Obama & McCain

[maat55]

I figured out why there are no commercials during the debates. Both candidates are doing them live.

I voted twice for Perot because of nonsense like this. This thread is not to support a candidate. I wish they would just answer the question that is asked. Ron Paul is looking better and better.

[kork13]

TOTALLY AGREED!!! I made a point of watching the debate tonight, and I also watched the VP debate last week, and from both sides, the question was actually fully answered maybe 25% of the time... followed by either an attack, defensive, or "here's what i'm about".

Keep in mind, that's the GOOD side! The other 75% of time, the candidates tend to avoid answering questions altogether, or at least in any straightforward way. Listening to each person respond to the questions, so many times, they'd get about 15 seconds in, and I'd yell at the TV "JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION AND SIT DOWN!!!" lol

[MYOM]

I am very disappointed with our elected officials in Washington. If they worked for a company they would all be fired. Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh Alaskan air. Imagine her wanting to return the government to the people. That is not going to go over well in Washington.

Dan Clemons

[maat55]

Originally Posted by MYOM

I am very disappointed with our elected officials in Washington. If they worked for a company they would all be fired. Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh Alaskan air. Imagine her wanting to return the government to the people. That is not going to go over well in Washington.

Dan Clemons

I'm worried about Washington ruining her. I'm personally ready for a kick all the incumbents out party this Nov.

[disneysteve]

What bothers me even more about the debates is watching the "fact check" segment that airs later where they go through what each candidate said and tell you whether it is true or false. So much of what all of them, prez and vp, Dem and Rep, have said during the debates simply isn't true. It's gotten to the point where I don't even bother watching the debates much. I just watch the news coverage the next day. What's the point of watching the debate and thinking one candidate made a great point only to find out that what was said wasn't accurate?

I will say that one thing really bugged me last nite. It struck me as soon as I turned on the debate. WHY did the candidates not have clip-on microphones? Both of them would have looked far more natural had they had their hands free as they walked around.

[bjl584]

That debate was boring. Nothing new or fresh was said. I watched it for a while then I switched channels to watch my favorite show, The Shield.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Sarah Palin isn't any better. She didn't answer one question. LOL. This is about trying to promise much and not promise anything.

Also she said I've been in the race for 5 weeks, so I haven't promised anything!

I think that says it all about our politicians. Lying out of both sides of their mouths.

By the way maat, I do think Ron Paul is very honest. I don't agree with his policies but I do believe he's more honest than most.

[rizzmo]

Does anyone else feel Sarah Palin diminishes the American people as a whole? Why does she need to talk to us folksy? Do we need to be talked down to? Is she incapable of speaking otherwise? With our current president already making us the laughing-stock of the international community did we really need a "shout out" during a vice presidential debate.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Did anyone else get really worried about John McCain? My mom called me and she's a medical social worker. She said she thought John McCain looks like he's in early stage dementia or alzheimer's.

Maybe disneysteve will weigh in. But I know I was a bit shocked McCain tottered, looked weak, and a bit lost. Don't get me wrong, but he's not the same guy from 2000 when he went up against Bush. He looks like sharp or something.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

Did anyone else get really worried about John McCain? My mom called me and she's a medical social worker. She said she thought John McCain looks like he's in early stage dementia or alzheimer's.

Maybe disneysteve will weigh in. But I know I was a bit shocked McCain tottered, looked weak, and a bit lost. Don't get me wrong, but he's not the same guy from 2000 when he went up against Bush. He looks like sharp or something.

LAL - I can't say I was watching that closely, but I never thought the guy looked all that healthy. He is 72 years old and has had his share of injuries and medical problems. I know plenty of people his age and I can't say there are very many who don't have medical issues to some extent. My mom is a few years older than him and certainly isn't as mentally sharp as she used to be. He may not be either.

I think this is one of those issues that everybody thinks about to themselves but you won't ever hear mentioned by the media because they would get attacked for age discrimination. Of course, it isn't discrimination to say that we all lose some physical and mental abilities as we age. That's just normal. Just like when the issue of retesting older drivers comes up, folks get in an uproar about discrimination. Sorry, but grandpa with his hearing aide, cataracts and arthritis just isn't as physically fit to drive as the 17-year-old who just got his license.

[jIM_Ohio]

I too voted for Perot twice. I wish he would run again.

The ironic thing was I did not like Clinton at the time, but looking back he rivals Reagan as the greatest president since I have been alive (Nixon-Ford-Carter-Reagan-Bush Sr-Clinton-Bush Jr are the choices).

My favorate line was Clinton reminding Al Gore "it's the economy". Gore tried distancing himself from Clinton and did a reasonable job, had he appeared more likeable, he might have won. I would not have voted for Gore (the censorship thing his wife was involved in when I was in HS is something I am passionate about).

I like McCain- as a leader
I do not like him as a debator- he does not answer the questions. He is a better speaker than Bush, which is now important to me (I refuse to vote for someone which cannot speak publicly well after seeing so many Bush speeches just look real unpolished).

I don't think Obama can lead, yet I do think some of his "policies" might be better. Even if he is powerless to enact them (he needs a congress to help him- as would any president). If Obama would just answer the question asked, he could probably prove leadership. Instead he tries to tell me how bad the current president is or how bad his opponent is (or would be). I think the average person sees through the speculative comments and knows it's not true and not false (no one can predict which policies will be good or bad).

It bothers me when the candidates do not answer the questions. I am now eligible to run for President (I am 35) and I have had visions of showing up to debate, being a 3rd party and answering the question in 15 seconds, then let other two talk for 2 minutes each, then see me rise in polls above the established parties just because they each look like fools.

So how about it- jIM for pResidenT.

My platform is a balanced budget amendment, increased border security (no government benefits for non citizens), and higher tariffs on imports with less foreign aid as well. Smaller military with higher intelligence agency activity, reduced entitlements (welfare in particular), more tax credits and deductions for earned income. In addition I want the vision of the USA being the global health care innovations leader and global technology leader (best space program).

I will also simplify taxes. That tax on the telephone line-gone- I will raise income taxes instead. That tax on cable and satellite dishes- gone- I will raise income taxes instead. I will pledge to find any tax in the system and replace it with higher income taxes, and also pass an amendment which only allows congress to tax income and not the other things. States would be free to tax those things, but the government should simplify the federal tax code, IMO.

BTW- that last tax policy would cut costs of gas by $.40/gallon or more.

LOL

[disneysteve]

I did notice last week that Palin, like Bush, is unable to pronounce the word nuclear. That always bothers me.

[kork13]

Jim, my friend.... You get yourself on the ticket, let us know, and we'll support you.... shoot, i'd LOVE to have somebody for president who believes in the need for simplicity and transparency in politics. When there is finally somebody like THAT, even I would go campaigning for them. And trust me, that's no easy statement.

[kork13]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I did notice last week that Palin, like Bush, is unable to pronounce the word nuclear. That always bothers me.

hahaha i've noticed the same thing. Also, she speaks with a Minnesooota-esque accent, and McCain says "Warshington". Obama studders when asked a question while trying to formulate his answer. No idea what quirks Biden has, because I have honestly NEVER heard him speak, or at least not long enough to pick up his quirks. Is he actually running on this ticket? I never hear a word about him or from him.

[sillyoleme]

I've only had the chance to vote in a presidential race once, and I voted Bush in 2004. I was a freshman in college, and I remember all my "enlightened" fellow students saying that they weren't going to vote because they didn't like either candidate. So many people complained about both sides, and never voted.

While it's true that both sides definitely had their faults, I remembered my grandfather telling me that he always voted... even if it was for the lesser of two evils. I voted for Bush, because the thought of John Kerry as a president scared the crap out of me.

Now, I'm 22 and so many people my age are pro-Obama. They go around with the pins on their backpacks and shirts, and the minute they hear of a more conservative young person, you get looked at like you are somehow beneath them. I have had more than one person actually "scoff" when I told them I was voting McCain. Like they can't believe someone could be so unenlightened... don't I know the cool thing for young people to do is to support Obama? The funny thing is, as soon as you ask one of these "enlightened" young people to name some specific reasons they like him, they start to stutter and generalize.

(Sorry if this offends anyone, I know lots of people support Senator Obama based on legitimate policy reasons... but it just seems like the majority of people my age do it for the wrong reasons... or no reason at all.)

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I am a younger person (29) and I am voting for Obama because last night one thing he said resonanted with me personally.

Healthcare is a right not a responsibility. McCain said it's a responsibility and that is a big difference between them.

And I could never vote for McCain because of that. Also other reasons, but that one last night resonated the best and most recently.

I could name pro choice, taxes, foreign policy, and energy as well. I don't agree with mccain.

[jIM_Ohio]

Old people will tend to get more conservative and vote republican, that is the natural evolution of politics.

The Kennedy's were young democrats and attracted many a young voters- Bobby in particular appealed to college students because of his anti vietnam stance popular on college campuses.

If Obama didn't pledge to increase spending to many programs and actually showed two bits of leadership by answering questions, then he looks like an OK candidate based on policy.

I don't think Obama would do bad at President, but I also don't think he is capable of leading in a crisis.

If we are faced with something like 9/11, cuban missle crisis or pearl harbor, I don't think he is the man I want in charge.

[kork13]

I just saw this blip of an article, the middle section of it almost mirrors the original sentiment of the thread:

I was honored to be able to ask the candidates how the current economic crisis will affect our Nation’s ability to act as a peacemaker in the world. The basic answer was: For a strong military we need to have a strong economy. Both candidates presented several options for military actions but I had hoped to hear more about diplomacy, consensus building and working in concert with other nations. The economy is obviously in the forefront but what about other issues that are important but seemingly not so urgent.

I guess I was hoping for that elusive flash of brilliance that would give us all hope for a more peaceful world. OK - back to reality - Neither Sen. Obama or Sen. McCain knew the questions that would be asked and it seemed like most of the time they would just use the question as a starting point to say what they had already determined to say -some of which we’ve heard before. I thought they both carried themselves well. Source

As for the entire article... well, he seems to be someone just caught up in basking from the glory of his 2 minutes in the spotlight--doesn't really think into his throughts very much (if that makes any sense).

[geojen]

As someone who has been told repeatedly I sound like someone from Fargo, I'm not sure if I should be insulted that someone brought up the Minnesoota thing

Anyways, accent or no, Palin's folksy way of speaking kinda ticks me off too. I mean, really. We are facing real problems, and I don't need to be referred to as Joe Six Pack, which ultimately infers that I am ignorant or some such thing.

But, yeah, I concur about the whole not answering the questions at debates. What was with Palin flat out saying "i'm not answering the questions, I'm talking to the American people." Ummmmm, this is a debate, not a stump speech. But even the presidential candidates the other night did the same thing. The most fascinating question asked was the last one: What don't you know and how will you learn it." I would have loved an honest answer to that question, and would have admired and respected whatever candidate produced one. Neither did.

And, yes, McCain looks like death warmed over. Seeing as how his running mate scares the crap out of me, that is not good.

[Johansen8]

I thought McCain was the Republican candidate and Obama the Democrat, but after watching them on TV I think I must have got it wrong.