Comments

10 Comments so far

1. STEVE on October 28, 2008 3:24 pm

   ANN
   WOW… LOTTA STUFF TO READ HERE. YOU INDEPENDENTS THINK TOO MUCH. GOOD JOB, THOUGH.

   I VOTED EARLY, THE MAIL IN BALLOT THING. I HATE LINES…

   LOST A BUNDLE ON COL. JOHN. HE HAD YOUR PRADO RIDING, WHAT GIVES?

   POOR CURLIN. HE’LL BE BACK.

   STEVE

2. Rob Smith, Jr. on October 29, 2008 6:03 am

   The deal shutter for me and something you won’t find on McCain’s site, Obama’s site, FactCheck, PoliticCheck, or whatever all of those internet guys are doing: Barack Obama has not ever in his 47 years made a significant, one could argue even insignificant accomplishment.

   47 years and his claim to fame is being a paid community volunteer with a bunch of mostly failed projects, a State Senate run with little to show, almost two years, of four, being active in the US Senate and getting his name on a bunch of bills just before he announced running for President. Otherwise he was in various colleges until 30 mostly studying radical thought, which he himself admits (See the concern over Ayers. There’s more to this, but I won’t get into it here). His greatest accomplishment is being married 17 years. Something tells me that has more to do with his wife than this fellow who has trouble settling down. Someone who does so little and then wants to helm a country has a screw loose.

   If you haven’t read much about this fellow, you need to. I’ve learned more than I wanted through various articles and books. Here’s an even handed multi-article story on Obama by a newspaper that has endorsed him: The Chicago Tribune. There’s ALOT here. Please read it all and decide for yourself.:
   http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-obama-life-storygallery,0,6974953.storygallery

   For someone who seems eager to avoid responsibility it is highly unlikely he’ll enter a management office and change his stripes. How many have you known or read about in history who have been under achievers that have suddenly run around and say they can run the world.. and then actually does it?

   This isn’t a partisan thing. This is a practical decision. Give the office to a literal novice or someone with some sense of being a leader and accomplishing much.

   About the policies. With my conclusion being that Obama is not going to suddenly become an action hero and accomplish everything, if anything, in sight, the policies are a moot point. Will someone do that for him? We shall see, though we may not hear about it…right away. I think you will see a lot of comparisons to the current Bush administration. to me, Obama is Bush 3.

   I haven’t seen or read the websites and how they came to their conclusions. I do know they’re mining numbers from info fed them. If the info changes enough, it’s hard to keep up. Both candidates are spinning numbers and I’ve found in the past these checking groupds to be reliable the info comes out and a day later, the candidate has changed their minds. Apparently Obama is now runnig an add talking about under $200K not getting taxed and MCain whipped up his housing bailout plan overnight a few weeks ago.

   Let’s start with healthcare. Both McCain and Obama are being ridiculous about proposing anything. There is no money available to implement any of their plans, especially the tax ones. They can’t happen. McCain’s most likely to follow through since it means less cost. Maybe he can try in 2011 or 12 ..just before election time again…GROAN.

   Obama’s Universal (What it is and what he won’t call it) healthcare plan is a lot of the Hillary plan from ‘92 on steroids.

   It certainly is ludicrous to imagine Americans getting the same health care plan Congress gets. I’m certainly all for doctors being on 24 hour call to drop everything and come to my side wherever I am at anytime I want AND not paying a dime for it. Obama must have been tired when he said this…

   Energy: McCain knows his stuff, he’s been down this road many times and knows the hand writing on the wall involving the energy options. You can’t put a tab on any of this greening America stuff. And I’m an environmentalist! Technology is no where near ready and you’ll have lobbyists coming out of the woodwork to stop it. Even with a Democratic Congress, this’ll be like the Clinton years, dead on arrival.

   I have no idea what Obama’s talking about involving the cash he spoke of. Coal energy consultants charge $150 billion just to brush their teeth in the morning. We tax payers have poured a billion bucks to clean up the Kissimmee River and we have little to show for it. Why? Consultants. Not the workers. The top dogs who don’t even go out to do field work. $150 billion is nonsense. And where does ten years come from? He’ll be lucky to make it through his first term without the Democratic Congress trying to throw him out.

   The $150 billion is also where some of the socialists claims come from. Government determining where tax dollars go to pay for what they think is best and not letting the oh holy free market (us) do it instead.

   National security: I am floored by the folks who tell me Obama will stop “the war” or the Amrican flags with peace signs instead of stars flying in front of homes with Obama signs. Obama is very clear about this: He wants to reduce troops in Iraq to some degree, maybe phase them out. He wants to increase and make a legitimate war with us in Afghanistan. He wants troops in Darfur to settle conflicts there. He really wants troops in Pakistan and will consider them in Iran, if neccessary. While this is going on he also has said he wants to sit down to tea with all of the leaders of these countries. He talked about this at the first two debates, he’s talked about this in interviews, he is a hawk for war. I don’t know how else to term it. McCain seems like a ’60s peacenik in comparison, and also being more professional, to say he would like to increase the troops in Afghanistan and wants to follow through in Iraq, slowly releasing troops as has been going on this past year. Eventually handing everything over to the Iragi government. MoCain has no timetable. Neither does Obama.

   Obama also doesn’t have the troops to do all of these military actions. And he can’t move them all around in four years to get it all done. Where does he get all of these troops? Draft? He’s pretty serious about Darfur and Pakistan and, specifically, getting Osama Bin Laden at all costs. Here we go again.

   I could go on and on. There’s so much out there and so much the bungled McCain campaign hasn’t bothered to tackle.

   About the websites you’re checking: A better idea is to check who these people are, what they’ve done and consider the sources of what you read. Pull out McCain’s books or Obama’s (With their co-writers or ghost writers) and find out who these folks are.

   Please do not judge a candidate by his two years of sales pitch, otehrwise contact me, I have a bridge over Tampa Bay to sell you. With someone lacking so much background and leadership skills, it’s who and what they’ve done that should lead you.

   I’m supporting a conservative leaning liberal John McCain because he’s proven his ability to take charge time and again. Even if that is in question, there can be no quesion of Obama’s lack of depth, experience, ability to get the, or any, job done. One thing he can do…Talk…Alot.

   This is all a car analogy. Obama’s policies sound to many like the fuel they want in their car, but can you trust him to drive it?

3. A.E. on October 29, 2008 6:02 pm

   Rob!
   Buddy!

   Thanks for the passion. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts!
   I hope this inspires more folks to toss in their two cents. I’m eager to read and agreeable to post. Folks, feel free to share, the moderator will not ridicule nor trivialize your efforts… but please… no potty mouth.

   I am sick of the mass media telling us what to think… they are so partisan, and the blame games- Mercy!

   I think if we all talk to each other and encourage each other to research and share a lot can be done. I don’t know who will win this election, but folks need to vote on the facts and how they add up. Not by nasty David Letterman interviews, scare tactics, or email chain letters by anonymous cowards.

   Power to the People!

4. A.E. on October 29, 2008 6:10 pm

   Steve!

   What did I tell you about post position? Jeeeeeze…. does nothing register?

   Sorry for your big two dollar loss. Better luck next time.
   

   Curlin will be back (As they say, ‘dis ain’t ova!’)

5. Joy on October 30, 2008 1:14 pm

   Hi Ann

   Media Matters is a good site, too.
   Factcheck and Politicfact are more popular, but beaten to death by the major tv news shows.

   (Is that poster serious? He never heard of those sites? I found his comment to you about your choice of sources a little insulting. Better tell CNN, MSNBC, and the other major news networks who keep inviting those folks representatives on their shows the same thing.)

   Pauly and I are still weighing our vote.
   Coming Tuesday for the party?

   JM

6. Jo Ann Fenstermacher on October 31, 2008 12:04 am

   Miss Ann! As a pink-o/commie, here is how I feel about the GOP calling Obama a Marx Man!

   ——-
   Greetings! This is a very passionate election. Although I am not interested in Obama or McCain, I did throw my vote behind Obama.

   All this talk about evil “Socialism” is driving me crazy! My BA is in Sociology. Sure, Karl Marx was dubbed the father of Sociology. The Study of Sociology = the study of Society as a whole. Socialism is a part of this. Weather or not we like it, we live with aspects of Socialism in our every day lives! FRD was often called a communist. No, he was not. He understood that people wanted jobs. People wanted to work. People wanted to know that their hard earn dollars were going to be safe in the banks. Anything wrong with that? It was not long ago that employees were paid with “store credit ” They ended up owing the store! No over time. Children were working in Factories, not in school. Women were not allowed to vote. People worked 7 days a week, 10 to 12 hours a day. The fat cats that owned these businesses did not give a damn about the people who were making them rich. TR & FDR saved this country! Banks & the Rail Road HATED TR because TR did actually care about the people. Anti-Trust laws, child labor laws. Yes, those are Socialistic ideas. With out FDR, we would of never made it out of the depression. Thanks to FDR, we have Route 66, our interstate highways, roads to & from out National Parks, the CCC, WPA, etc…. The man was amazing. TR was hated by young corporate America. In my eyes, TR was the best president ever.

   I cannot imagine where we would be without our roads. Without our laws. Is there anything wrong with this type of socialism?

   When I worked for the state, I encountered a rape victim. She was beaten up and was rapped. She was taken to the hospital by EMS.A rape kit was performed on her. You know what? She was CHARGED for the EMS service, the ER room and the RAPE KIT!! That is not right. Yes, socialism address these issues. She contacted victims assistance. Our JEB raided the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund so there was no money to pay for these services. However, the state did say that they would assist her AFTER the offender was found guilty. There was a warrant out for his arrest however, he absconded and was not found. In a socialist society, these issues are addressed. Her bills were turned over to a collection agency, her credit was ruined, and she bears horrible emotional scars. She does not have the money for mental health. Her life was ruined. All because she was a victim. This is a common story. Cases happen like this all over the US. The GOP talks about how they do not want to be like Canada. Well, in Canada, this Victim would of been cared for. Because you have a heart & you want to take care of your citizens, you are a socialist?

   I am all for a free market. If people were honest then a 100% free market would be a beautiful thing. Wow. It would be amazing. If people were not greedy, this country would be unstoppable. However, we have to have rules & regulations. Thanks to Phil Gramm, he was a part of this mess we are in. You cannot just blame the home buyers, credit card holders, etc. Our free market created the bulk of this mess. The greedy people caused this. And YES, they enjoy blaming Joe Q. public. So, Joe Q. Public has to bail out the big boys. You know, our government can send out hard earned money all over the world. However, once we ask for some of that money back, we are socialist. It is funny how out government favors “corporate welfare.” OK, we will give all sorts of crazy tax cuts to the richest people & corporations in America but we cannot provide health care for its citizens? According to the CDC’s comparative world figures on living standards the US ranked 29th in the world in infant mortality. Considering the GOP’s position on life, I find this statistic appalling. So, if a woman does not have health insurance, makes too much for medicaide, & cannot afford to go to a DR for prenatal care, what do we do? If we offered pre-natal care, then we would be offering socialized medicine? And that is evil in the eyes of the GOP because???? If they are pro-life, would not this care be protecting the life of the baby? No, we need a system that is affordable that anyone can buy into based upon their income. I do not understand why the GOP looks at this as something evil. This would protect life. Is that not what the GOP wants to do?

   Call me a communist, pinko, what ever. I do not care. Yes, I am a America. Yes, I do love my country. However, I do not love our leadership. Socialism is a part our society. We have to have it integrated with our capitalistic economy. However, the more we loose certain socialist ideas, and the more we hand over to corporate America, the more we loose as Americans. Now, Obama does not have the the experience for President of the United States. Congressman Dennis Kucinich & Governor Richardson were the most qualified on the democratic ticket. However, the press gave all the attention to Obama. So, that is who we are stuck with. No way will I vote for McCain. I DO believe that Obama will surround himself with people who are experienced.

   We have to talk. Forget about party lines. Everyone needs to talk, battle out their differences, compromise & sing Kumbaya.

   The bickering has to end. The communication has to begin. It is OK to agree to disagree. Freedom of speech is something I hold close to me heart. I just do not think that Joe the plumber & Joe six pack have the answers…

   —–

   God Bless America!

7. A.E. on October 31, 2008 1:00 am

   Thank you, Miss Jo Ann!

   You knew that Sociology degree and all those years in law enforcement would come in handy for something one day: political analysis!
   

   Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
   I really appreciate all the lengthy, informative commentary.
   Great stuff!

   Ain’t this the best: how well all can share our differnt opinions and get along!

   Thanks for giving me, and all of us, good food for thought!

8. Joy on October 31, 2008 3:46 pm

   Ann
   Pauly said to post those tax plan history comparisons again. He wants to read them.
   JM

9. A.E. on October 31, 2008 3:53 pm

   Hi Joy!

   Here’s the piece:

   Is this suggestion of the Democrats Federal Income Tax Rate adjustment “socialist”?
   Really?

   Adjusting the numbers so folks on top now pay a few percent more than they did during the Bush administration and the folks below pay a few percent less than they did during the Bush administration is now “socialist” or a ‘Progressive Tax’ code- shifting responsibility to burden disproportionately upward? Bush, Jr. revamped the Federal Income Tax code during his terms in office. Wasn’t Bush ‘redistributing the wealth’ upward- from the middle class to the wealthy 5%? Was that a ‘Regressive Tax’ plan (shifting responsibility to burden disproportionately downward) or was it merely an adjustment Bush thought would help stimulate more economic grow under capitalism?

   Now, if the Republicans can prove that Democrats numbers are an unfair burden upward adjustment, than we can call it possible socialist. (ALTHOUGH, it is interesting to note that tax rates were has high as 70% before Regan, who dropped them to 28%. Bush, Sr. - yes, Bush, Sr., RAISED taxes to 31%, Clinton to 39%, Dubya Bush dropped them to 35%. Interestingly, Obama’s current plan taxes of 34.4% are close to Bush, Jr. numbers on the top 1%, and McCain is 27%- a 7% DROP from Bush, Jr.) There is also the handling of the Capital Gains and Dividends to be considered. With dividends, the wealthy can resort to tactics such as ‘one dollar’ salaries, yet live quite nicely off of 15% taxable dividends: something the lower and middle class could never hope to do. If Obama is such the ‘Robin Hood’, elimination of that practice would have been a hot topic on his campaign. Instead he only raises Capital Gains and Dividends from 15 to 20% for over $250,000 incomes.

   This is NOT a Obama endorsement, as it has been accused of being. My questioning him on doing little for the CG and D abuse issue should prove that.

   But the Dems plan in regard to the Federal Income Tax Rate Adjustment is no more socialist then any other plan previous.

10. Jo Ann Fenstermacher on November 4, 2008 2:45 pm

    Miss Ann! You have a hot blog!!! Keep ‘em comming! Are you ready to run for Gov & Lt. Gov? When is the next election in FLorida????