Of course the question is irrelevent. The Republicans have socialized our banks and wrecked the economy and as tax payers we have gotten very little return on our investment over the last eight years. The right wing nuts (apparently led by McCain and Palin) have labeled Obama's policies as socialists. So if Obama wins, I guess their President and mine was elected by socialists? We're all Americans and we'll all have to share our government after Tuesday.
I would have preferred to have universal health care before nationalizing the banks.
IRK
Get the Big 3 automakers to make a Patriot E-car -An American version of the SMART CAR
Each company do its variation of the same car. One basic forumla to promote easy, cost effective mass production - a 21st Century of the Model T. This can't be a Vega, Pinto or Gremlin - this has to be a Way To Cool vehicle.
People will buy it because:
It will be econmocial. Hybrid and 35 mpg minimum.Offer solar, electric, natural gas features where applicable and possible.
Low cost. Under $10 K
Made in America. Made by Americans.Marketed as a job creator. Drive it to save gas and to create a job for your neighbor.
High style paints in RED, WHITE, BLUE and GOLD colors only. Hybrids can be gold.
Make it EASY to buy. Easy to own.If you have a car, you can get a job easier. IF you have a car, mechanics and insurance companies etc... create residual jobs.
Tax credits to make for companies. Tax credits to buy for consumers.
Sell it for cost. Dealers get a flat fee = or some kind of tax break or credit for having them on their lot.
Bad credit? Doesnt matter. You get a fair chance to own one - consumers pay dealer directly with a fixed montly rate. Everyone in US pays $175 a month for them for example. Goal is to reduce old cars, gas guzzlers.
Special insurance policies (underwrited by gov't) and rates to keep insurance affordable.
Market like the Smart Car. Target the Youth Market. Make it cool to own, cool to be patriotic, cool to drive an American green Car.
Introducing the Ford Patriot, The GM Patriot. Ya wanna flag pin to wear, we'll give you a flag pin!
John HinkleySqueaky FrommeJames Earl RaySirhan SirhanArthur BremerLee Harvey OswaldJohn Wilkes BoothCharles GiteauLeon Czolgosz
We have a sad history of nut jobs who try and who have succeeded killing political leaders. Sarah Palin and John McCain and his campaign have adopted a strategy;stoking the fire of unreasonable fear in the hearts of conservrative(and mostly Christian) Americans, against Sen. Obama.
This week we have watched the hate spill over. The building of mob frenzy and collective anger, not based on truth, not based on the economy, but because of an endorsed belief that Sen. Obama is this sort of "other."
Yesterday, Friday, when McCain had his "uh oh" moment and finally tried to right this terrible wrong - the crowds were APPALLED to hear that Sen. Obama was a decent guy and not to be feared. Too late Sen. McCain, the damage has been done. You guys have been EXTREMELY successful.
Listen to the tapes! The McCain Palin crowds hollerd out "What???" and moans of "Nooooo."
Worse things are said in these crowds. Calls of Sen. Obama's death and destruction. This is how HITLER whipped up his crowds. He stirred up people's hate and fear so effectively that an entire country sat by and whatched the Nazi party do their handiwork.
Some nut job is going to be encouraged to do what he/she thinks is their patriotic duty for the good of America.
THIS IS DESPICABLE,HORRENDOUS and VILE behavior in the Palin/McCain campaign. So this is how you want to win? By seeing someone killed?
God forbid, anything happens to Sen. Obama. God forbid you pushed the button on one unbalanced person to harm a decent, honorable man - GOD FORBID anybody's blood is shed.
The American People will blame you, Gov. Palin and Sen. McCain. And rightly so.
Sen. Obama's television surrogates need to strike back harder and on point. I just spent 2 hours flipping thorugh the FOX, CNN and MSNBC shows. Everybody is talking about Sen. Obama's past associates. It is getting wide disucssion. NOT ONCE, not one, did anybody bring up Charles Keating.
We need to counter hard about Mr. Keating, a financial terrorist who bilked BILLIONS from innocent taxpayers. He wasn't just McCain's associate either. John McCain and his wife Cindy went on exotic vacations with the Keatings, traveled on their yacht. Cocktails and fine dining over and over and over. THey were best buds. This "my friends" is no comparison to serving on a board and also being in a room for a fundraiser once.
BILKED BILLIONS. If we are to be judged by the company we keep - this needs to be called into talk shows, TV shows, email FOX,CNN and MSNBC. Bombard about the BILIONAIRE BILKER, Criminal and financial terrorists. Don't just circulate a 13 minute video ( which was terrific) - call and email the media outlets to be fair.
You know, Sen. Obama was 8 years old when Mr. Ayres was up to his antics. His association was tangential and shared that association with other respectable people.
John McCain admitted poor judgement in his MANY, years long association with Charles Keating. He apologized for it and for the most part, we accepted his explanation. So now, McCain expects the electorate to move on where the Keating Five are concerned. Okay...
But wait, you don't want to give Sen. OBama the same benefit of the doubt that you got Sen. McCain? We should MOVE ON with your past associates, like Rev Hagee and felon G.GOrdon Liddy, but we are NOT SUPPOSED TO MOVE ON for any thin associations Sen. OBama had? C'MON!!!!!
Folks, the Sean Hannity driven outrage over Mr. Ayres will have a negative backlash I think - but it is also now dominating all the mainstream media outlets. We aren't getting people speaking up loudly enough for Sen. Obama's behalf. I just watched Paul Begalia mention McCain ought not to go there...but he never gave any examples. The viewers need to be reminded of the significant counter-balance arguement.
By label and in practice, I have been a Republican all my life. I worked for Sen. Bill Roth’s two senatorial campaigns. I donated to John McCain in 2000, and like a good faithful Republican, ultimately supported George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. If it weren't for privacy issues, I would scan in my registration card. It has a nice big fat R on it.
I should have known better in 2000 – the terrible tactics used against McCain in 2000 are now his very weapons against Sen. Obama in 2008.
They have no new ideas to offer- Only this ugly campaigning.
Sen. & Mrs. John McCain: The negative campaigns began with your camp. Today the Dow plunged deeper and people’s life savings are much closer to being wiped out. And all you come up with is Bill Ayres?
You know, by the measure you make Sen. Obama guilty by association can and should also be applied to you.
I like to think you didn’t accept those Lincoln Savings bribes from Charles Keating. You were the least guilty of the Keating Five, but you were not exonerated. So, let’s say for the sake of argument you were totally innocent. That doesn’t erase the fact that Charles Keating was an evil economic and financial terrorist. Maybe he didn’t influence you – but you sure socialized (I think that qualifies as palling around) with him repeatedly, sipped his bourbon, sailed on his yachts and basked in the high-life, courtesy of his largesse.
So if we are going to play the 'guilt by assocation game" sorry, Sen. McCain but you lose.
Your little adorable pit bull is firing up the crowd with HATE SPEECH. Inferring Sen. Obama is a terrorist. People in the crowd are encouraged to think so – as you now have them crying out for his death. This breakthrough, history-making VP candidate is a black mark on women everywhere.
You learned an important lesson in 2000. Negative campaign works. It took your good chance to win the presidency away from you – and now, you have no alternative to use that weapon on an honorable man.
That’s not vision. That is not leadership. That is just plain ugly.
Because of my 2000 contribution, I remain on your mailing list. I read the lies you, your campaign, and my party spews forth. It makes me ill
In strong, heartfelt and renewed support of Sen. Obama I am,
Michele
52, Irish, married, mother, FT worker, DAR, Daughter of WWII veteran and proud American
Here are some ideas I think might resonate with Americans if introduced at the debate:
1. Introduce legislation for credit report amnesty for anyone who has had to declare bankruptcy due to medical bills. This is for decent bill paying Americans who for no other reason than a devestating catastrophic or chronic illness or traumatic accident has had their savings and credit ratings wiped out. To add to their misery, their credit records are destroyed. Limit of medical bankruptcy on a credit report to one year and prevent medical bill balances to affect FICO scores.
2. Tax credits to the Big 3 automakers to create hybrids and natural gas fueled cars.Remember when we cranked out B-24s AND B-52s? Why can't we do that again with E-cars?
3. Tax credits to any American to buy hybrids, etc. Not SUV tax credits for companies like the Bush Administration advocated.
4. Or start a "Lease a Saver" program. Create a "patriotic car" brand similar Smart Car and or the American version of the Prius. Crank them out like the Model T. Provide a cheap lease, no credit or money down. Dealers hold the title, drivers pay the dealers. Go on television and ask the American people to do their duty and turn in their gas guzzlers.
5. Allow a one time tax allowance if people turn in a gas guzzler. Many people are locked into a 5-year car loan or lease on a gas hog. Many people want to drive an economic vehicle but can't. Provide a way offset for the hit they will take prematurely ending a lease. This is serious stuff, we must find a revolutionary way to change the game and get Americans on board.
6. Encourage everyone to have AT LEAST - solar powered domestic hot water. Crank out these solar panels in Ohio or Michigan. Find the most depressed city in the nation and make it solar capital central. Make them plentiful and affordable. Jobs created to make them, Jobs created installing them on roofs, Jobs for plumbers making the conversion. National goal to have one on every roof. Power of the Bully Pulpit - make people ashamed if they don't have a solar panel on their roof. Promote solar panels as a natural badge of honor - a patriotic status symbol. Heck with lapel pins and magnetic car ribbons, get your hot water from the sun- do it because you love your country.
7. From the debate floor, provide a list of 5 things that you can ask the American people to do, starting the minute the debate is over. We are dying to be useful. Give us a list. It could be as simple as " I ask everyone watching tonight to replace the incandescent lightbulbs with energy saver bulbs." "Please stop speeding. And if you are behind someone going the speed limit and you are annoyed, please put your agressive driving aside for America's sake." This will save lives and save oil. On and on. Give us something to do! People made fun of Obama for the tire pressure thing - so the list could be more substantial, but while it seems obvious, we need to be told what we really want to be doing!
8. Go for the Pickens Plan big time. T.Boone Pickens is ON IT. He is dead serious and he is dead right. Obama needs to own this plan.
9. Announce your short list of candidates for some cabinet positions. This will make news.
K.Olberman produced a terrific expose about MCCain's connections with Enron and his economic advisors. This needs to get circulated!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdRbuUQNcxw
Someone please post it as a html link. I don't know how to do it!
While David Letterman of "the Late Show" plays his politics close to his chest, he appears to be a registered Republican from Conn. As the McCain campaign decided this weekend to make his campaign about smearing Obama's character below are some links to the Letterman Show.
McCain announces his run for President
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53caXQKTs9Y
McCain being goofy with Dave
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_I3Gr-O2Ak
McCain lies to Dave about cancelling his appearance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkCrfylq-E
Barak Obama-Character!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkM66VEfJYk&feature=related
So, the pundits were on Fox News sunday debating McCain's new strategy to go negative on Obama. Should McCain bring up Ayres, Wright and Rezko they all asked. In doing so rhetorically, they bring up the issue and remind viewers about those big 3 names. Not once, did any surrogate or anyone on the panel say, well Chris, if McCain did that, they open themselves up to McCain's past associations with the Keating Five. After Americans had to painfully swallow a trillion dollar bailout, I don't think they want to be reminded that not so terribly long ago, McCain's associates bilked investors in the Keating Five Savings and Loan scandal. McCain was one of those five. Now, he didn't get exonorated, nor was he as guilty as the other four, but noone can dare say he wasn't fully associated with that mess.
So in all this punditry and surrogacy, listeners get to be reminded of the big 3 for Obama while no mention is made of McCain's less than pure past.
Let's be fair and balanced here...even in analysis. IF we point out the pros, we must also point out the cons and remind people there are always two sides.
Keating Five
Phil Grahamn - lobbiest for United Bank of Scotland
Wendy Lee Graham (Mrs. Phil Graham) - former Enron executive and board member
I can't believe people are falling all over Sarah Palin. After the Thursday's debate, I listened with open ears at the office buzz - especially from other women. Those that thought she won said things like, " I just like her, " boy she was great", "she's adorable" etc. The "just" was a I don't know why, I just do kinda statement.
Sarah Palin is an attractive, witty, talented and not stupid woman. I understand her appeal. I really do. I would love her as a next door neighbor. Let her mature in her Governor's role and come back in four or eight years, but she is not ready now.
"Well, Sen. Obama has lite experience too," my Republican friends have countered. Okay, accepting that premise, why is it that Sen. Obama can talk to people, be interviewed by friendly and hostile media, and answer contemporaneously without notes, scripts, etc. Off the cuff, he makes sense. He does not rely on euphamisims and cutsey talk. There is depth there and detailed understanding of the issues.
McCain campaign has isolated her. That is disturbing. When they were embarrased into putting her on TV with mainstream media, she blundered. THose questions from Couric were not tough questions!
Oh, but she redeemed herself at the debates. Excuse me, but anybody can memorize statements and talking points. Don't answer questions - just get out your talking points no matter what and deliver them in a folksy way so it doesn't look so canned. She would never be able to do that one on one with someone who would press her for details. Their campaign knows this and will shelter her away from such scrutiny.
Doesn't anybody else find that extremely disturbing and frightening? It is insulting to me as a woman, that everyone feels the need to protect her. My god! This woman could seriously become president! And she is sheltered, protected and controlled precisely because if she is let go she will embarass the campaign and expose her lack of intellectual curiosity and shallow knowledge of the issues. We all heard the pre-debate buzz: "Biden has to be careful not to appear condescending," "Biden cannot attack Palin because it will elicit sympathy from women." Fellow females, this is a HUGE step back for our cause. If she can't play this game on an equal footing, Palin doesn't belong in this game. What is going to happen when Putin plays hardball and goes on the attack? Is she going to be able to handle it? Will she cower in her victimhood? Will she give a shout out to the American people and complain that Putin is not being fair?
To those of you who are voting for her because you like her - you need to do yourselves and America a favor - and look beyond personality and gimmickery - you are being sold a package. You are being handled by pros who have coached a product who uses folksy buzz words to appear just like you and me.
And that maverick-anti corruption label she is wearing? Well, it doesn't apply to her personally. Her former brother in law cop went before a panel and was reprimanded when Pailin relentlessly complained about him. She wanted him fired. The procedure censored him and punished him. That wasn't good enough. She wanted him OUT. She had no right to use her position as Governor to circumvent set procedures. She didn't like the verdict so she illegally used her influence. Then she went up the chain and fired the person who obeyed the law. When she went up for investigation, well before her consideration as VP, she welcomed it and vowed to cooperate. That all changed when McCain picked her. Now the investigation is politically charged, she alleges. Now she won't cooperate. Sorry, but sweeping corruption clean also includes keeping your own house clean. If there is nothing to worry about, as she claims, she should cooperate and answer subpeonas.
In 2000, I, an office secretary and die-hard moderate Republican, sent the McCain campaign a hard-earned $200. I liked the guy and his straight talk. He was trashed by negative ads...and I am ashamed that I held my nose and voted for GWB because that was what loyal Republicans were supposed to do right? McCain vowed he would never do to a candidate what was done to him. So much for promises.
This year, as the candidates all introduced themselves, I was appalled by what I saw. McCain shifted far right and associated himself with questionable men of the cloth, men who preach that God punishes sinners with hurricanes and tornadoes. Okay...all candidates court the base. I realize that. But what I saw next turned my stomach and my opinion about who is running.
John McCain failed his first test of integrity. He went very negative. His campaign now is going to go super negative because they have no real ideas of their own. Their campaign advisors and associates have deep ties to people and philosophies that framed our Economic Disaster.
John McCain of 2000 is barely recognizable. My contribution, eight years ago, keeps me still on his campaign's email list. I read the "crap" that comes across those pages and I can't believe he "approved those messages."
We need to send America the message that WE APPROVE. My message is Obama/Biden.
Well, we now see what the McCain/Palin tactic will be. Drudge up William Ayres. Palin is on the stump saying that Obama is "Paling around with a terrorist." Because Obama served on a board with the man.
How about the Economic Terrorists John McCain has been associated with. The Keating Five!? IF we are going to bring tangential associations as hard evidence of questionable integrity, then John McCain, as one of those Five Keating Fellas, deserves the same regurgitation. And as far as I am concerned, that association is far more damaging and relevant to today's issues.
Speaking of past associations, how about McCain's choice of economic advisor, Phil Graham? Lobbiest for United Bank of Scotlan (USB) who called Americans suffering economically as a "nation of whiners" and whose wife is a former exectutive of ENRON. No wonder, with those associates surrounding him, giving him advice, McCain felt the economy was"fundamentally sound!"
McCain has aligned himself with ECONOMIC TERRORISTS. If guilt by association is going to be the barometer- then McCain deserves the scrutiny and exposure to all of his. By that measure, McCainis risky, scary and untrustworthy and against the interests of every day, middle-class Americans.
Last week I canvassed in Kennett Square, PA. This week I went to Exmore, VA. I know that both these states will be key to an Obama win. I think that VA may be more important. We had 12 people in our group from DE that went to canvass in VA. My team went to Exmore on VA's Eastern Shore. There was a clear racial component to the views of the people we encountered. The African-American community was pro Obama. The whites were split. One of our team encountered a white community that was mostly for McCain.
Most everybody we encountered was registered to vote. In the black community we met a number of men who lost their right to vote due to a felony conviction. This was an unexpected moment for me. I don't know what these men did to loose their right to participate fully in the American process, but it felt deeply unfair.
One woman we met told us about a gospel radio station 94.1 out of Virginia Beach which was airing a commercial against Obama. We tuned into the radio station and sure enough there was a commercial encouraging people to come to the Virginia Beach Worship Center to register to vote and to "Learn the one reason why not to vote for Obama."
We are addicted to oil. Nobody is arguing against that the United States has an unhealthy dependency on oil.
If you think of oil for a momment, as a narcotic drug - like heroin - if addiction visited your home - if not a family member - your car, your home - what would you recommend? How should the problem be handled?
Get more drugs? Find a new dealer? Another back alley find a new flow of addictive substance?
The Republican Convention was dotted with signs that say DRILL, DRILL, DRILL. We need more of this addictive substance - so lets go get it. That is called ENABLING. They are the oil DEALERS' best friend.
Obama's plan is much stronger towards developing materials to get us off this addiction. How can the Republican's ridicule this as a pipe dream? If someone you loved was addicted to something - wouldnt you do everything in your power to get them off the dependence? Sure you would, because you love them. Republicans want to find America another poppy field to harvest.Get another fix - delay the solution - (and dirty the climate while doing it).
Anyone who loves their country would do anyting to get them off of oil addiction. Ridicule won't stop them.If you had a family member or best friend with a drug problem, if you were a good friend, a responsible relative, you would make a stand and tell that person something they need to hear, whether they like it or not.
Sen. OBama has the courage and integrity to intervene. It may not be what the Republicans want to hear - but it's the straightest talk and most honest leadership that has surfaced during this election.
We're all one American family. We need to step up and do what it takes to help each other off the oil drug.
One's a PTA parent and beauty queen
One's a graduate of Harvard and editor of law review
One goes on and becomes mayor of a small town
One becomes a community organizer
Both catch the political bug
Both are talented, charming, gifted speakers, and rather good looking
Both have nice families and compelling life stories
One goes on to become a governor of a large but sparsley populated state
One becomes a state senator - a position of some responsibility - as to his constituents
One goes on to become a US senator, with the courage to speak out against a war when it was politically very unpopular to do so. While a senator, passed ethic reforms, bills to reduce nuclear arms and increase benefits to the military.
You could argue, six of one, half dozen the other in the experience role - but I give the edge to the Senator.
One waits a heartbeat away to a experienced, but older man. I don't wish him ill, but it could happen. Will Sarah Palin sit in the oval office and cabinet meetings to counsel and advise, or will she be there to learn? I think the latter.
Obama has already been vetted, satisfactorly, by 50% of the electorate. Experience arguement aside, his leadership has been publically vetted and acclaimed and validated by individual votes of confidence. To make his ticket even better, his vice president, Joe Biden, will be at his side, not to LEARN - but to advise and counsel.
Sarah Palin seems like a nice lady. Very nice lady. But is the American public so vapid that they vote for the sound bites, the stagecraft, the image? In these dire, dangerous times, do we want cute or do we want competence?
I know, I know, Obama's followers are portrayed to be hypnotized zombies, dazzled by his performance techniques. I've been called part of a mob, brainwashed, a celebrity loving goon who will stumble to the polls in a trance and vote without really thinking things through.
Really?
Why is it then, that most well educated people - people who have taken the time to study history, and cultures (and therefore are not afraid of differences) are so discounted? I deeply resent the implication that I don't know what I am doing and I abanndoned my Republican tradition to support Obama because I think he is "cool"?
Some are calling the Obama Palin match up a wash.Oh but she has 'executive' experience. Well what about Obama's service, elective responsibilities and last but not least, the absolutely amazingly successful national campaign he has run. No debt, no leaks, effective ground operation, understanding of the political machinery in each state. His campaign Blew Hillary's out of the water. Never in debt. What does that tell you? He knows how to put good people in key positions. He knows how to recognize talent. Ability comes before loyalty and cronyism. If management skills carries any weight - Obama is light years ahead of anybody I know or hope to meet.
Integrity. He does not poke cheap shots at people. When his campaign has come out fighting it is because he has been forced to. John McCain always swore he would not campaign negative, after his experience in 2000, but now, desperate, he lied. He is not the same candidate he was in 2000. If he had been, I might have remained a Repubican voter.
And now he is training Gov. Palin how to play dirty. How dare she malign community service. Since when is helping people in need a bad thing? Does it have to be high profile to count?
She comes across as this big Evanglistic Christian? You want to fight hard to win, fine, but when you fight dirty and insult people right out of the starting gate - sorry, but that wreaks of hypocracy and the kind of behavior that is hardly Christlike.
