John McCain, the war hero, was horribly tortured and injured in the service of his country. His demeanor as displayed in numerous youTube videos shows him to be an angry man. It makes sense for him to be angry, but the president must not use the office for carrying out personal vendettas.
Early in the campaign, he promised to pursue Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell. Presidents do not do such things. They send armies to do them. Do Americans want to send their service men and women to the gates of hell? McCain promises to stay in Iraq "as long as necessary." He doesn't mention what the necessary outcome is. He refuses to consider timetables for withdrawal. With the Iraqi government asking the United States to leave, each day American forces remain damages our standing with the world community.
Barak Obama, the constitutional scholar and law professor, has lived in a civilized atmosphere most of his life. He has spent enormous energy learning to control his emotions and modulate his reactions. Lawyers do this because judges rarely tolerate disrespect in the courtroom. Obama has also pledged to end Osama bin Laden's terror campaign, in a far less emotional (and presumably less messy) way. His plan for Iraq is to honor the government's wishes responsibly and respect its sovereignty by bringing U.S. military forces home.
John McCain's answer for the United States' energy problems is to drill for oil, the same stuff that got us into the problems we have now. Authorities generally acknowledge that it will take 7 to 12 years for oil supplies from new drilling to become available (Energy Information Administration). In the meantime, McCain wants to develop clean coal and nuclear power. Presumably, these sources will free up petroleum for use in automobiles. The proposal does not address the problem of U.S. transportation consuming much more energy than the country produces.
Barak Obama has proposed loans to automakers to help them re-tool to make autos that run on other fuels or use drastically less petroleum. This proposal has a key advantage in that it helps create jobs in this country. He also supports alternative power generation. To be fair, neither candidate seems very interested in mass transportation, which is arguably a better solution to U.S. energy woes.
On the economy, McCain has put his faith in tax cuts. Give the rich enough money, and they will create jobs and prosperity for everyone, the story goes. The only problem is that for the rich, there is no such thing as enough money. Ronald Reagan promised that wealth would "trickle down" in the 1980s, and many people are still waiting. McCain's tax cuts help businesses whether or not they create jobs.
The United States has a mix of free-market and government-controlled economy. This mix is more apparent since the Wall St. bailout. McCain's proposal to buy mortgages from banks for face value and give homeowners notes for the current value lets taxpayers take a loss. This proposal is socialism that rewards bad behavior.
Obama favors spending on infrastructure as a way to stimulate the economy. American presidents have used such schemes in the past, and they worked. He also proposes to fund business incubators and give tax credits for creating jobs in a clean energy economy. This is considerably more government help to business than McCain proposes. Its focus, however, is job creation.
Finally, both candidates claim that health care reform is in the near future. McCain's proposal looks a lot like a bonus for health insurance companies, giving them no incentive to lower costs, and many incentives to write high-deductable low-paying policies that cost all of McCain's proposed $5000 tax credit.
Obama proposes a co-operative approach to buying health insurance. The uninsured will purchase insurance that places them in an at-large group. These groups would mirror the groups in employer-provided plans, without the employer. The idea is that the combined buying power of many people will help lower prices. Rules requiring policies to cover the cost of health care should place downward pressure on the cost of health care.
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Comments: 70
Featured in the Triple Name Club.
When things seem simple and too good to be true, they usually are. I don't think either candidate is really in touch with average Americans' problems.
Hmmm. Once he's in, he can start calling himself the President of THE WORLD!!!
"... In his early years as a politician, McCain was mostly a party-line Reaganite; his cleanest and most difficult break with the President was his 1983 call to withdraw the Marines from Lebanon because he didn't see a clear mission for them...."
"... He forged alliances with Senators John Kerry, to normalize relations with Vietnam, and Ted Kennedy, to promote immigration reform. He crusaded against tobacco, steroids, corporate criminals, ultimate fighting, a sweetheart deal for Boeing and all kinds of pork. He crusaded for a patients' bill of rights and even a boxers' bill of rights. He got great press, and colleagues have often rolled their eyes at his ubiquitous television presence, but the Sunday shows wouldn't have invited him so often if he hadn't become so interesting — and so candid. "He's fascinating: basically a doctrinaire Reagan conservative, but when something offends him, he breaks from the orthodoxy," says Ivan Schlager, the top Democratic counsel to McCain's Commerce Committee during the 1990s. "It's not ideological. It's good guys and bad guys." ..."
~[source TIME magazine article:]
Understanding John McCain
By JAMES CARNEY AND MICHAEL GRUNWALD Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008
I find it odd that the so called left can bitch about McCain's tactics while employing them.
Let the winner be chosen by the gut of the American people.
After all isn't reneging a SIGNED promise to limit the campaign to public funds enough?
but.. that was US.. we are taliinmg about THEM bad peoples!
On nuclear energy McCain claims there have been no problems on the ships that are fueled by nuclear energy, Not True. Google US Houston.
Great article Ann! I really liked the second paragraph! McCain mocks Obama as the new Messiah, but he himself claims HE WILL defeat evil during his Presidency. It just doesn't get any better than that! LOL
That McCain wants to ride Reagan's coattails (Bush having none) into office is clear. Unfortunately, some of us with young families at the time Reagan was president are still waiting for something to trickle down. Can you really have forgotten "Isn't ketchup a vegetable?"
I just never trusted McCain.
And, that's all I have to say.
Reagan give tax cuts to the wealthy, said it would grow the economy - didn't happen.
Bush 41 continues Reagan's policies, but finally had to raise taxes - no economic growth.
Clinton substantially raised taxes, especially upper income - good economy, balanced budget.
Bush43 comes in, gives major tax cuts to wealthy, starts wars, spends like crazy - takes country to the brink of collapse.
This should be a NO BRAINER!
Drilling is not going to fix the problem, but it is not likely to hurt either.
Wind and solar have their place, but without expensive batteries it does not let us get rid of any coal powerplants, in fact we need more.
Nuclear is the only real solid solution that is already there that works. Right off the bat there are empty places in existing powerplants for new reactors that could be built up, but that takes time too.
If OPEC sees the end of their reign they are going to stick it to us good as we try to crawl out from under the oil paradigm, and in fact I will be amazed if we avoid a major war or the destruction of Iran or Saudi Arabia's shipping capabilities.
The real world winner here is France so far, they are nuclear and clean and a net electricity exporter.
The biggest hurdle Americans have to overcome is the idea that we need the corrupt so-called free market, and to avoid evil socialism, these hot-button words are meaningless. We have serious problems that the jet-setting super-rich are not going to give up their excesses to solve no matter how many Americans are in misery ... and that is what needs to be changed.
Write ON!
Wilka
With president's what you see is not necessarily what you get.
That applies to both the candidates and is an interesting article.
Besides, you can always vote for me: How I'll run the government
This country is going to have a hard enough time getting back on its feet from the deregulation of banks that again McCain voted for and stated over and over he was a against regulations. He tries to say he isn't like Bush yet he admitted proudly in an interview that he voted over 90% with Bush even when his fellow congressmen voted against Bush.
The man wants to be president so bad he would take the country down the tubes with him if he goes. That is not putting "Country First".
Sure I'm for Obama. Any thinking American should be, any American who is loyal to this country of ours should stop and take a look at the way McCain is running his campaign and what he is saying after he said he would run a clean campaign. He is trying to say Obama is a socialist, let me see wasn't Obama an elitist just a while back and a celebrity as well according to McCain? Now he is saying Obama wants to spread the wealth...uh, hey I want some of it.
McCain and so many other Republicans want to privatize Social Security. Yep, that would be down the tubes about now if they had. They act like it is coming out of their pockets. I paid into it my whole working life. S.S. would not be a pay-as-you-go if not for people like McCain back in 1939 who changed it from drawing from a reserve which was put back just to pay for S.S. when it was formed in 1935. It was started just for such as times as we are in now. If the reserve had been left alone and allowed to grow there would not be the problems with S.S. that there are today.
I could go on and on but no one will read this any way. No one really cares what happens with the country but to complain and say neither of the men running will do a thing to fix it. I don't see you out there trying to fix anything. I would if I knew what to do but I'm just a dumb photographer/artist who was once a cop/EMT.
:O\
there were never any trickle-down economics for the little people ...... and very little help or hope ....... I was hoping that things would not get that bad again ....
Read the ENTIRE quote, and tell the truth about what he really said.
It includes words like "IF we can get an AGREEMENT with my opponent", then we will agree to use public financing.
Jeff, you are right, who ever is elected will inherit a terrible situation.
That still leaves us a choice between the 2 main stream candidates on election day.
I contend that McSame's close relationship in terms of his voting record with Shrub is NOT what the country needs right now.
Obama will not be able to cure all the countries ills by himself.
Fortunately he will have many more Americans AND World Citizens with him rather than the grumpy old senile man who would rule with his 'Shoot first, don't bother asking questions mentality'.
Obviously the entire system needs an overhaul.
It will not happen between now and election day.
By not choosing between your portrayed 2 evils, you'll still have made a choice.
I respect your right to do so.
I don't agree with it however.
For someone who is called a Socialist by his opponents and detractors, Obama MUST be
a pretty good one to have the support of some of the smartest, most successful Capitalists in the world such as WARREN BUFFET.
A country that would fail to help out those less fortunate than the wealthiest has much more in common with a Facist Regime than with a God Loving, help thy neighbor country such as ours.
Obama would certainly be better. Sure, he'd spend more money we don't have, but not as much as McCain would on our largest expense - military. We spend as much as the 700 billion dollar bailout every year on "defense," -- most of which is not necessary, and the debt it creates is knocking the legs out from under us. With McCain, there's a very likely chance of continuing of militarism in Iran, which we cannot afford in terms of monetary cost and the ramifications of blowback that would likely compound that cost.
Basically it boils down to McCain being a catastrophic extension of the catastrophic choice of Bush, or Obama who's a little bit better but still a very long way from where we need to be. Still, Obama's a better choice.
Wrong. The Democrats are likely to increase their hold on Congress even if McCain wins, but not enough to have a veto proof majority. The result will be more inaction and gridlock.
At the very least, there will be NO movement on health care as the democrats will never pass the McCain plan.
McCain's claims of being able to work across the aisle will prove top be hollow rhetoric and gridlock on anything important or significant will reign.
As for their plans, I agree with those who say that the checks and balances of the system plus the fact that Bush has broken the government and bankrupted the nation will definitely put severe constraints on them.
1. there has been a vicious attack on working class people since the early 1900s in the US. prosecuted by the capitalist classes and pretty much successfully destroying the political left.
2. the psychological demonization of the left by the right wing funded radio and television programs that attack democrats as unpatriotic or liberals as mentally ill are a continuation of this class warfare on the people.
3. So the class warfare has been engaged in by those at the top who inherited wealth and power against to keep and expand and parley what they have to greater power and domination of the Constitution.
4. Obama sure as hell did not start it, and to the extent he acknowledges it, it is to do the right thing and set the balance back in our society.
Dubby, your comment is a testimonial to the adage that if you repeat a LIE often enough, people will believe it.
Good post, Anne
Four more years of ultra right wing tyranny + Armageddon to follow!!
And the Republicans as well. I think all these setups on ACORN are staging a pretext to attack the count when they lose.
If the exit polls are off again in favor of the Republicans we can assume tampering. If that is the case I think the country is going to go wild, and I don't think it will stop.
In fact I think there will be civil disobedience, and perhaps violence. I do not think the people will stand for it. Nor do I think the people will stand for the Republicans challenging the election if they lose after 8 years of "sore-loserman".
Lets keep doing the same thing, and then wondering why we don't get different results!!!
STOP the two party control!!!! That is the only viable answer to ALL of this.
so·cial·ism –noun
1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.
Regardless of your philosophies and your opinions of Ronald Reagan, the fact that someone didn't get rich during the Reagan years was not Reagan's responsibility. There were plenty of opportunities for people who worked to do well in the Reagan years. Perhaps those sitting around expecting that something was going to trickle into their pockets were disappointed. The federal government gets its money from corporations who earn it, people of means who pay huge percentages of their incomes, and by spending money they don't have. Punishing the already failing manufacturing and service corporations and those who have kept the country afloat is not going to solve the problems of those who want a handout. The mortgage mess was not caused by people who could afford to buy homes and paid their bills on time.
End of story. If people don't work...nothing works.
Who has worked? Exxon? Wall Street?
"Those who want a handout?"
I love some things about you, John...your economic policy is not one of them. DO NOT bail out Wall Street. Let the market drive means not bailing out the crooks who waived oversight... They NEED oversight--hell! They need KEEPERS. Wall Street has been acting like 14 year olds at a senior-graduation party...
We can't have it both ways.
Ann. Once again.
Bravo--good article.
Wilka
Wilka
I'll be sitting right next to you in jail, looking a little bruised, probably, but rarin' to go!
Wilka
One of the problems with this polarizing Presidential campaign is that people are assumed to be either radical liberals or reactionary conservatives. Fundamentalist Christians or atheists. If you're Republican you're automatically anti-environment and pro Big Oil. If you're a Democrat you're automatically pro abortion on demand.
Fortunately most Americans agree with some parts of both platforms and disagree with some parts of both. Unfortunately we don't have that kind of a choice in this (or any) election.
I'm not trying to impose my values on anyone. I feel that I should be able to post a clarifying point without being categorized as extreme in either direction.
"If people don't work...nothing works. " Agreed, of course. But if there's no company to work for, nothing works either.
Thanks for your thoughtful response.
If you think there is no difference between McCain & Obama, it's YOU who is out of touch.
We used to see ourselves as a nation of everyone. Now we have a tendency to see we vs. them... (whoever "we" and "them" are.) I think I just found my next article. So, yes, I lived through those years too, and busted rump to keep my business running, my kids fed, etc. I think it was the "sitting around" part that triggered the "Oh, Yeah?" on my part. So, my bad, totally, and maybe we could meet at the same table, (I'll bring the bread to break) and talk economics in a healthy, friendly atmosphere. }:0)
KC, Part of the problem, man. Part of the problem. But you keep perpetuating those myths, if it makes you feel better.
Wilka
But you're right, they are both reasons to not vote for McCain.
who are middle or working class with their paid lobbyists and friends (congressmen) helping
them to keep a lid on the real people.
I just wanted to say I am finally going through my currently over 6,500 pieces of gather new mail that is in my inbox on here. So with that in mind I have finally come to a piece of mail that was addressed to me in regards this article submission you have created to share with the gather community. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your piece with us here at gather. :o)