so hard to choose a side in this election. And of course, that’s not the only issue on the table!
I’m an ex-Republican who’s not an ex-conservative. Obama’s symbolics, demeanor, history, and policies have all turned me off since the beginning, so I’m not undecided or moderate. But in being cynical about all politicians, who strike me as liars in various shades of self-deception, I’m something other than your usual partisan.
I too was underwhelmed with the first part of McCain’s acceptance speech. It wasn’t organized well. He stepped on effective lines for no reason! He dwelt too much on his Vietnam years. He needed to describe policies beyond standard Republican boilerplate. He missed critical opportunities to describe what a McCain presidency would really be like. It’s weird that both presidential candidates have made such basic rhetorical mistakes with the stakes so high.
Yet his confession and rebuke of recent Republican and Democratic behavior was wonderful. Pundits were wondering what to make of the silent crowds. I think it was the silence of conviction. Was it a cynic’s gamble or a window into his vision? Whichever it was, it hit home, because it was true.
And the flourish at the end, when he refused to wait for the applause to stop but rode it like a preacher or a football coach to call us to make things better, was electrifying. And it seemed heartfelt — indeed, the defining moment of his campaign. (If he was acting, wouldn’t he have been able to do a better job the rest of the time?)
One doesn’t often see a politician’s real heart in scripted occasions like these, but I think we got an unusually good view yesterday of one, and it was a good one.
- … the people who have jobs outsourced in the Global labor market McCain supports that can be retrained for a “new, exciting job” at 54 in community colleges.
Huh. Guess you can call me lacking in ambition.
At 54 that is PRECISELY the sort of job I’d loved to be (re)trained for. But then I’ve made sure I don’t owe the bank more than my house is worth, don’t have a credit card balance (or nine) and I own my car outright, so I could probably even afford to live that dream.
Just one thing though: I’m not going be retrained for that job by Obama’s fellow travelers, like Bill Ayers, who’ve been replacing public education with their own private marxist revolutionary indoctrination programs, for decades.
Also – ditto to what DCGamer said, c’ford. 30% of America – the most productive 30% – is shouldering virtually all of the federal tax burden for the entire country right now. Exactly how does that fit into Obama’s “fairness” equation? Oh wait, that’s right: “from each according to his abilities”, huh.
What’s more, market forces are THE ONLY WAY the cost of quotidian health care – a commodity – is EVER going to be brought in line with all the other commodities that have remained relatively affordable over the past 50 years. Funny how the only one that’s become unaffordable is the only one for which we have comprehensive insurance. That type of insurance needs to be eliminated, entirely, not handed over for administration to a bunch of self-absorbed, self-promoting, vengeful partisan hacks whom you wouldn’t trust to borrow your car.
And finally, if “adorable tough chick with Religious Right bona fides” is all you’ve gotten out of listening to and reading up on the career history of Sarah Palin, then all that cynical cedar sap has made you blind AND deaf.
McPalin ’08
Great discussion. I would truly like to believe that McCain’s speech is going to energize the people to do what they’ve needed to do for years, clean up Washington. I just have a hard time believing it. I hope that he appoints a commission headed by the VP to review and reform Washington. It won’t be popular with the elected elite, but it would be extremely popular with the people. We need to take back the government and make it govern least. We need our hard earned dollars to stay in our pockets and not wasted in Washington. We need to get the government out of things that it has no reason to be in (education, abortion, etc.) I am for term limits for everyone, so no kingdoms can be built in Washington. I am for ending lobbying and the influence peddling. Right now the only person running for office that even comes close is Palin, but I will take McCain now and Palin in 2012.
Obama brings nothing to the table but if elected you can be sure he will take everything on your table and you will have to leave the tip. Who ya gonna vote for!
Michelle:
WRITTEN WITH RESPECT
Welcome!
To effect change, as you say, is the breakthrough point from the wishful-thinking position of “wanting” change.
In my opinion, this is the fundamental difference between – label it as you will, for simplicity, I’ll say – Democrats and Republicans.
As “Viktor Lazlo” said to “Rick” in CASABLANCA: “Welcome to the fight.. Now, I know our side will win.”
Obama was threatened by the leaks that McCain had bought ad times to directly address Obama after his convention speech, and the leaks that McCain’s VP pick would be leaked at 6:00 pm, and announced at 8:00, right after the speech. Obama did a pre-emptive strike against anticipated vicious anti-Obama attack by mcCain.
McCain aired ads to praise Obama, and no leak about his VP pick.
With all his executive experience running a 20 months presidential campaign, Obama was spooked by the old man’s disinformation.
Another priceless counter-attack: Obama spent millions to orchestrate his European grand tour to impress American voters of his inevitability, a move that shot his rating up eight points. Then came the Paris Hilton celebrity ad. As they say, the rest is history.
McCain made me weep a few times, thinking about him hurting in that cell, wishing he was dead, doubting his own courage, wondering if the next time out was going to be the one that killed him… And as much of a cynic as I am, as we all are from time to time, I can’t help but be moved by his story. If Jimmy Carter thinks McCain is making hay of this in a cynical way, maybe Carter should spend a few weeks in such a tin can, and have his guts kicked out a few times, so he can have some perspective on it. I’d be happy to serve as his prison guard if he’s willing.
I still think McCain isn’t all that smart, doesn’t have a clear set of principles for governing, and is easily led by compelling arguments like the global warming thing. In the name of doing right, he has the potential for doing a lot of wrong.
But overall, of our present crop of likely near future presidents, he is without a doubt the solidest, most trustworthy commander in chief I can imagine. And with the next next president of the united states, Sarah Palin, by his side, I doubt McCain will drift too far from the conservative reservation.
I suspect she will convince him to drill ANWR.
Senators are accustomed to using 1000 words where 10 would suffice. And usually I can’t find a pony in there anywhere. One exception, Fred Thompson
on TAXES: They (say)” they’re not going to tax your family. No, they’re just going to tax “businesses”! So unless you buy something from a “business” like groceries, clothes, or gasoline…or unless you get a paycheck from a big or small “business”, don’t worry…it’s not going to affect you. They say they are not going to take any water out of your side of the bucket, just the “other” side of the bucket.” That’s their idea of tax reform.
And earlier on IMMIGRATION: “It’s our house. We should be able to say who enters it.”
That’s what I want from a speaker: “intellectual ammunition” I can use.
We know that elections are important. But we often overanalyze elections and candidates. Here’s the big picture: Forget McCain, Palin, Obama and Biden. Republicans lean toward the American political model of capitalistic democracy. Democrats lean toward the European model of social democracy. To research the difference, read Tom Paine and Jacques Rousseau. This is all you need to know to make a choice in a national election in America. Vote your conscience as it applies to these two competing conceptual frameworks, and the history of what each has wrought for America and Europe.
Jeez! Why do some of you have to make what is CLEARLY a simple decsion so tough? The Democrats have done what they always do-nominate a pair of Washington lawyers, neither of which has shred of honor, or could even define what that is. On the other hand, we have two people who are truly REAL. Both have authentic, if very different life stories. Both live by a code of honor, and are running for the simple reason of service to the country they love. Neither Democrat has ever held a real job, and frankly, I can’t picture either one as anything other than a politician. You cannot say the same about the Republicans.
“The hottest palces in Hell are reserved for those who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.” Dante Alighieri
I was amazed and impressed. I am admittedly anti-Obama per my libertarian views, but the agility and confidence that McCain showed accepting the Republican nomination while throwing his party under the bus was great.
He talked over their(delegates)heads to America as a whole. I viewed him as the lesser of evils before, but now I believe he is actually a good choice.
If the Repubs go back to their roots, it will bode well for their future. There are many many like me, disgusted with how things are run now, but fully aware of where the progressive change of the Democrats will lead. We complain to each other about not being represented by the two-party system, by our very personalities, most aren’t exacty activists. I didn’t even vote in 2004 I was so annoyed with the conservative promises Bush II forgot immediately after inaugaration.(sp) Besides, the electoral college makes my vote a joke here in CA anyway, but it is in the Constitution, and that is what matters most to me.
Guys, you wan’t believe what the CNN is going to do. I’ve seen an anouncement of the program “The Spirit of Democracy” in Africa, and one of the main characters is RALIA ODINGA. Have they totally lost their conscious? Or they want to present the story their way in order to save Obama’s a..? It’s unbelievable! They really think we’ll want get to the truth? What’s next? Amanpour making the program about the most progressive American Saul Alinsky? wtf, really?
I decided to compare what you may have written about Obama’s acceptance speech. Couldn’t find anything on PJM or on A Big Victory. I think this a bit of a shame. I would have liked to read your reaction. All I could find was one of your fine stream-of-conciousness pieces on how you were disgusted with the extremists on both sides. It reminded me of how much I missed them.
Since you’re an undecided voter, I hope you got a chance to watch Obama or at least to read a transcript. My party wants to reach out to undecided voters, just like the other one. But its kind of hard to reach out when a voter is asymetricly undecided.
I’ve bookmarked PJM, of course, but its good to have a link to A Big Victory also, so I can take a little time now and then to dip into your archive and savor the flavor.
For Bwrightz:
“I hate War”…. for those few of us who have been in harm’s way or ever faced that potential in defense of our Country, sure we hate war, but we will always stare it down.
John McCain remember was a Navy Jet Pilot-no mean feat deserving of the highest respect from those of us on the ground for his skill and competence in the air. However, they are a very pampered breed. When he was shot down, (probably) for the first time in his life, he was forced to come to terms with who he was as a mortal human being, and how thin that veneer of civilization on the human beast is.
The terror and the hardships he and others have faced in war and other circumstances are described, but only they know its force, and its terror truly, not those of us who have read or heard his and others words of it.
He has learned that he is a mortal fallible human, of man’s inhumanity, and that there is a God. We know of the carnage and waste of War, we hate, but we also understand its necessity, its limitations, and that we have to do it in defence of our Country, each other, and our mutual interests, always.
John McCain has “Grit” it may make some folks uncomfortable. I’d follow him to hell and back.
I can’t say that for the other guy.
USMC OLD SALT
I just got a request for a donation from John McCain. Hmmm. My vote has changed.
Because I thought Obama dangerous, I was going to vote against him, which meant voting for John McCain.
Now, I’m voting for Sarah Palin who happens to have McCain at the top of the ticket, and the pharase “one heartbeat away from the Presidency has a different effect on me and millions of others than the msm thinks it has. On her first day, 60 days from now, Palin will be a better President than all 3 Senators could be.
I expressed elsewhere I would like to donate to a 527 which exposes *Biden’s role in the pain that people facing a harsh bankruptcy law (his) or sky high credit card interest (his). That’s more important than his crooked relatives being investigated for hedge fund fraud.
*Also, a 527 ad exposing the Odinga-Obama Kenya connection.
*A video showing the now boarded-up public housing brought to us by the team of Obama and Rezko.
Sandy Salt,
And if Obama is elected you will get just the opposite, our government will come to resemble the socialist governments of Europe more and more. Government’s hold on all areas of life will only increase because that is the only way for it to “solve” our problems for us.
Of course it can’t solve our problems, but that has never stopped the proponents of the idea that government is in the business of creating a perfect cocoon for its citizens. These types will only keep increasing their control over citizens in pursuit of that ever elusive pie in the sky, always saying that if we just surrender a little more of our freedom to the government, then we will finally have it all.
America is one of the final, if not the final, redoubt of the idea that he who governs best governs least. I’ll be damned if I surrender to anyone who admires and/or seeks the approval of, Europe and wants to make us more like them.
Good luck, John McCain!
Joseph – I did not watch Obama’s speech, only because I was away on vacation that entire week.
I should add: I did watch the video that weekend, but it was too much after the fact to write about it here.
I don’t like either candidate’s health plans. I know how to fix healthcare. Obama or McCain needs to read my idea.
Obama’s universal healthcare will result in substandard healthcare, like Germany or the worst HMO plans. It will be “cheap”, cheap on service. Further, making doctors work for the US government will decrease their pay. Decreasing their pay will decrease the incentive for the smartest and brightest to attend medical school. America may no longer be “first” in the world (largest building,,,,etc. are all elsewhere), but we are still first in healthcare. (Attorneys who start out with the prosecutor’s office can “hope” to make $40,000).
McCain’s plans are a tax on those who provide/get health care. It will be a “race” to the bottom, and will do nothing to curb the drivers that are making our healthcare costs higher.
I know the health-care fix. It will unpopular with attorneys. I think McCain/Palin (who are not attorneys) will be most receptive to this idea…but Obama, the thinker, may prove me wrong.
Jury awards and trial attorneys are ruining our health care system. My fix is to curb malpractice awards and rising malpractice insurance. These are the most to blame for our rising health care costs.
We have to put a cap on jury awards for medical malpractice, just like we put a cap on punitive damages. Further, we need to run doctor’s malpractice insurance just like we run each State’s unemployment insurance program. The State agency reviews the claims and provides the first avenue to settle the dispute.
Simple, and I strongly think my little idea will work.
I AM A 69 YEAR OLD GRANDMA WHO HAS WAITED ALL MY ADULT LIFE FOR SOMEONE I CAN VOTE FOR THAT IS NOT A “ME FIRST”, TAX, TAX, TAX, AND THEN SPEND OUR MONEY ON THEIR OWN SPECIAL INTERESTS. SARAH IS MY PICK, TO HELP MAC TRULY CHANGE CONGRESS, NAME THE ABUSERS, VETO THEIR PORK, MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE, ALL YOU WOMEN THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT “CHOICE” I SAY, I COULD NOT EVER HAVE HAD AN ABORTION THAT WAS MY CHOICE, BUT I WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH YOUR CHOICE TO HAVE ONE, THATS WHAT “CHOICE MEANS”
Wow! What a provocative and informed discussion. I have been reading/living on the Internet recently. Your comments are outstanding.
These are not the times when we can afford to be led by a less than mature man.
John McCain grew up in that cell in Hanoi. That’s what he was telling us last night. The man who’d so often been described as “cool and cocky” came face-to-face with the limits of his own toughness. But out of the shame and humiliation of that moment a new creature was being formed — a far better man — the one we saw last night.
He rightly described it as his salvation.
I didn’t hear anything new from McCain last night. He’s been trying to clean up Washington for decades now. It doesn’t surprise me the job has been so tough. But more of us are awakening to the need that an overhaul is long overdue. I’ve always thought that was the reason Republicans lost in 2006. Too many had become just like the Democrats they’d so often criticized — spending lavishly and lining their own pockets in the process.
Now McCain has found a “soul mate.” One who’s begun the housecleaning in her own state. I have an idea – if sent to Washington – she’ll finger those whose hands she finds in the cookie jar. And, as McCain likes to say, he’ll make them “famous.” If we get behind their efforts, and see that they’re not thwarted, hopefully they can do tremendous things.
I think that’s the “fight” McCain wants us to join. Let our voices be heard by Congress. They serve us.
We must have in Washington people we can trust. No relationship works without that as its foundation. And it’s on the issue of trust that McCain’s opponent falls woefully short. His record of public service has proven him to be just another political hack. It’s unfortunate because I know an awful lot of people want to believe something else – and have invested alot in his success.
Perhaps one day Barack Obama will grow into the man he should be. But until then, he cannot be allowed to lead our country; especially in these tough times.
That job should go to the man whose love for country is unwavering, and his character and judgment sound. McCain wasn’t my first choice. But he and Palin have won me over. Big time.
I will proudly vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin in November. However, I have a nit to pick with this statement:
If you’re disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them.
This is like Michelle telling people not to go into business. No, John, we don’t need more government workers.
The idea that it is somehow nobler to become a government bureaucrat than it is to start and run a business or work in private industry is very, well, French.
I realize that the minute the economy heads south, Big Business becomes unpopular in America. But most business people in the US are not CEO’s of huge corporations, but people working 24/7 to make a small company work. Private industry does much more good than swollen government agencies.
DC GAmer – You complain about the “2% that got 90% of the wealth gains in the American economy the last 8 years,” yet you make no mention of the fact that these same 2% are paying an incredibly disproportionate amount of taxes. In fact, the lowest 40-50% of the population doesn’t even pay income tax. Please save your class warfare rhetoric for your socialist buddies.
Libertarian worshippers and bootlicking toadys to the truly wealthy love to point out “they pay more income tax”!!
1. Meaning the more money and gains the top 2% can garnish for themselves, the more taxes they pay! So if I robbed you of 30% of your net worth, and paid “disproportionate” taxes on it, I would be the one screwed because I had the tax burden…you would have the better deal – less taxes! Just as peasants and serfs under aristocrats did…because you get to pay less taxes.
2. As Warren Buffet notes, toadies for the rich alsways try to restrict discussion to the Federal income tax. But when all government taxes and fees are factored in, not only does capital gains or the uniquely low taxes of hedge fund management income helps Buffet pay far less tax on each dollar he makes than his secretary does…All those FICA, sales tax, property tax, sewer fees, electricity taxes make the total tax on the working class dollar even worse compared to the chunk of each dollar very wealthy pay to government.
Add in the basic living expenses and the poor and working class not only pay more in total taxes taken from each dollar, they have far less disposable income on each dollar for investment and discretionary spending. (basic economics 101 known from the 18th century onwards and the root of progressive taxation).
3. If you want Republicans to shrink to just 2% of the population that extract most GNP gains in the current era, plus the 5% that worship the Millikens, Skillings, Gates, and hedge fund folks….by all means do so.
Republicans have not done well by the small town factory workers, the Reagan Democrats that elected them and are now drifting away. At a certain point, lowering their standard of living while transferring more wealth to the wealthy making a killing off globalization and borderless labor bidding is not enough for keeping them by screaming Abortion! Terrorists! Hero armed government employees!
I remain a moderate Northern West Coast Republican. I am watching the Republicans constrict down to a Southern bastion and basically go out of business where high tech workers and traditional factory workers are located in New England, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois – as well as Northern CA, Oregon, and Washington..
Freedoms just another word ….Obama’s universal healthcare will result in substandard healthcare, like Germany or the worst HMO plans. It will be “cheap”, cheap on service. Further, making doctors work for the US government will decrease their pay. Decreasing their pay will decrease the incentive for the smartest and brightest to attend medical school. America may no longer be “first” in the world (largest building,,,,etc. are all elsewhere), but we are still first in healthcare.
1. I take it you never have talked to the average German, French, or Japanese – who are quite happy with their systems. Less costs, longer life expectancy than the USA.
2. Unlike America, they have higher social justice because unlike America, even the humblest blue collar worker can have health insurance, and none are blocked by pre-existing health conditions.
3. Decreasing pay does not seem to impact the “best and brightest” going into medicine because almost a third of our doctors and nurses now come from foreign countries and their schools. Looking for the highest percentages of Arab muslims, Nigerians, Chinese, Indians in jobs in the USA – other than 7/11s, that would be in medicine..
4. First in healthcare? 40 nations have higher life expectancies than us, provide care to all, do it for an average of 50% less in costs than the USA. They can out-compete us on trade since their products and services do not have an employer health care expense added to the cost. And the “socialist” Europeans and Asians all have more financially solvent health care systems than the US – where runaway costs now confront us with 24 trillion in unfunded Medicare liabilities and established businesses going bankrupt over retiree health care costs.
“Donna,” I read that comment you cite completely differently.
AT ISSUE: “If you’re disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them.”
As I read it, with this statement, he is saying: 1) quit’cher b*tchin’ an’ DO something!, and 2) become involved with the process of goverance.*
*It is a logical absolute to say – perhaps as an ultra-libertarian – that there should be a bare, bare, BARE number of government employees doing the absolute min-i-mum that a federal government should do. OK, nice in principle, but has about as much to do with reality as Zerobama’s Doric Styro-columns. NO ONE is saying GROW the number of employees; I hear in these words the call of activism/engagement to those who share a vision of limited government. That ain’t a bad thang….
“The idea that it is somehow nobler to become a government bureaucrat than it is to start and run a business or work in private industry is very, well, French.”
I believe the intent of McCain’s statement is not for people to become nobler when joining the ranks of government but for the government to represent noble ideals as noble individuals join the ranks of government.
“2. Unlike America, they have higher social justice because unlike America, even the humblest blue collar worker can have health insurance, and none are blocked by pre-existing health conditions.”
That’s unconstitutional and not the proper role of government.
“Social justice” is a despicable phrase. The “uninsured” politicians bleat about are mostly illegal aliens.
I was born and raised in Chicago so as much as I would LOVE to buy into Obama’s message, I can’t. Nobody my age makes it as far as fast as he has without cutting some deals with the Chicago Democratic Machine. It simply can’t be done. It’s not possible. That’s what I believe. If you try to tell me that things have changed since I lived there, I’d have to disagree with you. All my old friends back there tell me that it’s even worse than it was when I lived there.
I’m not thrilled with McCain, but after this week, I feel a little better about having him as the lesser of two evils.
Which all in all really pisses me off. I HATE that once again, I don’t have someone I WANT as President. Again, I have have to settle.
The only thing about Palin that really bugs me is that she’s a “social conservative.” That just screams “Gladys Kravitz” to me. Peeking out of her curtains, telling her husband what the neighbors are doing and condemning us for it.
“Michael W. Perry” Amen to that!!! I cannot wait to vote for Mc Cain. I am not positive that I am still registered, so I will make sure I am before the week is up.
To Timmer:
Palin won’t peek through the curtains like Gladys Kravitz…. she’d walk right over and ring the neighbor’s doorbell and tell them to knock it off. And that’s okay with me.
I have always felt like I would hold my nose and vote for McCain. Now I think I won’t have to hold it so tightly or so long.
I know Obama will severely injure the country financially, socially and militarily.
Commentators all over say it was terrible speech
and since it was full of lies
easliy disregarded
It seems to me that “cedarford”, from all his/her postings( the one above and from all the others that I have the displeasure to read,that I forced myself to read ) would be much happier if he lived elsewhere, other than here in these United States. Being a retired career USMC officer and a combat veteran of Viet Nam, (that war which is rapidly fading into the sunset) and a individual who subsequently has visited 58 foreign countries, did business in 29 foreign countries, I’m sure that ” cedarford” would find it most enlightening, interesting and challenging if he were to live, and exist day to day, on the economy, in most any country in Europe, the Middle East or Far East. “Cedarford” has my best wishes to try it. I’ll bet he lasts no more than 90 days, then home again, home again,diggity dig!!!!!
Semper Fi
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121668625082172105.html?mod=Letters
cedarfords post is the typical socialist ideology.
tax the rich, give to the “poor.” and declare that it is noble – that is simply wealth distribution, one of the main premises of Marxism.
his argument about healthcare shows a very left leaning slant as well. while it’s true that the country now imports nurses and medical professions from other, that is simply because hospitals are cutting their budgets due to high costs. I know some folks in the medical industry. the nurses recruited overseas are allow hospitals to lower the market rates of their salaries. hospitals need to cutback due to runaway costs which is fueled by high insurance rates, and high drug prices.
as for the life expectancy argument – other countries have higher life expectancy because of their healthcare. that is BS. The US have lower life expectancy because Americans are the most OVERWORKED workers in the world. Americans sleep less, has less holidays, have to work more to pay taxes. if Obama get’s into the white house and implements his tax policy, Americans will have to work up to July to pay off the tax burdens (currently May is “tax freedom” month, since by May, Americans have paid off their annual tax burdens).
higher life expectancy in France and Japan is also due to lifestyle….that is a scientific fact. Japanese diet and the French’s love of wine reduces their cardiac risks. that’s a fact. it has nothing to do with their healthcare system, that is just stupid to say so.
I’d like to add that recruitment of foreign nurses is being restricted by the government right now since there is now enough nurses in the country (including those who are studying nursing).
the country ALWAYS opens up recruitment of foreign workers when a specific field has a shortage of workers within a particular specialty. when the internet boom was ongoing during the 90′s, the US recruited a lot of computer professionals and gave them H1 visas.
That is the purpose of PROPER immigration, allow people who are hardworking into the country to contribute to the success of our economy.
don’t try to put a leftist slant on that without doing the proper research.
I find the whole notion of being on the fence between Obama and McCain almost unbelievable. Their policy positions are so radically different, it seems the only reason you could be on the fence is if you’re solely choosing based on personality and persona, which is the worst reason to vote for someone. People’s lives and their children’s lives are at stake, along with the future of the U.S. considering the impending supreme court justice replacements.
You were inspired by the ‘stand up and fight’ ending of McCain’s speech? If so, then the political expectations game works too easily on people.
http://garlinggauge.com
I find it to be ironic that the primary difference I see between Obama and McCain is that the constitutional lawyer is the one who has no understanding of the idea that The People should be free to live their lives without fear of government coercion. Good intentions not withstanding, Obama’s brand of Socialism can ONLY result in a tyrannical government. Though McCain shares some of these tendancies, at least he has learned that government is supposed to be subordinate to The People.
Case closed. My vote has to go to McCain. Besides, I think I am sweet on Sarah Palin.
I have been to many many blogs during this election since I have considered this to be one of the most important of my lifetime. While I may not agree with everything that has been said here I can say that I have learned a lot (have had to google certain statements and facts to find out what they actually were talking about). While I believe that several of the people commenting here have an emotional investment in their opinion I believe that most everyone who has commented here base your decisions on reality and truth rather than rhetoric and the irrational emotional roller coaster that I have seen on so many sites.
I will be voting for Senator McCain because I believe that he is invested in the good outcome of this country. I believe that when he says REFORM he means to fix so many of the problems we are facing due to outdated legislation and corrupt politicians. I believe that Senator BO is invested in power and I believe that if he were made president of these United States, he would be the last president and the first Dictator, Czar, put your label there. The man is not interested in MY well being, he has shown through the community work that he has been involved in, that he is interested in the rise of special interests and his agenda with the Middle East leaves an ominous cloud over him. His connections with Ayers as well as a Middle Eastern oil man as well as the ever genteel, ‘Reverand’ Wright help me to come to the conclusion that this man, this Senator’s judgement should be questioned until he gives tangible answers rather than the same old evasive softballs.
If he feels he needs to ‘educate’ me on what he really means to do since his speech is unclear then he truly is an elitist of the worst kind. I call it the ‘gift of tongues’ when a person can speak well and cause the heart to soar high above the clouds with hope and fascination. But my conscience tells me that I cannot soar higher than the clouds I must remain grounded in reality. Reality is Senator John McCain.
Outstanding posts! McCain/Palin – P.O.W./W.O.W.
usmcret – Here’s the hot PJM tip: Most of us don’t read cedarford’s posts anymore. Just skip over them.
Let’s get a Republican Congress for President McCain and Vice President Sarah Barracuda to work with. Not just for the sake of having more Republicans, but to give us a chance to bring true reform. Let’s throw the bums out of Congress and take our country back! Fight, fight, fight for a Democratic Republic!!!!!!!!!
ic:
Obama was threatened by the leaks that McCain had bought ad times to directly address Obama after his convention speech, and the leaks that McCain’s VP pick would be leaked at 6:00 pm, and announced at 8:00, right after the speech. Obama did a pre-emptive strike against anticipated vicious anti-Obama attack by mcCain.
McCain aired ads to praise Obama, and no leak about his VP pick.
With all his executive experience running a 20 months presidential campaign, Obama was spooked by the old man’s disinformation.
leave it to a vietnam veteran to know how a psywar tactics are effectively implemented. McCain have Obama and his 300 advisers second guessing themselves. That is psywar at it’s finest.
McCain also forced the messiah and his 300 advisers to spend a lot of money and manhours researching Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Joe Lieberman, Tom Ridge, and Mike Huckabee for items to be used against them in case they were chosen as VP pick. They also prepared ads which cost money against the list of VP picks that they thought made sense to McCain. then McCain pulled Sarah out of nowhere and the rest is history.
now, the messiah is begging women democrats to come to his aide. they might do so, but it would only remind women voters how the messiah passed over a woman for VP. ouch! damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. the worst part is that the better the speeches that these women surrogates deliver at any campaign event, the more women would think “why in the hell didn’t Obama choose a woman for VP? ah, he’s gotta be sexist! and now, he’s asking women to save his campaign….he’s really not that smart after all is he?”
McCain has been puling a lot of headfakes in this campaign that’s kept the messiah on his toes….notice that the messiah has a lot more gray hair now. LOL! by the time this is over, the messiah might need a straight jacket. psywar is an awesome strategy to watch and fun to see when it works.
authentic and humbling, go McCain/Palin!
o/t but would this healthcare idea be good or bad Republican doctrine? If a basketcase state like, say, Michigan had “universal healthcare, that would lift the burden off businesses, particularly the car companies who could then build and sell their cars more cheaply. In fact, wouldn’t such a state have a competitive advantage against the other states when it came to attracting new businesses? If this thinking is sound, and I;m no economist, the last thing we should want would be a national healthcare system. Thoughts?
PS: I was at the McCain/Palin outside Detroit yesterday. You’d think McCain would be exhausted but he looked like he was thriving, Sarah too. They mostly reused the lines that played so well this week, which is OK, but they’ll soon need to bring out new ordinance.
Come on, how can any of you seriously consider electing a true Marxist, groomed by Saul Alinsky. Better find out what this true believer’s plans are for our country. Mussolini used the same methods to con the people into giving him the power to rule.
An Imperial Presidency will remain whether it’s Obama or McCain. WAKE UP people!!
McCain believes that the foundations of our Country are good and deserve to remain strong and the basis for future generations. His change is back to the “basics”.
Whereas Obama’s change is to get rid of the old – including the basics – and get with his new age “progressive” ideas and social engineering programs. More governement and less self reliance. He wants change for change’s sake.
Personally I think our founding fathers were far greater and smarter than Obama. McCain recognizes that they laid a solid foundation for ALL times.
Chuck, re:universal health insurance, it’s a bad idea. McCain wants to give individuals the same tax breaks that businesses get now, to make premiums tax deductible, which is a GREAT idea! In fact, we need MORE options for individual health insurance plans including high deductible HSA plans offered to individuals in all states. Here in NYS, individuals are stuck without options outside of work. The employer options are limited, not customizable for each individual (unless they are a large corporation with more options, but small businesses don’t have those options). Anyway, universal health insurance is an idea that Democrats and big insurance companies BOTH love… because government makes more people dependent on them, and then they “outsource” the coverage to the big insurance companies, allowing them to pick up the other 46 million Americans who opted out of coverage but will now be mandated, and the big insurance companies won’t have to worry about offering plans people are willing to pay for voluntarily… the consumer winds up paying more, with fewer choices, and a healthcare system that provides less service… a VERY bad idea. No thank you. McCain is on the right track, Obama is on the left track (of course).
You’re right, this speech did help us to know what John McCain is about and to be able to place our confidence in him. I was encouraged by what he said.
“The only thing about Palin that really bugs me is that she’s a “social conservative.” That just screams “Gladys Kravitz” to me. Peeking out of her curtains, telling her husband what the neighbors are doing and condemning us for it.
Sep 5, 2008 – 5:56 pm”
I can appreciate your desire for people to butt out. But really? The way the left has gone after Sarah Palin seems to me evidence that Gladys Kravitz was a Democrat.
I see no evidence that Sarah’s personal family choices effect you in any way. Perhaps you should reassess who is doing the snooping and judging.
To amplify something Timmer said: I grew up primarily around Chicago and I clearly remember the scheming of the famous Machine and what it did to Chicago’s first African-American mayor, Harold Washington.
The Wikipedia entry on Washington has the full details, but the Cliff Notes version is that Harold ran as an anti-machine Democrat and was viciously opposed both before and after his election by the Cook County Democratic Party, primarily in the form of aldermen Ed Burke and “Fast Eddie” Vrdolyak. (The Democratic Party actually officially endorsed his white Republican opponent). Barack Obama claims (in one of his books) that he was inspired by Washington to go into law school and do more with his life, but Obama’s sucking up to that same machine is a serious dishonor to Mayor Washington’s memory in my book.
Independent centrist/moderate here: McCain’s speech spoke to me at a profoundly personal level. I’m from a military family; my father served for 30 years and is buried at Arlington with full military honors; my spouse served for 26 years [both were fighter pilots]; my sister served in Somalia during the Blackhawk Down incident; my brother served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and I am a Vietnam-era veteran. I was moved by Sen. McCain’s words about service, love of country and his personal story. His humility in admitting that they “broke” him as a POW showed courage, honesty and compassion for our military troops and their code of honor. I wasn’t sold on McCain, even after Palin, until that moment. But, that pretty much did it for me. John McCain, much as I may disagree with him on policy–but not always–is a man of incredible courage, honor and integrity. And, in my view, THAT is what this country needs after G.W.Bush.
The Establishment Media just does not get it. They are so fixated on McCain speaking style that they completely missed the message
Senator McCain was not talking to them Thursday Night, he was talking to me.
He was talking to me and the 10s of millions of voters like me. People who once wore a uniform with pride. People who work with their hands. Whose parent come from a very humble background. Who struggle every day to make things work for their family, hoping they can continue to cope with the small triumphs and tragedies of ordinary lives.
People who live, to quote 1 media figure, “small unimportant lives of no consequence”. People who do not confuse knee jerk cynicism and hyper negativity for wisdom. People who want to hear from their leaders how the future will be made better for their kids to inherit. People who are tired of focus group testes slogans and nasty, childish personal attack politics.
People looking for a political leader who does not think of political power as a personal entitlement but as an act of public service.
I did not like John McCain prior to Thursday night. I respected his service but did not care for his politics. I was wrong. I let others tell me who John McCain and the Republicans were rather then learning for myself. Thursday night John McCain told me who he,and they, are.
John McCain showed me Thursday night that he gets it. The establishment Media, the Democrat Party and Barack Obama have shown me they do not. It is just that simple
It is very simple to me. McCain/Palin are America and Obama is not. When voting this year, I think deeply what America will be like with an extreme person as Obama as my president and I get a bit shaky. A socialist life is not what I want for myself, family and my fellow Americans. I hope the Obama supporters will see that before Nov. If not then we live with what we voted, for better or worse. Lets keep America a free nation to all citzens that we may pursue our dreams no matter what they my be. McCain should be president. God Bless America and may we make the right choice for this nation and it’s people.
Well Obama stole Hillary’s plans so who cares if McCain steals Obama’s plans.
I do get the feeling that McCain is running for President to serve the country, and Obama is running for his own ego.
I was already going to vote for John McCain because of Barak Obama’s 20 year association with his anti-american (God Damn America) spiritual advisor, pastor Wright. Now that he has chosen Sarah Palin, I am going to contact ACORN so I can vote for him another 5 or 6 times.
“I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice, and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for.”
From a man who was stuck in a cell in a distant country that hated his people, who had no idea if he ever was going home again.
A man like that knows the price of war and gift of freedom. I’ve always respected his service, didn’t always agree with his politics. After this speech, regardless of the latter, I don’t doubt his love for his country and why he’s doing what he’s doing.
I believe him. I will also say that I had a moment with tears in my eyes during Palin’s speech and damn if I didn’t again at this point in McCain’s.
I’m pretty jaded, politically speaking, so that was a bit of a shock. I thought that men like him didn’t exist anymore in politics. Grateful to be wrong.
Yep, McCain/Palin ’08. I might even get a lawn sign. Will wonders never cease.
All democrats have told us is that America sucks, Bush sucks, capitalism sucks, doing the right thing sucks, and in general, any one of us that do not agree with them on these points, also sucks. Then they gave us Obama, a marxist that hangs out with the vilest of America’s haters, that told us he would not be like Bush, and he would change America, finally make it good.
While I do not think Bush was that great I can not help but disagree with these democrats about what they believe. And more importantly, about the changes they want to make. I have had the opportunity to live outside America and have seen some of these hell holes the left tells us we should be more like up close. For all its faults America is a paradise compared to what Obama and the people on left he is shilling for will leave in their wake if they do what they really want to do.
America is based on equality of opportunity. While this does not guarantee everyone makes it big, it allows many to do real well. Some even do astronomically well. This philosophy is what has allowed the creation of most of the world’s wealth. And it was not done by stealing from the poor (what the hell do the poor have to steal anyway?) like the losers on the left tell people. The left wants to guarantee equality of outcome. Even if they are successful, and precisely because of the faults in human nature they claim make what we have now unfair, all they will guarantee us all – except for the top 3000 or so of them which will control everything and be a lot more “equal” than the rest of us – equality of misery.
That is why I will not vote for Obama or any other democrat. The day the democrats abandon their flaky identity and class warfare politics and collectivism will be the day I might consider giving them my vote again.
chuck wrote:
Chuck,
You’re making the usual error of imagining that a state-run health care is “free,” and creates no burden on citizens or businesses. If the state provides the same level of coverage, it will have the same costs — plus administrative and taxation costs, since states are bureaucratic and it costs money to collect taxes. So the net effect will be pretty much the same.
The correct solution must address three separate problems:
1) The medical insurance and medical provider market is the most heavily regulated market in America, and a huge percentage of the high costs are due to government interference. It needs to be almost completely deregulated.
2) Malpractice claims need to be capped, and penalties need to be assessed for frivolous lawsuits.
3) The AMA needs to be removed from the doctor licensing business; they’ve been artificially restricting the supply of doctors for decades.
I am so impressed with the comments, I have been a junkie and I like to read what people write from both sides, generally all the comments here were well thought and articulated. thank you very much for sharing.
Anyone seriously considering voting for McCain’s policies are terribly misguided.
Forgive me if this sentiment has already been expressed, but after the Republican National Convention, I am convinced that key distinction between Obama and McCain is that McCain doesn’t just want to BE our President, he wants to SERVE as our president. Not just something to add to his resume…or future memoir….
Sen. McCain, for me at least, is getting a second chance – he has earned it. He now stands at a unique point in history, able to change the direction of his party by putting forth that culture creates society and society runs government, not the other way around. He is not the carrier of that message, Gov. Palin is. There is a swath of this country in the rust belt and through appalachia that should hear her message, state by state, town by town… not a political message at heart, but a cultural one to show how good culture can make good politics.
I still strongly disagree with Sen. McCain on the majority of his goals.
I disagree with Sen. Obama on nearly every single one of his.
I can forgive Sen. McCain much for this opportunity for the Nation, but I will not forget the political allies he has turned on over the decades. A chance for the future, yes, but I do remember that he may not call it ‘expediency’ yet he has made many expedient choices that were popular if not wise.
That is not a fence-sitting position, but one to see what is best for the Nation. If it were *just* the Presidency, I would have problems voting for either due to their respective pasts. One refuses to come clean… the other has told his story and why he did what he did and that is good. A second chance has a proviso, in that he must make good his words on the trail. I will watch what he does and where they each go, and decide if he knows just, exactly, what his job is now. Because it is no longer about him, but what he can do if he understands. If he doesn’t then he will have spent the last of my good will towards him, and he will just be running for President.
Tortuca, anyone seriously considering voting for Obama’s policies are the ones who would be terribly misguided. I, for one, do not want higher taxes — we all already pay enough. Obama has already pledged he will increase the taxes of corporations and persons in the middle to high income bracket, meaning many persons who own small businesses. If you tax corporations any more than they already are heavily taxed, the companies will not be able to invest in capital investments for infrastructure upgrade and additional resources. This means, no new jobs or, at worse, cutting existing workforce — basic economics. I am also for a strong defense, and Obama has already stated he will draw down existing military force structure and decrease military spending and move that funding to support his domestic agenda. This in a time when we are battling a mighty war against radical Islamic forces not only in the Middle East/Southwest Asia region, but also in the Philippines, northern and eastern Africa, Europe and right here in our own backyards with terrorist cells bent on destroying our way of life. We cannot afford another 9/11. On energy, Obama opposes oil drilling to accommodate his unreasonable environmentalist constituents, when everyone else knows more supply brings down price (basic economics again). An Obama Administration would be disastrous for our economy and for our national interests here and abroad. Read the fine print, folks.
RE: A in San Diego
“Forgive me if this sentiment has already been expressed, but after the Republican National Convention, I am convinced that key distinction between Obama and McCain is that McCain doesn’t just want to BE our President, he wants to SERVE as our president. Not just something to add to his resume…or future memoir….”
How was he SERVING his country with McCain/Feingold, McCain/Kennedy, McCain/Lieberman, support of UNCLOS (the “LOST” treaty), and the most recent $50 billion overseas giveaway he co-sponsored with OBAMA?
How is he serving his country be associating with a man (Juan Hernandez – on his campaign staff) who doesn’t even believe this is a country? I am reminded of something Sir John Harrington once said about things prospering….
Both McCain and Obama do not intend to serve their country, but expect it to serve THEM and THEIR interests.
I am right there with all of you. I am a registered democrat who votes independent, and McCain’s speech did bring me to tears, not just the verge. I have never before cried while watching a political speech (not even out of fear). My mom died last December, and I’ve spent the last 9 months wondering how I can make my life about something important rather than just about myself. John McCain inspired me to keep searching for that something and to follow his example of service “as long as I draw breath . . .” Toward the end, when he listed different things we can do to help others, he said “teach an illiterate adult to read.” My mom earned her certification in TOEFL while she was fighting and dying of cancer, and she devoted the last years of her life to teaching adult literacy as a volunteer through her city’s public library. John McCain spoke directly to me last Thursday, and I will speak to him on November 4th with my vote for McCain / Palin.
888:
You seem to lack a considerable amount of information, along with demonstrating a simplistic understanding of the information you have.
If you make less than $150,000 a year, you will get a TAX CUT in an Obama administration. Go to http://alchemytoday.com/obamataxcut/ to see how much. If you’re making over $250,000 a year, I have no sympathy for you.
Obama proposes taxing corporations that send jobs overseas, and giving tax breaks to companies that invest in jobs at home. –basic economics and common sense.
A strong defense is not solely limited to the military. Anyone that thinks ‘defense’ and ‘military’ are all that dovetail have a myopic and limited understanding of the world. For example, We should focus money on U.S. infrastructure instead of the Iraqi infrastructure. Iraq has enough to pay for its own building projects now, and then some. Imagine if we spent billions of dollars on diplomacy and incentives instead of missiles? The cost-to-benefit ratio would be much more beneficial to U.S. interests.
Anyone concerned about spending billions of dollars at home instead of in Iraq is terribly confused.
888, you seem to be very afraid of radical Islam, to the point where your fears are overriding your common sense. Terribly sad.
On oil drilling, sadly you are also misinformed. Obama supports offshore oil drilling as part of an overall energy plan (haven’t you been paying attention?).
Your ‘basic economics’ ideas are simplistic and sophomoric, as it would take 10 years minimum for a new U.S. oil supply to affect the markets, and by that time the global demand would be much greater, mitigating any effect the new oil would bring.
In addition, the oil companies already have 68 million acres of leased, untapped land in the U.S. that they are not using. Why give them more when they aren’t using what they already have?
Moreover, it is obvious that we need to siphon ourselves off of oil as an energy resource, and this energy crisis is a perfect time to do so. Why double down on a policy that we know will fail eventually? Again, a myopic understanding.
It seems to be you that needs to read the fine print, 888.
http://garlinggauge.com
“For example, We should focus money on U.S. infrastructure instead of the Iraqi infrastructure.”
I’ll let you in on a little secret, but don’t tell anyone: We DO spend money on U.S. infrastructure, and plenty of it. Shhh….keep it to yourself though. Wouldn’t want folks to see through that liberal talking point.
“If you’re making over $250,000 a year, I have no sympathy for you.”
Spoken like a good little Marxist. As if stealing from someone making $250,000 is any more acceptable than stealing from someone making less.
And Obama supports offshore drilling? That’s funny. You’re right, somebody hasn’t been paying attention: You.
PS
It’s funny you’re worried about spending money on Iraq infrastructure that could be spent here at home, while apparently being ok with Obama’s desire to set up a global poverty fund that adds billions annually to what we already spend to help others. Well, I’m guessing, unless Iraq gets some of it.
That’s even less we’ll have to spend here at home.
Tortuca, the website you provided is an Obama-supporting blog that could’ve been created by anyone. A better one to show Obama’s economic plan for this country is his own website: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/#invest-for-jobs. Unfortunately for you, there is no mention of any tax cut for those making under $150K. About taxing companies who send jobs overseas, why do you think they’re sending jobs overseas in the first place? Because it’s too expensive to operate in the US. The key is to make it less expensive, more profitable for firms to keep jobs here. Less imposition of costly and unnecessary regulation would be a fine 1st step — you know, smaller government, which unfortunately is not what Obama is calling for.
Now, read his proposals. Where is he going to get his promised $1000 per year per family “permanent tax relief” after the initial oil company excess profit tax down payment? Of course, from the taxpayers. He’s got all kinds of bells & whistles there that we all know he will have to deliver to his special interests constituency once he’s elected, at the expense of the taxpayer. He’s got some weird (best way to put it) proposals in there, too. For example, “Obama will dramatically simplify tax filings so that millions of Americans will be able to do their taxes in less than five minutes.” Like, I guess we’re so stupid that we can’t figure out the 1040EZ form? How about those who have to itemize? Really in 5 minutes?
Here’s another one: “Obama will create a program to INFORM businesses about the benefits of flexible work schedules (again, like businesses are so ill-informed they don’t know about flex schedules); help businesses create flexible work opportunities; and increase federal incentives for telecommuting. Obama will also make the federal government a model employer in terms of adopting flexible work schedules and permitting employees to request flexible arrangements.” Idiotic…and Johnny come lately. The federal government adopted, and was one of the first to implement, flexible work schedules…uh, over a decade ago. It’s used by federal agencies throughout the Washington DC beltway. I guess Obama’s been campaigning so long he didn’t even know that all along the streets surrounding his senate building, they utilize flex work schedules. Charming.
Tortuca says:
This is a damned lie. Bill Clinton also promised the same crap, then taxed everybody that made over $40 K. Obama is teeing up close to $2 trillion in new spending for his “social justice programs” (read wealth redistibution schemes). Obama is a marxist. Democrats are all wealth redistribution power mongers (buy votes from the have nots with money you steal from the productive). Even if Obama’s administration raised the tax bracket for people making $250K and more to 90%, they would be left needing more cash to cover their spending. The richest people, do your research and you will find that most of them are democrats, have no income to speak off. This tax will do nothing to them. It will however make sure far fewer people become well off and cripple our economy. Your lie has been corrected.
a vet. friend of mine said the other day “i don’t always agree with John McCain BUT I WOULD FOLLOW HIM INTO HELL”
as C.I.C. John McCain gets it. and our military knows he gets it.
HOORAH
AlexinCT:
“This is a damned lie.”
No, it isn’t. Obama is not Clinton, and calling him a “marxist” is childish and a lie itself. It is always difficult to discuss issues with someone who lies and uses sophomoric language.
yochanan:
I believe it is safe to say that the troops we have deployed overseas, the ones on the ground talking to Iraqis and Afgans, are the ones that truly understand what is going on, and the ones most relying on competent leadership.
Curious how deployed troops are donating to the Obama campaign 6 to 1 over that of McCain.
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/08/troops-deployed-abroad-give-61.html
I come from a military family and have seen firsthand the burdens associated with it. The military supports Obama, I hope you can too.
http://garlinggauge.com
888:
Sorry, missed your reply.
You wrote “Unfortunately for you, there is no mention of any tax cut for those making under $150K.”
Here’s the link to TIME outlining the plan:
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1812964,00.html
TIME: “and a tax cut for Americans making less than $150,000 a year — to be financed with tax increases on those making more than $150,000 a year.”
Didn’t mean to skip your reply.
Let’s talk about taxes, shall we. Bush’s tax cuts were a good thing, but when I read the fine print, I discovered that tax rates would actually go up for the high income folks relative to the low income folks. The mantra that Bush gave tax cuts to the rich, was always a distortion. Now, 38% of the population pay no Federal income taxes. If Obama lets these tax cuts expire, which he says he will do, the result will actually be more damaging to the low income folks relative to the high income folks. Also, in regards to business taxes, there has never been any such thing. ALL taxes, paid by businesses, are recovered by those businesses in higher charges for their products and services. The taxpayer, rich and poor get the entire bill, ultimately. If Obama says he will raise taxes on business, the result will be higher taxes for all of us citizens. Worse, if he raises taxes on business, he gives an unfair market advantage to overseas business, who may be operating in a more enlightened environment. Our taxes go up, plus the low income folks in our country lose more jobs overseas. Obama has already said he will do these things, so any income tax he may provide for the middle income folks, will be more than offset by these tax increases. When you add up the social programs Obama wants to install and/or enhance, you can bet, by God, that two weeks after the inauguration, he will decide he can’t pay for his programs if he gives the middle income folks the promised tax cuts. Hold on to your wallets folks, the Central Planning Committee will be all you get from an Obama administration. By the way, there is no such thing as a trade deficit, unless we believe that what we buy overseas is not worth what we pay for it.
“yochanan:
a vet. friend of mine said the other day “i don’t always agree with John McCain BUT I WOULD FOLLOW HIM INTO HELL”
as C.I.C. John McCain gets it. and our military knows he gets it.
HOORAH”
McCain pushed to close the POW/MIA investigations to normalize trade relations with Vietnam. What does he “get”?
I have voted democrat since I was 18. I liked Obama at first. He is a great speaker when the situation is right. But there’s just nothing behind him but his own inflated ego and a lot of corruption.
I had about decided I was going to vote McCain. Then he choose Palin, and I was excited about getting to vote for her. Then I watched his speech, and I am excited to vote for him!! I wanted to stand up and yell along with him there at the end! I donated money, I am going to volunteer, the whole works. Talk about a real man!!
I was hoping for an “ahhh” moment, a deciding factor in voting for Obama. I was hoping that he could put aside his differences with Bill Clinton and do what was best for the COUNTRY…..not necessarily for himself. I was hoping he was smart enough, gracious enough, and forgiving enough that he would assure his victory by choosing Hillary as his running mate.
It didn’t happen. Instead, he foolishly decided to cater to his own whims and his own hurt feelings caused by what he felt were harsh criticisms and maybe even untruths. He arrogantly believed that no matter who he picked, he would still win…..the Clinton supporters would cry, whine and argue, but in the end they would come like sheep back into the fold. He didn’t care what was best for the country…..he just wanted to be president on HIS terms, staying as far away from the Clintons as possible.
Hillary, on the other hand, is gracious beyond belief. She is doing what she can, putting the PARTY AND COUNTRY first and herself second. She would have made a tremendous president OR vice president. But, Obama’s hurt feelings, immaturity and arrogance made that impossible.
I haven’t voted Republican since Reagan’s second term. I just couldn’t see Mondale in the big chair, and the fact that he chose a woman as his running mate didn’t matter to me….he wasn’t right to be president. So, I crossed over to the other side. It wasn’t easy, and it bothered me for weeks, but in the end I punched that “Reagan” ticket. I was undecided until the very last second before tossing my beliefs to the wind and doing it.
Now, I find myself in the same position. It hurts, it’s gut wrenching, and I probably won’t be sure of my choice until I walk into that booth, just like I did 24 years ago.
Yes, the candidates are very different. One stands for the things I believe in (except for late term abortion), but he is the one I truly dislike. The other’s stance on the economy is opposite to the one that I consider necessary to solve our problems, but I LIKE him! Argh…..Heaven help me…..heaven help the country.
Johnathan,
I, too, have followed Obama for some time and read his writings. I also catch his interviews when I can and also watch his stump speeches. But I look at his emotional tone.
You said:
“Obama is eloquent and intelligent, but he does not seem rooted in anything. For two years I’ve looked for signs of integrity and character, but he always seems blown by the wind. I don’t think that even Barack Obama knows who Barack Obama is.”
I disagree in part with this statement. I, too, see Obama as eloquent and intelligent, and agree he seems to be unrooted, but he is not. The question is what is he rooted in?
Also, I think he knows who he is. He knows what he needs to be. He just doesn’t have the emotional tools to get there.
What I see is a man who is terribly plagued by anxiety, an anxiety that is so intense that it shapes many of his responses when he is confronted with anything. He seems incapable of self-soothing and quieting down that anxiety. Crowd adoration does quiet down that anxiety for him temporarily, and gives us a glimpse of who he would be without it. He is at his best at those times.
Unfortunately, when he is faced with the hard questions, when he is confronted, because he can’t self-soothe, he ends up flip-flopping around until he hits a chord that gives him some reflected self-worth from his audience. Hence his triplicate (different) answers to every criticism or major question, and his propensity to want to please and placate the people/person he is speaking to. I think he wants to stand firm. He just can’t.
This is a major character difference between him and McCain and, in comparison, why John McCain seems so much more capable. Some people find John McCain to be not quite exciting enough, but I just see him as a lot less excitable than Obama.
Obama looks like the person who emotionally can’t afford to fly off the handle, no matter the provocation, without first getting a consensus on the matter. And he seems to cut his own legs off at the knees when he’s confronted. And that seems to reflect self-doubt and fear of rejection, which is the force behind all that anxiety.
McCain, on the other hand, has a temper, but he can hold his own in a gale and continue to fight for what he believes in. And he seems to be able to pick his fights well. John McCain has a quiet certainty of his own self-worth and his own personal power. It gives him the ability to become appropriately indignant and express that in real time. I don’t see that quality in Obama.
The only time you see Obama express his irritation is when the crowd is held way off away from him behind gates, and he has a mic in his hand and no way to see or sense up close reactions. When he is face to face and confronted he placates and agrees with his detractor and then disagrees and explains his position. In small intimate crowds that are not hand picked, Obama is tentative and unsure even when not answering questions.
So, policies aside, I believe that Obama is unsuited at this time to be a world class leader. He really doesn’t have the character strength necessary to lead America in this complex world.
That doesn’t mean he will never be ready! I fully believe that a man who is this driven can succeed. But he needs to start at home and do the work necessary to lay whatever demons he has from his past to rest. Without that I can’t see him building the kind of character that is necessary to do lead this nation effectively.
John McCain was lucky to be blessed with adversity when he was at the right age to be strong enough to work his way through his issues. And he did it in a way that built his character to what we see today.
And I think people are resonating with that.
Republicans:
I prefer conservative leaders who live within their means to handle our Nations decisions…
People who come from large, supportive families, steeped in a broad, structured base which offers a learning process.
They’ve learned from many generations of life experiences: interacting / dealing with problems collectively as a whole, everyday with accountability to their peers: family, friends and neighbors.
These are the people who are vested in this country and have always known accountability for their actions. Their actions come from deeply seeded experiences that benefit their community.
Therefore, McCain / Palin do not do business with unsavory characters, not wittingly, they don’t have to…they know they can count on themselves to make a difficult decision for the correct reasons – to benefit all of us as a nation.
Democrats:
Obama became more focused at Harvard, but he had been learning life in an unstable background. As an adult, his deceit of using someone for campaign funds (to get elected) is transparent, esp. denying that association while living in the house purchased with these contribution $$$ and then disavowing consort with this criminal type, by returning funds he no longer needed after elected.
The deed was already done.
Laurel, In addition to what you write about Obama “at Harvard” etc…don’t forget about the CHICAGO MACHINE that got him so far. I thought Freddoso’s book, “The Case Against Barack Obama” was pretty good (almost too detailed for my taste, but for those interested in the details, a goldmine!) on the matter.
Anyone who is sensitive to their spirit can see the godliness emanating from Sarah Palin and John McCain. (John 3:3) However, there are many who subscribe to the viewpoints of the media, which is totally bias. The dilemma is that fewer Americans are able to discern between good and evil much less what is righteousness, good and upright and most of all, godly. We must support the candidates who support and will defend the Constitution, Bill of Rights and the Ten Commandments, which must be reinstated! We must never allow the Supreme Court to legislate law, as has been doing. They are to enforce our standards of law and nothing more!
John McCain has more then proven himself in what is morally right and sound, as is with Sarah Palin. Obama’s record of two years speaks for its self, zero accomplishments, except for voting to withhold support for our soldiers. He speaks volumes, but with NO experience or substance in truth. A man who openly speaks against God’s word!
Advocate4Good
You judge the following:
http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?swf=http%3A//s.ytimg.com/yt/swf/cps-vfl55589.swf&video_id=4FCNKwHRCQM&rel=1&eurl=&iurl=http%3A//i1.ytimg.com/vi/4FCNKwHRCQM/default.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskJY0nHhzdjOzGpYAWbrFktX&use_get_video_info=1&load_modules=1
This came from a friend. Food for thought!
If You were The Boss… which team would you hire?
>
> With America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts,
> stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high
> prison population, skyrocketing Federal spending, mortgage
> crises, bank foreclosures, etc. etc., this is an unusually
> critical election year.
>
> Let’s look at the educational background of the
> candidates and see what they bring to the job:
>
> Obama:
> Occidental College – Two years.
> Columbia University – B.A. political science with a
> specialization in international relations.
> Harvard – Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude
>
> Biden:
> University of Delaware – B.A. in history and B.A. in
> political science.
> Syracuse University College of Law – Juris Doctor (J.D.)
>
> vs.
>
> McCain:
> United States Naval Academy – Class rank 894 out of 899
> (meaning that, like George Bush, McCain was at the bottom of
> his class)
>
>
> Palin:
> Hawaii Pacific University – 1 semester
> North Idaho College – 2 semesters – general study
> University of Idaho – 2 semesters – journalism
> Matanuska-Susitna College – 1 semester
> University of Idaho – 3 semesters – B.A. in journalism
>
> Now, which team are you going to hire to lead the most
> influential nation in the world?
David
Barack Obama for President!
Change we Need!
Obama/Biden 08