innapropriate for this board but perhaps a diversion

[NY4thtry]

and kerpuppies dont get me wrong i am not in love with Sara Palin but just think the Mccain ticket is the better choice

[jenny34]

One of the most effective diplomats in history was Ronald Reagan. Due to his willingness to sit down with world leaders that threatened the world, we can thank him for the collapse of communism.

Ronald Reagon was also a huge proponent of personal responsibility - getting a job, taking care of yourself, etc. But, he also understood that certain industries needed regulations.

If you actually read Obama's policy decisions and plans if elected president, and look at the cabinet he has already put in place on his campain, it is very impressive.

As a long time republican and independent voter, I will be voting for Senator Obama in November.

We need a change in Washington. The McCain/Bush eight year policies did not work.

[kristinpa]

I wish that Mitt Romney could be our next president.

[jenny34]

Yeah, I agree with you, Mitt R was who I voted for in the primary.

But, it's Obama for me for president.

The other reason I can't vote for McCain is I always look at their choice of VP - I mean it is their first decision as a presidental nominee.

Well, McCain's choice of Palin was just insane. Forget what you think of her as person, or particular policies --- she has NO foreign policy experience. In this day and age, we can not have that.

I don't care if McCain's mom is still alive - his Dad is dead and he has had multiple rounds of cancer and didn't release all of his medical records. I would rather have Biden dealing with Putin and Iran than Sarah Palin. Her answers and statements on foreign policy have been -- well, scary!

[sciteacher77]

This is probably not the best thread for a board like this because I know that someone like me is wayyyyy to emotional about politics to post, but here I go anyway. I am a democrat to the core and a Chicago girl. I often joke that my husband and I having different religions is no big deal (I am Jewish and he is Catholic) but if he were a republican, no way would we be married. I have never been as passionate about any candidate than I am about Obama. He is by far the most intelligent, calm, thoughtful, and sensible candidate. I am a teacher and so is my husband and I am tired of living in a world where tax breaks go to the wealthy, where the environment is disregarded, and where we go to war based on lies. Our economy is in ruins, we have a ridiculous deficit, and we are turning back the clock on equality. I personally do not want to live in a world where gays can not marry, where woman can not have abortions, where creationism is taught as science, where sex education is not given to teenagers, and where polar bears are extinct thanks to a total disregard to our environment. I think Sarah Palin is a joke. She represents nothing I believe in. As a person who struggles with fertility and who lossed a precious daughter at 23 weeks due to an incompetent cervix, I would not have an abortion, but I believe it should be a choice. Maybe if Sarah Palin had educated her daughter about safe sex, or it had been taught in her school, she would not be 17 and pregnant. I am stopping now because I just get angrier and angrier. It shocks me that anyone could support the republican ticket in the world we live in today!
Michelle
15 weeks pregnant

[NY4thtry]

Jenny,

lets be realistic Obama has NO foriegn policy experience..

Ronald Reagan did no sit down with terrorists ( please read what Ahmadinejad says ) and i think if he were alive he would take great opposition to the comparison.

Obama does not think that one should take care of themselves.. he has said that he understands raising taxes will lower the overall tax base ( a concept John Kennnedy first made people understand) but lower tax bas was ok because it is a great "equalizer" .. he clearly hasnt read federalist 9 .. this country wasnt founded on everyone ending up equal 9 i mean i n terms of wealth succcess etc) .. thats not waht capitalism is all about

I will not for a minute disagree with the last 8 years being a disaster but GWB is over and john McCain should be judged independantly.. as i believe he will act...

It is interesting ot me that many of my liberal friends who were big hilary supporters are voting for McCain.. because they see that there is no substance behind Obamas rhetoric..

and in terms of choices of VP it is amazing to me that noone seems to remember that Obamas VP ran for president and had to resign from the race because he was caught plagiarizing.....

[esperanza]

I think she is and thats what scares me. Her deciding to give birth to a special needs baby should be at the top of her list of things to take care of. That baby will have a nanny and should be taken care of by his mother. I'm not saying you can't work and have a baby (or 5) but the VP job is not a 9 to 5 kind of job. You work long days and travel often, and I think it is her responsibilty to care for that child since it was her decision to have him. Not someone elses.

How about the father? I'm sure he was part of the decision making as well, AND he can do what most women around the world do...take care of the children while their partners work. Just a thought...

[Ghost]

How about the father? I'm sure he was part of the decision making as well, AND he can do what most women around the world do...take care of the children while their partners work. Just a thought...

I agree. I don't care for Palin's socially conservative views, but the claims that she should stay home and take care of the kids are unfair and highly sexist. I say leave the family out and focus on the issues. That's where she is weakest, anyway.

McCain's little ploy might have worked better if he'd picked Condi Rice. At least she would pull her own weight in interviews and debates.

[kerpupples]

Ghost, I agree with you that Condi would have been a much more intelligent selection. But McCain has to maintain his distance from the Bush administration if he has any hope of winning.

If you sat down and read Obama's website you would understand that there is plenty more than empty rhetoric. That is just what the Republican machine wants us to believe. He is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee and Chairmain of the subcommittee of European Affairs. No foreign policy? Sorry, don't buy that either. He cosponsored the The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency also Act of 2006, which is pretty relevant considering the current state of affairs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

So the "precondition" is they can't be our enemy then? So who do you sit down to negotiate with if not your enemy? Under your rules diplomacy does not exist. I know what Ahmedenijad believes, I am not uninformed in this area and I am not sure that he can be negotiated with. But it is our responsibility as a peaceful democracy (or at least we used to have that reputation) to exhaust all diplomatic means to a solution first.

The Middle East is a mess but we cannot or should not have to handle the situation on our own. The Israelis have proven over the last 50 years that they can hold their own and they will always have our support. I think we should pressure the Europeans to help in that arena more - it is their fault that the state of Israel was created amongst all their hostile neighbors in the first place. Obama is better equipped to be taken seriously by the Europeans because he's not seen as Bush's lapdog as McCain is.

Personally, I think that the GOP put forth a bunch of weak candidates this election because they know that a Democrat is very likely to win after this administration. It explains the Palin VP choice as well. Giuliani didn't even bother to campaign. I don't think they will bring out the heavy hitters until 2012 (if Obama wins that is).

Regarding Biden, he is not the most accomplished academic either. But I'm not sure I believe in plagiarism when it comes to campaign speeches. They are not copyrighted works but statements of policy, which are always influenced by other individuals. He is certainly not the first nor the last politician to lift a campaign speech. And anyway, the main reason he dropped out was because he didn't have the money or support that Hillary and Obama did. There are only ever 2 or 3 real choices in a primary and he didn't stand a chance then.

[AmandaM]

Sciteacher

I agree with you that the government should not tell gay people they can't get married, or a woman can't have an abortion.....

However, Obama is against everything you support. The only candidates who had the same opinions as you and me is Ron Paul and Bob Barr.

Kerpupples - I do not feel safer with the Patriot Act. In fact I feel less safe.

[NY4thtry]

I agree about Condi as well... but kerpuppies is exactly right
unfortunately she is part of the Bush regime and therefore blamed and hatedfor the war etc.. he couldnt pick her

Esperanza i couldnt agree with you more it really bothers me that people say because she is a mothr she shouldnt have accepted

as for the plagiarism ..biden admitted it and bowed out of the campaign.. so i dont know.. and btw it didnt happen this election cycle but when he tried to run in 1988 .. you are confusing the issues Obama was accused of plagiarism in a speech ..BIden was caught plagiarising in law school

The europeans are never going to give the kind of support to Israel that you are speaking about.. think about history.. for example there is more antisemitism in France today than in any western country..

I also have to say i worry about Obamas judgement .. he went to Reverend Wrights church for 17 years.. does anyone believe he didnt listen.. I just dont find him truthful

[kerpupples]

AmandaM - you must have confused me with someone else, I don't support the Patriot Act at all!

And I have to join in and say that I don't agree with the criticism regarding Palin being a mother and accepting the VP nom. Nobody ever criticises male politicians for the same thing. Personally I do believe that politicians sacrifice their parental responsibilities to do their jobs but that is the case regardless of their gender.

I hear you about the Europeans. It does make me angry considering that we saved their skins in WWII and they still expect us to clean up their messes.

I can understand your concern about Reverend Wright as well. I honestly think he went to that type of church to appeal to his constituents. Not exactly honorable but pretty typical for a politician.

[Kabillion]

> also have to say i worry about Obamas judgement .. he went to Reverend Wrights church for 17 years.. does anyone believe he didnt listen.. <

Palin went to a witch doctor from Africa that had women stoned to death because he said they had cast spells on people. Who's judgement aren't you sure about? And I doubt Todd will be a stay at home dad if she becomes VP. He didn't do it when she became governor.

I do agree a lot is put on the women to take care of the kids, but if both parents work, who's going to care for the children? Sadly enough it'll be a nanny

[Ghost]

Looks like IVF patients are an intelligent crowd.

[NY4thtry]

being blessed by a witch Dr and going to the church for 17 years where the pastos says god damn america are two different things...

But i think its funny that it is Palin people keep comparing Obama too not mcCain...