Anyone Voting For Obama?

[eatingupblacktop]

[dcfish]

Why would you do that???? :o :(

Not, No, Never........................

[nc211]

After the second debate between the two last night, I've got to admit, I'm liking Obama more and more. I say this for a couple of reasons, and I'm not bashing McCain either, I like him too. I think I can sum-up what I'm hearing from both of them like this: McCain "I've done this, I've done that". Obama "I want to do this, do that".

I also must admit, I'm really tired of some of McCain's antics against Obama. I don't like the negative attacks against Obama, the whole Celebrity thing, the little slaps like last night when McCain slipped a zinger in during his opening comments "good to be here in townhall setting with Obama", that sort of stuff. I'm tired of this childish crap, and quite frankly very dissapointed that McCain would act this way.

I also agree with Obama's decision to at least talk to Iran and N. Korea. He made a very solid point last night regarding our decision to not even talk to them, call them the axis of evil, and now they're BOTH messing with nukes. What's the harm in simply talking? We can't really think that guns and forceful tactics alone "sanctions" can solve everything, do we? You know what they say...live by the gun, die by the gun. I mean, don't get me wrong here, I've been a supporter of military action against Iran if need be. I've thought all-along that they're the real target for our involvement in Iraq. But, I think we should at least talk first. McCain won't do it, Obama will. If I were president, honestly, I would too. I would at least inform them personally, face to face, man to man, one on one, that we're not wanting a fight, but are more then willing if need be. The path were on now, just feels like a school yard of two sides, each with one main fighter and both being manipulated to fight by the crowds and chatter. When I fight, which thankfully isn't and hasn't been often in my life, I've always gone up to my opponent, in his face, and made sure he knew I didn't want to do this, but have no problems doing so if need-be. I've also made sure the "crowds" weren't around. Two go off, one comes back, no cheerleaders. I've avoided 95% fights in life with that.

I don't know if my growing support for Obama is from Obama himself, or McCain pushing me away to Obama. I haven't figured that out completely yet. But I'm beginning to feel like Obama is pulling me towards his side, more than McCain pushing me away.

But....Obama has got to stop one thing that BUGS the heck out of me when he speaks.....it's the drawn out "..and....and...and...and..." It chews on me much in the same fashion teenagers use the word "like". Like, I was like totally there, and like he was like all like upset and like I was like whatever... Oh, and McCain..."my friends"? Who wrote that for you? The same guy who wrote "make no mistake" for W?

I think the bloom is off the rose for Palin too. No offense to all of the wonderful "hockey moms" out there, and "Joe 6 Packs", but quite honestly, the white house isn't an ice rink, and I seriously doubt Budweiser served at state dinners would impress anyone. And her voice...that accent, the manner of execution when she speaks, just doesn't sit well with me for some reason. I just can't buy what she's selling sometimes.

Joe Biden: I think that guy is slicker, and has the potential to be sleezier, than Bill Clinton. To me, he has the potential of being living proof to the ole' phrase my dad taught me....it ain't your enemies that'll get you into trouble, it's your friends.

[RX in NC]

Keep in mind that McCain is desperate - his campaign realizes that he can't win on his own merits so he must disparage the opponent since causing voters to cast their ballots AGAINST Obama rather than truly for McCain might be enough to keep McCain in play for awhile on Election Night....

McCain did a better job verbally (most of the time) last night than he did in the first debate. But tottering across the stage as he did just emphasizes the clear fact that he is quite simply too old for the job. Last night I kept getting the image in my brain of McCain in a hospital gown slowly pushing a mobile IV drip along with him as he creaked around the stage. The last thing this country needs would be for McCain to drop dead during his presidency and be stuck reeling with deer-in-the-headlights Palin in charge. We'd all be jumping off buildings having to listen to that voice serving out a McCain term. The only way she should be allowed within a mile of the White House would be as an Undersecretary of Annoying Accents and Mannerisms....

Yep, McCain needs to cut out the "my friends" patter. But he also needs to quit repeating himself three or four times as his two-minute allotment of time winds down with each question. I found it hilarious that he came on stage claiming that the government should buy out every crisis-affected bad mortgage in existence in the U.S. yet not even 20 minutes later he's into his "we've got to cut out all the spending going on except for defense and veterans' affairs" routine. Where is the consistency? He's desperate, he's grasping for whatever can create a sound bite, and he probably realizes by now that Obama has the skills to out-debate him every time even when both candidates resort to their own individual rhetoric (which happened more often last night than in the first debate)....

This election remains Obama's to lose. The Swift-Boat-type character attacks will be ramped up to full throttle in the remaining four weeks but Obama has shown a remarkable tendency to stay cool and far more "presidential" in appearance and demeanor than McCain is even remotely capable of. I think that Obama is too smart to allow the Republican smear campaign to rattle him. He's obviously learned from John Kerry's mistakes four years ago and he knows that he is on course to take this election. It won't be a landslide by any means but I think Obama comfortably wins on November 4th if his campaign continues along the path it has set. Again, I'm no Obama supporter, but I believe the U.S. will be far better off in terms of an eventual economic recovery (and gaining at least some of our global reputation back) with Obama in the White House vs. McCain....

[eatingupblacktop]

McCain did a better job verbally (most of the time) last night than he did in the first debate. But tottering across the stage as he did just emphasizes the clear fact that he is quite simply too old for the job. Last night I kept getting the image in my brain of McCain in a hospital gown slowly pushing a mobile IV drip along with him as he creaked around the stage. The last thing this country needs would be for McCain to drop dead during his presidency and be stuck reeling with deer-in-the-headlights Palin in charge. We'd all be jumping off buildings having to listen to that voice serving out a McCain term. The only way she should be allowed within a mile of the White House would be as an Undersecretary of Annoying Accents and Mannerisms....

Good observation. McCain eight years ago instead of Bush might have made for some interesting history, but at this point it seems Obama's to lose and I don't see that happening with only one debate left and the election around the corner. One thing I would add to your comments is that McCain failed to elaborate on the Republican plan to buy up the mortgages. This issue is by far the biggest of the election. A lost opportunity. I think McCain has the issues well developed in his head but fails to communicate them in their entirety or in detail. His delivery leaves a bit to be desired as well. Rather than a flowing smooth rhetoric, his stuttering disjointed speaking actually takes the focus away from his message and places it on his delivery instead. The economic situation has made it's impact on the election. Even if markets rebound and credit loosens up a little, the voters will have already made their decision. Like him or not, I think you have Obama for the next 4 years.

[RX in NC]

You are discounting the assassination factor that faces Obama. It's the elephant in the room that nobody wants to acknowledge. I don't know if Obama can survive four years. Hell, I don't even know if he can survive long enough to be sworn in come January 20th. I really feel for the Secret Service and although those guys can't show emotion in public, I guarantee you they are sweating bullets as the election draws nearer....

[nc211]

The assassination point use to concern me a few months ago, and it still does, but not nearly as much. I say this for the simple fact that Bush wasn't assassinated, even during his trips to the middle east, were you've got to admit, was a pretty ballsy thing for him to do. They even made a movie about it a few years ago. I'm sure you're right RX, the secret service boys and girls are probably on hair-triggers, but I think they're pretty good.

On a funny note: My father-in-law is a retired NC SBI guy, very very high up in the ranks. He was heavily recruited by the secret service for years, but didn't want to make the sacrifice to his family for it. When I went to ask his permission to propose to his one and only daughter "met him for lunch downtown", I was nervous to say the least. He was going to have some fun with me, and boy did he ever! Immediately after I asked the question, he said "lets go take a walk". As we walked around the capital building, small talking "I was about to passout because he had not answered me yet", he started pointing out vantage points where he use to sit with his snipper riffle during the inagural parades for the governor. He said stuff like "see that corner on the roof over there? I would sit behind that pillar with a browning and scope out the crowd. At any one point, anyone and everyone was literally 1/100th of a second away from having their heads blown off, if I was given the order". As we rounded the capital building to the north, I noticed a carivan of black suburbans parked in the U drive. Out came a bunch of men in suits rushing into the 4 suburbans. He put his hand up to wave and said "there's Mike". I said "or I think I said, I was trying to not let the load in my shorts run down my pant leg", "who's Mike?". He said, "the Governor". For a split second, I thought "this guy is nuts, he's just messing with me having a little fun". For a SPLIT SECOND. As the 4 suburbans started to move, the 3rd one stopped, the rear passenger window went down, and out came a hand waving back and a shout across the lawn "hey ###, good to see the ole' bird-dog is still kickin'!" I couldn't speak, nearly tossed my lunch on my shoes, and quite honestly wanted to do nothing more but run home and suck my thumb in the dark. I thought "jesus, this guy could make me vanish in a blink of an eye. What in the hell am I doing??". We walked a few more yards, when he turned to me and said "of course you can marry my daughter, we'd be honored to have you in the family". Later on as the wedding progressed, he told this story at the rehersal dinner, and brought down the house! That place was ROCKIN' with laughter!

[RX in NC]

Bush wasn't assassinated solely because he had Cheney protecting him in the line-up. Any potential assassin realized that having an idiot in the captain's seat is always preferable to having to deal with a certified diabolical madman....

[Sir Charles]

IMO neither candidate is worthy of the votes so I will sit this election out.

[Randy&Bonnie]

..

[dcfish]

Harry S. Truman - The 'MAN'

'It doesn't matter how big a ranch ya' own, or how many cows ya' brand,

the size of your funeral is still gonna depend on the weather.'

-Harry Truman.

..............................................

After President Truman retired from office in 1952, he was left with an

income consisting of basically just a U.S.Army pension, reported to have

been only $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his

stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and,

later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year. When offered corporate

positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, 'You don't want me.

You want the office of the president, and that doesn't belong to me. It

belongs to the American people and it's not for sale.'

Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the

Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing,

'I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason

for any award, Congressional or otherwise.'

We see that other past presidents, have found a new level of success in

cashing in on the presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in

Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying

the fruits of their offices. Obviously, political offices are now for

sale.

Good old Harry Truman could have been correct when he observed, 'My

choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or

a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference. I,

for one, believe the piano player job to be much more honorable than< BR>cur rent politicians.'

[SW03ES]

IMO neither candidate is worthy of the votes so I will sit this election out.

Thats fine as long as you realize that you cannot complain, or opine about or on what happens in this country for the next decade at least because you did not do your civic duty and cast your vote.

You don't have to vote for either of them, there are several third party candidates that are going to be on the ballot. Do some research...maybe you want to vote for one of them.

They're not the only race thats being decided this election day either.

Don't just waste your right and responsibility to vote because you don't care for the candidates.

[jcrome04]

This might surprise some people!

http://www.votesmart.org/election_presiden....php?type=alpha

[nc211]

Harry S. Truman - The 'MAN'

'It doesn't matter how big a ranch ya' own, or how many cows ya' brand,

the size of your funeral is still gonna depend on the weather.'

-Harry Truman.

..............................................

After President Truman retired from office in 1952, he was left with an

income consisting of basically just a U.S.Army pension, reported to have

been only $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his

stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and,

later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year. When offered corporate

positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, 'You don't want me.

You want the office of the president, and that doesn't belong to me. It

belongs to the American people and it's not for sale.'

Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the

Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing,

'I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason

for any award, Congressional or otherwise.'

We see that other past presidents, have found a new level of success in

cashing in on the presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in

Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying

the fruits of their offices. Obviously, political offices are now for

sale.

Good old Harry Truman could have been correct when he observed, 'My

choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or

a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference. I,

for one, believe the piano player job to be much more honorable than< BR>cur rent politicians.'

In my younger years, I was a movie-crew guy. One of the 1st films I ever worked on was an HBO movie about Truman, called "Truman", with Gary Sinise as Truman "Lt. Dan from Gump". After reading the script, having access to the writer and several conversations on those cold late nights of filming with him hanging around the set, actually living in Misery "Missouri", and studying Truman for several years, I liked that guy! Wish we had him around today actually "minus the whole nuke-'em thing though".

My wife and mother-in-law have both said they don't like either McCain or Obama, and will check "other" or write-in Big Bird if allowed. I've warned them that if they do this, that I am not to be disagreed with during the next 4 years when I comment on the state of things. Knowing my ways, they've decided to vote.

I think Obama is gonna' win it fellas, I really do. I don't necessarily agree with him on many of his issues, but I like the fact that he has what he has by the work of his own hands. Not a child of privledge, not a slick DC insider, etc. I don't know if he'll be good, but I'm willing to try. If he doesn't get the jobs back in our country though, I won't vote for him or anyone like him again. I think it should be criminal for major corporations doing business here to outsource everything to cheaper labor in China, India, Mexico, etc. I can't figure out how to change the ink cartridge on my HP printer at home, thanks to "Hank in INDIAnapolis" on the phone. I've got to have my son's toys tested for led, thanks to China, and I've got the major poo-poo's from lunch, thanks to tainted ecoli tomatoes from Mexico. If you ask me, if this kind of stuff isn't a "threat to national security", then I don't know what is. The only thing worth a damn from the import-docks in the shipping yard, is the cars, tv's, and clock radios. I actually read an article not too long ago about how europe was experiencing a major outbreak of eczema, thanks to the fabric and wood finishings used in chairs and sofas imported from China. You should see the horrible construction quality of some of the baby furniture we have at home. I had to practically rebuild the rocking chair, thanks to screws falling out and alignment holes being an inch+ off. China makes CRAP, and why we employ them with our jobs just doesn't jive with me anymore. We've got to find away to address the "cost" excuse, otherwise we're all going to be depressed "led", covered in rashes "eczema" and stuck to the toilet 24/7. Oh, and do I need to even mention the baby formula problem? I'd kill that SOB who put shaved plastics in the formula to trick the protien tests. China made products suck. Ok, getting mad, gotta' stop..

[xndr400]

I absolutely WILL NOT vote for Obama. He is the biggest liberal and socialist to ever run for office. If he wins and democrats take over in the house and senate, it will be like giving the fox the keys to the henhouse. They will be able to pass every liberal bill they can come up with. Obama says he will only raise taxes on those who have an household income of $250,000 and over. Raising taxes on anyone is never a good thing. It eventually effects everyone. He and the democrats are looking to increase the size of government with more and more programs, and they will need much more money to feed the beast. Look at his tax proposals, they don't add up. Obama is anti nuclear energy, anti drilling. He has talked about how we are addicted to oil, and we're sending so much money to foriegn countries for oil and then tells us to properly inflate our tires, yet the democrats stood in the way of drilling for our own oil. And when they did let the drilling ban expire, they began boasting how they were all for drilling. And now that the ban has expired, the enviros and their lawyers are holding up drilling. You want gasoline to power your Lexus, be prepared to pay much more. You want to heat your home and power your lights, be prepared to pay much more. Because of higher taxes on businesses, you WILL NOT see jobs coming back to America, in fact you will see the number of jobless increase because companies will be looking for ways to offset the increase in taxes and still maintain their profits. Middle class tax cuts will not happen because we may go into a recession. On March 13th, Obama and the democrats voted to reject extending the Bush tax cuts and began working on a $3 TRILLION democratic budget blueprint for 2009. They can only achive this by the increased taxes recieved after the Bush tax cuts expire. That means a tax increase on EVERYONE that has an income. Liberal adgendas they will try to push through are cap and trade, the fairness doctrine and for those of you who may keep a firearm for protection or sport, you can bet there will be assult after assult on the second amendment.

Obama himself has absolutely no experience in anything that would make him eligible to be President of an entire nation. He has been never been in charge of a budget. In fact, he doesn't even qualify for most managerial positions in corporate America or in government. Sarah Palin has more experience in a government managerial position. He has been tied to terrorists. His campaign has given over $800,000 to a front group for ACORN, which is now under investigation by the FBI for massive voter fraud. His campaign has been shown to be lying about McCain's plans and proposals in TV and radio ads. I could go on but you can probably guess how I feel about Obama. Here is some interesting reading. http://online.wjs.com/article/SB122420205889842989.html

[SW03ES]

And McCain's campaign hasn't lied about Obama's history and positions?

Check out www.factcheck.org

I'm not saying the Obama campaign hasn't engaged in dishonest campaigning, but the McCain campaign has too, and to a more significant degree by making claims like he "palls around with terrorists" which is ridiculous. As for Acorn, the Obama campaign paid Acorn for a get out the vote campaign which many other political candidates have done before. He did NOT pay them to register voters, which is where the issue is with Acorn at present.

The lines you're using are right out of the republican smearbook.

Obama has never come out with a stance against your 2nd amendment rights

He's not against offshore drilling, but offshore drilling isn't going to solve our problems anyways.

You should read his tax proposals as pertains to tax credits for companies that create new jobs.

As for experience, many very successful presidents have never had executive experience, any president pretty much who is a senator. Senator McCain has never been responsible for a budget and he actually would not be qualified for a job as a corporate CEO either. JFK...no executive experience.

Now lets look at Presidents who HAVE had executive experience...George W Bush...he did a great job managing the US budget and economy didn't he? Jimmy Carter.

I'm not faulting you for being a supporter of McCain, thats your right and he obviously has a lot of supporters, however I am faulting you for believing and spreading around information about him that is just not true...like he pals around with terrorists.

[Randy&Bonnie]

..

[jcrome04]

I thought this election was going to be exciting.

To me it's just a big joke!

It's basically all about who's Bush and who's not :) lol

[SW03ES]

Unfortunately the public is blind and has been fooled by Obama's smooth talk and promises. But the reality is that his associations with corrupt and evil people, his history of activities, his lack of experience, and his anti-white, anti-Christian, anti-American beliefs are so obvious that anyone with just a smidgen of common sense would see this.

Remember when I said I was going to be very vigilent about flaming and flamebait in this discussion? Well here it is.

This is totally out of line, it is completely innapropriate to insinuate, let along come right out and say that people who disagree with you have no common sense and mark them as foolish.

Its unfair and it won't be tolerated here.

As for your "scenario", I don't even have the energy or desire to respond to that paranoid and delusional ranting...

Keep the discussion to the issues, and leave race, background, and radical ideologies out of it or there will be no political discussion on this board.

[RX in NC]

Randy & Bonnie,

Neither Obama nor McCain could come close to delivering the worst presidential performance in history. That dubious honor has been won, bronzed, and retired by the current Bush, hopefully never to be repeated by anyone who manages to hold that office again....

Regardless of who wins (and if you're betting on the outcome and don't select Obama, you're probably going to lose your money), we're in for the toughest economic times probably since World War II thanks to Bush/Cheney and their cronies. But Obama stands a better chance of leading this country out of those tough times than McCain does. Obama is smarter, more pensive, more willing to listen to experienced advisers that he will undoubtedly surround himself with, and perhaps most importantly he does not possess the hairtrigger temper that will eventually cause McCain to make a major, earthshattering blunder along with the fact that he is just too old for the job. There's been a lot of talk about "who would you want in place to have to take that 3:00 am phone call to the White House?" If McCain somehow wins the election (not very likely now), he's going to need several certified clairvoyants on call 24/7 because they're going to need at least 24 to 48 hours of advance warning so they'll have enough time to work with McCain to get him to the point where he can finally understand the crisis when that 3:00 am phone call shows up....

I'm still not an Obama supporter but I firmly believe that this country would be putting itself in far more serious jeopardy with the mentally and physically-fading McCain and the very scary, deer-in-the-headlights Palin in charge. That's not a risk I'm willing to take, but one that my elderly mother will. We had a civil but spirited argument about it over the telephone just yesterday. Unfortunately, she buys into the Republican smear campaign like so many people (including yourself) have done in the past. Although these tactics will be ramped up as never before in the two weeks to go, a combination of overwhelming Bush-disgust and our freefalling economy will not allow these tactics to work this time. At this point I think it's going to take a massive and unforgiveable gaffe from Obama himself (a la John Edwards), and he's already proven that he's too smart for that. Obama's biggest threat to the presidency remains assassination, not John McCain....

[1990LS400]

... I firmly believe that this country would be putting itself in far more serious jeopardy with the mentally and physically-fading McCain and the very scary, deer-in-the-headlights Palin in charge. That's not a risk I'm willing to take, ...

I think the above quote sums it up.

I've voted in nine presidential elections beginning in 1972 ... four times for Republicans and five times for Democrats. I've always been politically in the middle as are most people in the U.S. I didn't change ... it's the Republican Party that has veered sharply to the far right of the political spectrum.

I like Obama. I like smart people who have a world view. I admire a person who rose from the bottom, graduated magna !Removed! laude from Harvard Law School and became the President of the Harvard Law Review. I admire a person who taught constitutional law at a prestigious university -- maybe he will understand and follow the constitution.

I never thought much of "W" and never voted for him -- a "D-Student" who got into Yale only because his daddy G-1 and granddaddy Prescott went there and gave Yale enough money to build a few buildings.

I don't care for "D-Student" John McCain who got into the Navy Academy only because his daddy and granddaddy were navy admirals and who thought so highly of his incredible good fortune that he partied his way through the Academy and graduated at the bottom of his class.

This time I want a really intelligent person to be our president.

I'm enjoying the prospect of Michelle Obama being First Lady and having the Obama daughters living in the White House. If they get there, I think they will set a good example.

So far my wife and I have made five contributions to the Obama campaign -- we will not let Obama be "swift boated" like what happened in 2004.

But regardless of who wins, the U.S. will survive.

The next few years are going to be difficult no matter who wins.

[SW03ES]

I've voted in nine presidential elections beginning in 1972 ... four times for Republicans and five times for Democrats. I've always been politically in the middle as are most people in the U.S. I didn't change ... it's the Republican Party that has veered sharply to the far right of the political spectrum.

This is how I feel about the repbublican party too...

[djspawn00]

I'm also a conservative that's voting for Barry.

[Lexus GS430 Guzzler]

Just curious???

I support Ron Paul.

The current "Republicans" in power aren't any less liberal in action than many democrats. It's disgusting to watch.

I won't vote for Obama based on his past voting record. He loves passing new initiatives in taxation. And once a tax gets passed, it's near impossible to remove. Remember the "Federal Excise Tax"????

[RX in NC]

I also believe that Ron Paul would have been the best Republican candidate for the 2008 election, especially from the mounting economic crisis standpoint....

But you have to keep in mind that ANY Republican candidate would have stood little chance to win this election. Regardless of their background, qualifications, or public perception, every single one of them would have had to bear the Bush legacy anchor dragging them down to the bottom. That's unfair to some of the Republican candidates who tried and failed to win the nomination, but such is life in the Republican Party now after the Bush disaster....