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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>Sara Palin is totally unqualified (but hot in a dirty librarian way, but I digress).......but.......I'd rather have the unqualified person on the bottom of the ticket than on the top of the ticket.......<br /><br />
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Posted By: <b>Marc S.</b><p>I think the VP candidate is important in this election unlike any other in recent generations.<br /><br />Actuaries have determined that there is a 25-30% probability [based upon actuary table and underlying risk factors] that McCain would die while in office. As McCain is the oldest potential first-term president ever, that puts Palin in a spotlight unlike any other recent VP.<br /><br />I categorically cannot endorse an American system led by McCain, and the risk factor of it happening is too large to dismiss as negligible.
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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Tom, it's simple: in the eyes of the masses the Republicans are responsible for screwing up Wall Street because they are in the White House; therefore, McCain is being punished for it. While Obama may not have any tremendous idea on how to handle the problem his best attribute is that he is from the party perceived to be less responsible for the debacle.
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Tom, it's a matter of opinion, but what bothers me is that McCain is 72 years old and who knows how healthy he really is....scares me to have someone who apparently has the same intellectual curiosity as George W. Bush that close to the presidency. 5 schools in 6 years to get a bachelor's degree in journalism???....I'll take Obama's brains over Palin's so called executive experience any day of the week. She left a town of 7,000 people in 20+ million dollars of debt that had no debt when she took office. Her 20 months as Alaska governor in which she's spent the majority of it at home is not executive experience that really translates to the presidency IMO.
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>The Democrats should share some of the blame for the mess we are in, but like Bruce said above and I also heard this from some smarty pants on msnbc today...one of the big problems with what happened was the regulators who were overlooking this are anti-regulatory and thus always turned a blind eye. If McCain would drop Palin from the ticket I'd vote for him three times. I like it when we have one party controlling the executive and the other controlling the legislative.
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Posted By: <b>PC</b><p>Why all the fighting and negativity? Focus on the bright side ... our children and grandchildren no longer have to pay for the mistakes of the past few decades, because we're paying now.<br /><br />And who knew the PSA set registry was the mortgaged-backed CLO/CDO of the hobby. Please, no lamenting the demise of the $1000 PSA7 T206 common.
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Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>My current claim to fame with the big financial dire straights Iceland is in is I as in Iceland when I was a kid. The most geographically exotic place I've been too, with glaciers, ancient lava and moss landscapes, geyser, hot springs, etc. Some places resembled a foreign planet rather than a foreign country. Plus, they are a tiny island of Norwegian-ethnics that was generally isolated for centuries from other countries, and the people today speak an ancient Norwegian Viking language. This is fascinating to people interested in Ancient Scandinavian and Viking history and literature, as the Icelanders in essence speak a lost ancient language.<br /><br /><img src="http://si.smugmug.com/photos/135410333_b3SQ8-M-1.jpg"><br />Icelandic field of moss covered lava
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Posted By: <b>paulstratton</b><p>The best thing I heard all week was that someone knocked Dick "It's not my" Fuld the hell out while he was running on a treadmill.
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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>I agree that McCain is far from the ideal candidate. I wouldn't call him the lesser of two evils because I do believe he is a good man and an American hero. I don't believe he is a true conservative and my vote for him would be an anti-Obama vote.<br /><br />That is until Palin was named VP candidate. She is tremendous. Maybe she does lack experience but she would be a far better President than the top of the Democratic ticket. I vote for ideology. She is a true conservative and I think a good choice for the #2 spot.<br /><br />For those of you who won't vote for her due to experience look at the person you are voting for in the number 1 slot on the Democratic ticket!!A person even less experienced and whose first instinct is raise taxes.
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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Paul, I enjoyed that as well. That knockout plus the poor bastard didn't get a severance package. Life just sucks sometimes.
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Posted By: <b>Todd Schultz</b><p>IMO, McPain has had several opportunities and once had the personality to separate himself from Bush sufficent to win the election. The economy certainly has taken its toll on him, but I believe he could have overcome it, or at least stalemate it. However, his campaign has been a series, seemingly unending, of missteps and blunders. I believe it's possible, but extremely unlikely, that he can pull it out, yet each day it seems to get worse. I don't recall where a candidate, in a hole, ever continued to repeatedly ask for a bigger shovel.<br /><br />Someone said on one of the talk shows recently that McCain reminded him of Bob Dole when he ran in '96. Recognizing that his opponent was probably a better politician and orator, Dole could not believe that his lifetime of experience and service was not sufficient for him to win, resented the possibility he could lose, and became basically downright irascible and obstinate at the end. I agree and would add that Obama's people are spot on in calling McCain erratic and thereby unsteady--the very attribute McPain says is critical for the President. He's been both a freakin drama queen (gotta suspend operations and return to Washington, wherein I will literally phone in my vote) and putatively resolute (the fundamentals of our economy are sound). I don't know if it's his personality or the receipt of poor advice, but he appears to become less impressive as a candidate each passing day. I have serious complaints against the Republican Party and they way they run most elections, but would say that McCain is indeed a maverick in the way he bucks his own party and is his own man. I believe he sold out all of that when he hired Karl Rove, Douglas Holtz-Eakin and others to steer the ship, and when he named Sister Sarah as VP. His "country first" mantra disappeared that day, and his occasional repeat of that term since just makes him look worse. <br /><br />When George Will puts a fork in a major Republican candidate, the fat lady is at least warming up for her song. We'll see on 11/4, after which, as Barry and others have noted, we really need to band together. We must realize that there will be alot of so-called solutions that will carry a bunch of bad with the good. It will probably even be unfair at one level or more. We need to be vigilant on what is going on, understand that risks may lead to some failure, and work towards something that will be better and stronger in the end, for the next generation. My two cents, probably now worth less.<br /><br />EDITED TO ADD: Can't believe I forgot to mention Rick Davis as a man who added who knows how much unwanted weight on McPain's shoulders, although how he failed to foresee that albatross beforehand is beyond me and is the Senator's own fault.<br />
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Even Ronald Reagan raised taxes Jim.
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Posted By: <b>Jodi Birkholm</b><p>There you go again Bruce, getting everyone all in a fluster! <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> For today's most obvious statement, I am under the distinct impression that you revel in being the spark which ignites widespread controversy.
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Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>Jim C, <br /><br />I've tried very hard to stay out of these discussions. Most on this board would have no idea which way I will vote, but you may force me to tip my hand. <br /><br />You wrote - "That is until Palin was named VP candidate. She is tremendous."<br /><br />Unless you're kidding and I'm too tired to get it, that is the dumbest thing I've ever read. She is utterly incapable of handling the job she aspires to, let alone the Presidency. Even most die hard Republicans admit she was a political gamble to fire up the race. It almost worked, until they let her speak. If you watched 5 minutes of either major network interview or any of the "debate", you have to come away knowing she is incapable of this. <br /><br />Based on this decision alone, I have to question McCain's judgement. <br /><br />All the other discussion between sides on the relative pluses and minuses of McCain and Obama have some merit. But all logic goes out the window if you think she'd be good as VP (or God forbid, President.)
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Posted By: <b>Fred C</b><p>The way I see it the economy is a bipartisan hose job. It's not a Republican disease or a Democratic illness, it's a combination of both parties ignorance of balancing a budget and trusting people wouldn't be greedy. How's that saying go? Absolute power corrupts and power corrupts, absolutely.
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Posted By: <b>sagard</b><p>Let's quit calling the Republicans conservative. If you want to qualify them as social-conservatives go ahead. Calling them conservative is calling a PSA 8(OC) simply a PSA 8. It's misleading and doesn't reflect the truth.<br /><br />Read up on fiscal conservatives Bacevich, Sullivan, Will, and many others to see what has been going on with our faux-conservative party.<br /><br />McCain was leaps and bounds the best choice back in '00. Sadly now I seriously question whether he would outspend the liberal Obama.
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Posted By: <b>Jay</b><p>Well, let me get into the mud too. Up until a few months ago I was undecided, but leaning toward the Republican candidate. In the last several months, however, I have become an Obama supporter. Why--one is judgement. Selecting a Vice Presidential running mate by what is between their legs rather than what is between their ears does the country a disservice. McCain's political grandstanding by rushing back to Washington for the vote on the bailout package was counterproductive and politics at its worst. Second, the small minds of some McCain supporters who think that the name that Obama was given at birth somehow diminishes his qualifications for office make me want to stay as far away from them as possible. Third, eight years of a dolt in the White House is more than enough. Do I think that Obama is a great candidate--no. Is he the better choice in this election--undoubtedly yes.
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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>There's all this talk about judgment...why doesn't anyone mention the judgment of someone who doesn't stand up and walk out of a church when that someone's spiritual advisor repeatedly blasts America, white people and Jews -- for 20 years? And McCain has the bad judgment, right?
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Posted By: <b>J Levine</b><p>Two points from me.<br /><br />First...Fred, I am sorry but I manage my money very well. I am a teacher on essentially a fixed income. I live in California and have now been working without a contract for 19 months. My income increased this year by exactly 1.75 %. The price of gas has increased by 25%, food by 9 %, power by 6%, water by 15%, and natural gas by 3%. It has nothing to do with my budget but as the economy worsens and prices increase I am getting to the point were it will become difficult to keep myself going. Many people are in the same predicament that I am in. Teachers, nurses, government employees, police, fire, etc. and anyone else on a fixed income are feeling pressure. It is unfair for you to blame us for complaining that the current economic crisis is hurting us.<br /><br />Second...we do not live in a democracy. It drives me insane every time I hear this. We live in a republic. A true democracy is one citizen one vote. If this were true we might have a different president right now.<br /><br />Joshua
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Posted By: <b>Jay</b><p>How about McCain's judgement in paling around with Marylin Shannon? In case you missed it, she was the one praising the woman who attempted to kill a doctor at a legal abortion clinic.
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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Jay, I didn't realize she was his spiritual advisor, and one of the most important persons in his life and in the lives of his family members.
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Posted By: <b>sagard</b><p>I wish people would quit trying to buy into the character assassination of either of these men. After the election we have a far more honorable leader than we've seen since Bush I.<br /><br />Evaluate how each of these men are making decisions. Measure whose approach to foreign policy you believe in. Evaluate each man's energy proposals. Study whether you believe in the supply side economics or if you believe more tax cuts to the middle class would help the country.
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Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>Back to the original question, I never thought purchasing very expensive items was superior financially to a plethora of less expensive but quality items. This includes during good economic times. I'm not aware that the returns on the very expensive are better, and it's much easier to sell the cheaper items. Plus, a plethora is a mini-diversification, which you'll appreciate when one item sells less than you expect but the next sells more. If the one that sells less is the only one you got, you won't like that.
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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Jim VB,<br /><br />"God forbid. President"--exactly what I feal about Obama. She has more executive experience4 and would certainly come at the problems facing the country without the radical left mindset that Obama does.<br /><br />Jay,<br /><br />I too judge McCain and Obama by their picks as vp. Obama picks the most liberal guy in the senate next to he and the socialist senator from Massachusetts. McCain picks a movement conservative.<br /><br />I am not wild about McCain but with Palin on board against two people I think represent everything about the exact opposite direction America should go, it is an easy decision who to vote for.<br /><br />I think the election is over. Its the radical left by 8 points or so and maybe 60 Dems in the Senate. As was said earlier though, ex the current economic news it would be a horserace.
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Posted By: <b>Jay</b><p>See Jeff, you learn something new every day.
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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Like sarcasm and irony, Jay? I know, it's just a fact -- why let it get in the way of a good argument.
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Wait a minute, Obama sat in a Christian church for 20 years????<br /><br />I thought he wuz a scaaaarrrrryyyyyy moooooslim?????<br /><br />I'm so confused now.
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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Dan, <br /><br />No--not a scary Muslim.<br /><br />He just had a "spiritual mentor" and a "moral compass" a pastor who is racist, blames the U.S. for the 9/11 attacks and repeatedly has said "GD America".<br /><br />Great mentor and moral compass for Obama. <br /><br />And he is not nearly as dangerous as Ayers.
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Posted By: <b>peter ullman</b><p>I look forward to low-mid grade card prices declining so that I may purchase more...especially those that have become way overpriced the last few years...and out of my sensible reach.<br /><br />Both candidates have blood on their hands...both are imperfect...neither one is awe inspiring...as I wish one were. And, yes...once again we are voting for the lesser of 2 evils...and what has already been said...evil will win. <br /><br />So let's rebel against the 2 party system...vote for Ralph Nader...or a write in for Peter Chao!!<br /><br />pete ullman
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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>To those who slam Obama's affiliation with Rev. Wright and who are in love with Palin--she has some pretty scary religious affiliations herself. There are many many videos on Youtube with her giving talks at her evangelical church about the Iraq war being a mandate from God, and even getting a blessing from a travelling pastor to protect her from witchcraft. Unlike Sen. Obama, Palin actually takes an active role in these videos. Some of the things that Palin's pastor(s) say are on par, or even worse to that what Rev. Wright said. One difference though, Palin takes an active role in it.
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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>James,<br /><br />Thats right out of the Daily Kos/moveon.org playbook--nice going.<br /><br />Difference is a lifelong spiritual mentor versus one grainy video.
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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Ha Ha! Explain it all you want. It's more of a lifelong pattern than Obama's association. Whatever gets you through the day though.
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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Ha Ha yourself--jokes on you--
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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>The ship is sinking Jim!<br /><br />On to the topic though. I used to be able to find oodles of R305 Tattoo Orbit on ebay or at shows. It just doesn't happen anymore. I've also gone to BST and no one can help. I wish I could afford to drop $6000 for a near set....but that's not working either. Just have to scour the major auctions and hope for the best.
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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>We might see Bruce's DOW6300 this morning before NOON! Still a long ways to go though..................<br /><br />
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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>The ship is sinking--I agree.<br /><br />Voters blaming Repubs and by association McCain for economic situation. He can't come back. Hopefully a strong Reagan conservative will emerge by 2012 and not a middle of the roader like McCain
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Posted By: <b>Richard Simon</b><p>I think we need Obama to win so Sarah Palin can go back to Alaska and keep that eye of hers on Russia that she always has done, ya boys know what I mean? (wink,wink). Hope she does that 18 hours a day and gets her hubby to pick up those other 6 hours. I think it is much more important for those 2 to guard our Northern borders than for her to be VP.<br />==<br><br>I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss
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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>I've always contended and still contend that McCain was a superior candidate to Bush in 2000. We would be so much better off than the current occupant. Unfortunately, one cannot reverse time, and it seems day-by-day the election is passing McCain by. It's a shame too, if it weren't for right-wing talk radio like Limbaugh sabotaging McCain's candidacy in 2000, the world could be a lot better off.
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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>OOOh James.<br /><br />Rush is one of my heroes and a great American...how dare you.<br /><br />
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Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>Couple of things:<br /><br />1. Someone posted that McCain hired Karl Rove - I don't think that is true. He hired someone that used to work for Karl Rove.<br /><br />2. A lot of the comments expressed show just why we end up with elected officials that are basically not the best we should hope for. Obama isn't a Muslim. Did he attend the church he did for some non-religious (ie political)reasons? Perhaps, but does his pastor saying some controversial things make him unqualified....I don't think so. To me the whole story that should be reported is Obama's start in politics - the choices that he's made to further his political career, and what exactly took place when he won his first election by keeping some oppontents off the ballot - that would tell us much more about the man.<br /><br />3. The USA sure as heck should be hoping for better days ahead!! I love our country, but we are kidding ourselves if we don't think that we've lost ground over the past 8 years.<br /><br />4. The attacks on Sarah Palin are just as bad as those on Obama. She has a short record, fair enough - so does Obama. She comes from a small rural state - fair enough. Then attack her positions and look at her judgement. From what I know, she has shown some decent judgement in Alaska - she went against her party on a bill that basically discriminated against gays. She is balancing the budget. She stood up for her state against oil companies AND reached a reasonable settlement that benefited both sides. I agree she gave a poor interview. But I wouldn't want to be judged by one or two bad days.<br /><br />5, It amazes me that no one is running for office on some kind of common sense platform. Balance the budget. Yes some rich and upper income people will pay more taxes. And Yes, everyone must pay some taxes - no matter how little. Yes social spending will be cut. Yes government employees will have pay freezes and cuts. Yes the military will have cuts. Yes no one will be happy with all the decisions that go along with this. yes social security will be addressed and modified. And yes some tough choices will be made in government provided medical care, especially at the end of life.<br /><br />Don't want to be negative, but it seems to a certain extent that we've gone from being a country where when a man found himself "down and out" it was expected that he'd pick himself back up.....to a country that elects whomever promises the most to that down and out guy for free (along with anyone within 3 income brackets).<br /><br />Along with that, the fact that 1/2 people pay no taxes is a terrible thing IMO. My father made very little money. He paid Federal income taxes his entire working life....He never expected anything from the government. We had a roof over our heads and food on the table (but not always in the refrigerator as my dad liked to say - ie we scraped by sometimes). I just don't understand the way that some people think that if you don't have everything you might want, that the government should be providing.<br /><br />It is time for a change - I just wish we had Colin Powell running to be the first African American president - as he is a self proclaimed fiscal conservative. And I trust him. Personally I think that McCain will be just as ineffective as Bush. Obama has a chance to be a really good president, but we really know very little about his judgement and core values. But I think the majority of American's will chance it and go for Obama. And lets all hope that he does a good job (which is different than he achieves all his idealogical objectives).<br /><br />
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Posted By: <b>sagard</b><p>It seems like many who post so inteligently and rationally about cards, have an unnatural hatred of an Obama presidency. The guy may be liberal but he is undeniably intelligent and the guy is willing to flip/flop when he is wrong about an issue without looking like that dufus Kerry. See the drilling issue and his taxation policy if we are in recession for examples.<br /><br />However all McCain has to do to win is demonstrate that he is a fiscal conservative and will do a better job than Obama with the economy. In order to do that he needs to separate himself from the current admin's "borrow and spend" approach which as added literally trillions to our kid's debts. He could also create an energy policy that is far more realistic, yet still very aggressive in reducing our nation's dependence on oil.<br /><br />He needs to get passionate and state how he is going to pay (not borrow from China) for his wars and ask the American public to contribute far more than Bush asked us to.<br /><br />I think McCain from '00 would be the best candidate for our country, but he hasn't done enough to show me that man still exists. Right now he is coming off as a typical spend happy Republican.<br /><br />Bottom line is if McCain wants to win he needs to focus on our country, not Obama. Then he will have a lot better chance at getting those in the middle to forgive him for his associations with the current admin.
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Posted By: <b>CoreyRS.hanus</b><p>While I have tried to refrain from interjecting my political views on a baseball chat board, I can no longer restrain myself.<br /><br />While there are a plethora of important issues that face our society, on one of particular importance, the economy, Obama is trying to rewrite economic theory. In what way? I am aware of no economist who will opine that a tax increase in terrible economic times will accomplish anything except make matters worse. All the more so when the tax increase is targeted at the sector of society that takes the majority of the risks and provides the majority of the capital. This is economic reality, period, and it runs head on into the conventional liberal wisdom that it is okay to sock it to the wealthy, because doing so will not impact their decisions on how much risk to take, new ventures to start or indeed whether to take their business offshore. <br /><br />In regard to Joe Biden's lament that it is unpatriotic for companies to take their business offshore, that remark in my view is the single most stupid comment I have heard on the campaign trail in my lifetime. So Joe, what do you propose, we solve our economic problems by mass mailing of American flags to corporate America? Capitalism works through economic incentive. Take it away, and you depress economic activity. It has been reported that the USA has the second highest corporate tax rate in the world. So what does Obama want to do to solve our economic problems -- increase it!! His election, coupled with Democratic control of the House and Senate, can be described as nothing less than economic armageddon. And as to Joe Biden, well Joe, the last system that premised its economic principles on patriotism was something called communism.<br><br>
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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Jim,<br /><br />I also find Rush to be an entertaining, sometimes informative, opinion shaper. With that said, during the 2000 election Limbaugh spent month after month mocking and parodying a true hero in McCain. I'm voting for Obama, but I really like what McCain is about. McCain has gotten a lot of bad advice from his selection of a VP, to sticking to a bad Iraq policy (he would have handled it better than Bush) and the economy. Palin on the other hand is a lightweight...people are tuning her out.
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Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>First, <br /><br /><<She has more executive experience4 and would certainly come at the problems facing the country without the radical left mindset that Obama does.>><br /><br />She is a mental lightweight. She could not list one newspaper or magazine she reads. She could not name one initiative McCain had taken in his years in Congress. She couldn't specify one Supreme Court decision she had ever disagreed with (except, of course, Roe v. Wade). These aren't "gotcha" questions. They are a window into her intellect and inquisitiveness. She basically refused to answer any debate questions, opting instead, to run through her talking points. <br /><br />I would not hire her as my administrative assistant, and I bet you wouldn't either. There were plenty of other candidates for this job who were much more qualified. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Second, and most importantly, your use of Obama's middle name is pejorative, and you know it. There is plenty to attack him on without using fear mongering racism. His health care plan IS unworkable. His experience IS limited. Attack his plan. Attack his proposals. Attack his voting record. But don't try to scare people by using his middle name. You're smarter than that.
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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Hussein means "good, small handsome one" in Arabic. While I don't find Obama handsome, it's not a bad middle name to have <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />James
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Corey, Obama has said that the tax increase on the wealthiest Americans may have to be put off until the ship is righted. IMO when it comes to the economy Obama will handle that much better...I fear that John McCain will appoint Phil Gramm as treasury secretary which will just mean more of the same that got us into this trouble...you know it's all in our heads and we're just a bunch of whiners.<br /><br />And there's still this myth that persists that Ronald Reagan never raised taxes -he did so on more than one occasion and it was always in the interest of keeping the economy running smoothly..these neo-cons running the country now have run it into the ground with their economic and foreign policy decisions. Why anyone would want to give them another 4 years in office is beyond me.
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Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>Well now....<br /><br />I have decided that I am not voting Republican and I am not voting Democratic<br /><br />when I get in that voting booth - I am going to vote 'present'.<br /><br /><br />Thats okay right?<br />Faced with an important decision to make - and just, well, vote present?<br /><br /><br />
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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Corey, of course you're right. When Barry was lectured during a Democratic debate that cutting capital gains taxes has actually raised revenue and raising the tax has lowered revenue in the past, he just prattled on about how the fat cats on Wall Street are not paying their share.
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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>As a religious man, if McCain wins, I will pray fervently everyday for his health. The prospect of a Palin presidency causes me to shutter.
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>I know you're taking a dig at Obama there Joe, but perhaps you could educate yourself on why Illinois lawmakers have the option to vote present on bills in their legislature.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18348437" target="_new">http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18348437</a>
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Why are conservatives afraid to go back to the tax rates held in the Clinton years?
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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Dan, good article about Tony Rezko's financial dealings with Barry while Rezko was under federal investigation. Now that's the kind of change I'm looking forward to.
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Posted By: <b>Richard Simon</b><p>Amazing that people on this board can state that a drug addict is their hero.<br />He is a pompous hate mongering drug addict. And if you have been a drug addict in the past, you can easily slip and return to those habits.<br />==<br><br>I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss
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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>I agree that Palin is probably unqualified for where she finds herself. I find it odd though that people are pushing her lack of meeting foreign dignitaries as something that makes her unqualified. <br /><br />As a mayor of a small town and governor of Alaska, those were not her job. She wasn't in the position of having to meet them. As mayor & governor, she wasn't in the position of having to study Supreme Court decisions, unless, of course, they affected her job. I don't think everyone has fascination with the Supreme court and I'd bet most people here would be hard-pressed to name 5 of the Justices to begin with....<br /><br />I think another problem she faces is that all the 'handlers' probably have her scared to death to say anything about anything. She absolutely sucked in the Katie Couric interview. Plain & simple. She was probably also calculating on what people would say if she said 'Newsweek', or 'Wall Street Journal' or etc. I can't believe she couldn't rattle off even some miniscule lie about some paper. If so, then she DOES need to go home.<br /><br />She did a fantastic job in the debate. Even watching NBC, they had 3 female commentators on after the debate and all 3 said she won--2 of which were democrats. <br /><br />McCain did a terrible disservice to himself in giving in to whomever picked Sara Palin. It wasn't him. With Tim Kane or Mitt Romney, he'd have had a much better chance.<br /><br />I think the statement above about McCain focusing on issues, not Obama, is the best solution. That's the only way he can win. Although there are a myriad of issues in Obama's past like Wright, Flagler, Tony Resco, Ayers, the fact that NO ONE from his days in college will comment on him nor are any of his papers available, etc, McCain CANNOT win with that argument. People are starry-eyed when discussing Obama. They see past all the questions. <br /><br />At this point, I don't see McCain with a chance to win. I can only hope that Obama flip flops like someone says on the tax issues.......whoever wins is going to have an incredibly tough job ahead of them..........
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Jeff, Tony Rezko is fair game and I'm a bit surprised that McCain hasn't been hitting harder on this issue than he has on Bill Ayers...nobody gives a crap about a 60's radical hippie. Far more to be found though in shady real estate deals. There probably isn't a Chicago politician alive that hasn't had some kind of shady business...going after Obama on a clear cut deal with a crook I think would stick more than some loose association with a 60's radical.
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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Tom,<br /><br />I agree with so much of what you said, aside from Romney helping McCain to win. There is a simple dynamic there that would have kept the conservative south at home on election day---Romney's religion.
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Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p><<Amazing that people on this board can state that a drug addict is their hero.<br />He is a pompous hate mongering drug addict. And if you have been a drug addict in the past, you can easily slip and return to those habits.>><br /><br />Richard, <br /><br />You should not ever, talk about President Bush in that manner... Oh... Did you mean Rush... Or Obama... or Cindy McCain. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br /><br />
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Posted By: <b>sagard</b><p>Obama already has mentioned he won't be recinding the Bush tax cuts if the economy is in recesssion or trouble. He has mentioned that he will go forward with his tax cuts for the middle class either way. He has also mentioned that his unrealistic (my word) spending programs are very likely going to have to wait if he is elected.<br /><br />The guys thinks about his decisions and is willing to adjust his stance. I realize it may be flip/flopping to some, but to me it shows a far better decision making process than we have seen from our leadership in YEARS.
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>I don't get it? Who is the former drug addict?
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Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>"I know you're taking a dig at Obama there Joe, but perhaps you could educate yourself on why Illinois lawmakers have the option to vote present on bills in their legislature."<br /><br /><br />I'd love to educate myself - but I don't think I am smart enough to know how to click on the link.
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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>the article on voting 'present'. That's a bunch of crap if I ever heard it. Take a stance. Someone needs to disconnect all those little yellow 'present' buttons. Do we pay people to sit on their hands? Don't dilly dally around so you don't have a voting record for anyone to criticize. Same crap as saying when life begins is above your 'pay grade'. Have an opinion. Grow a pair. If you believe it's at birth or at conception or somewhere in between, spit it out.....<br /><br />I agree the Tony Resko(sp?) think is far stickier than the Ayers thing.....
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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Dan- Rush Limbaugh was a drug addict. He was hooked on painkillers.
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Fine then Joe, don't educate yourself. <br /><br />And Tom, I agree the present vote should be done away with, but that's for Illinois voters to worry about, but to disparage someone for using a political tool that's been given to them is disingenuous to say the least. It's like using someone's vote in congress against them without knowing what's attached to that bill that made them want to vote against it. <br /><br />If we want real reform in this country then we'll demand that bills don't have anything attached to them....a bill has to stand on its own. A lot of bad crap gets passed through congress because someone attaches their pet project to it in order to get enough votes to pass. You want federal money for your bridge to nowhwere? Put it in an appropriations bill.<br /><br />edited to add: The outright bribery that took place in congress last week to pass the bailout bill should be criminal. Someone sold their vote on that bill for 6 million dollars worth of wooden arrows. Makes me want to puke.
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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Dan, I'm sure you'd also agree that Obama's constant championing of disenfranchised voters -- but then to have won his first election by doing the very same thing to his opponents -- is also disingenuous.
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Ahhh...got it Barry. I thought we were talking about politicians, but now I recall Jim saying Rush was his hero.<br /><br />I don't see why a former drug addict can't be someone's hero - especially if that person has overcome that addiction.
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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>Disingenuous then. 'Present' is B.S. The article you posted said that he voted 'present' even on things he supported????? Ever hear of 'YES' Barry (green one.........). Let's stick the 'Present' button in the Supreme Court. 3 for, 3 against, 3 present.<br /><br />Both candidates have MAJOR blood on their hands on this banking/finacial bailout crap. Take a look at the top 10 campaign contributors to both candidates and it's a who's who of Wall Street. Not $5 and $10K either. <br />BIG coin..........<br /><br />And I agree completely that SOMEONE should have the balls to be able to scrap all this crap that gets tacked on to these bills. That's one of the reasons why we've hocked our country to the Asians & Europeans. Pretty soon we're gonna get a margin call.<br /><br />(disclaimer: I am happy, however, the AMT is getting the boot)<br /><br />
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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>Nice one on the Rush=Drug addict. I like Rush but lost a lot of respect through that ordeal...........<br />
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Yes I would Jeff....like I said you're not going to find a clean Chicago politician. I still think he will be better for America than John McCain who also has a lot of moral failings in his life...this campaign being one of them. I sorely miss the John McCain of 2000 and to have surrounded himself with the same people who put out the racist smears against him in South Carolina - those same people who he said should have their own place in Hell is sad. If he'd just picked someone other than Palin as his running mate he may have gotten my vote...although his current plan for buying up bad mortgages is not my cup of tea.
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Tom, I agree on the present button...Illinois should dispense with it, but since I don't live there I really don't give a crap. Nebraska's so called non-partisan unicameral is enough to drive a person crazy as it is.
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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Yeah, with all respect to the medium, I'd have a hard time counting as a hero any radio host.
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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>From www.opensecrets.org<br /><br />Obama's top contributors (TOTAL $8,462,531)<br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />Goldman Sachs $739,521 <br />University of California $697,506 <br />Harvard University $501,489 <br />Citigroup Inc $492,548 <br />Google Inc $487,355 <br />JPMorgan Chase & Co $475,112 <br />National Amusements Inc $432,169 <br />Microsoft Corp $429,656 <br />UBS AG $419,550 <br />Lehman Brothers $391,774 <br />Wilmerhale Llp $383,024 <br />Time Warner $375,063 <br />Sidley Austin LLP $370,916 <br />Skadden, Arps et al $360,409 <br />Stanford University $341,399 <br />Morgan Stanley $341,380 <br />Latham & Watkins $328,879 <br />Jones Day $309,960 <br />University of Chicago $294,237 <br />General Electric $290,584 <br /><br /><br />McCain's Top Contributors (TOTAL $3,444,150)<br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />Merrill Lynch $349,170 <br />Citigroup Inc $287,801 <br />Morgan Stanley $249,377 <br />Goldman Sachs $220,045 <br />JPMorgan Chase & Co $206,392 <br />AT&T Inc $183,663 <br />Credit Suisse Group $175,503 <br />PricewaterhouseCoopers $163,670 <br />Blank Rome LLP $153,426 <br />US Government $152,118 <br />US Army $150,470 <br />Wachovia Corp $147,456 <br />Greenberg Traurig LLP $145,737 <br />UBS AG $141,365 <br />Bank of America $133,975 <br />FedEx Corp $121,904 <br />Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher $120,246 <br />US Dept of Defense $118,125 <br />Lehman Brothers $115,707 <br />Bear Stearns $108,000 <br />
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Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>Many historians now consider George W. Bush to be the worst president in American history, catapulting past Warren G. Harding in to first place.<br />If you vote for McCain and something happens to him (God forbid but he would be the oldest man EVER elected president of the United States) then you absolutely deserve Sarah Palin. The rest of the country doesn't, but YOU do. She is an absolute mental flyweight. I wouldn't hire her to work in my office, much less want her as President. She is the perfect person for the Republicans to run- appeal to the lowest common denominator, appeal to people who hate government, appeal to women to vote for her simply because she is a woman, appeal to the religious right which has taken over the once noble party of Lincoln. The same people who brought you Watergate, the lies about Edmund Muskie, the swift boat crap and the smears on Bill Clinton are at work again. If that's what you want, fine. I just don't want to hear a single one of you bitching 4 years from now about the economy, the environment or the state of world affairs if your "team" wins. Not a frigging word! <br />P.S. if you don't think that race hatred and bigotry will play a part in this election you belong in the nuthouse. I see it every day and it is not confined to the South. "I would never vote for a n****r for President," or as seen in the clip above, "Obama is an Islmaic terrorist." What a sad state of affairs...
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Well your my hero Jeff and I've never even heard your program. <br /><br /><img src="/images/wink.gif" height=14 width=14>
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Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>"Fine then Joe, don't educate yourself"<br /><br />dan... maybe, just maybe I have read the article / and others on the situation already - <br />yet I still feel a person in office shouldn't vote 'present' (even if it is allowed)<br /><br />maybe just maybe that your presumption that I 'need to educate' myself was unnecessary. <br /><br />I am pretty sure a person can actually educate themselves about an issue and STILL hold an opinion contrary to yours. <br />Can we agree on that? <br />
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Tom, interesting list, but remember corporations are looking for favors...they know they'll automatically get them from McCain...they have to bribe Obama to get his...plus many of them are in the business of predicting future outcomes and I think they've all placed their bets on change which means "Not Republican".
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Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>Tom, <br /><br />Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't contributions of that size from PAC's and not from the corporations themselves? I believe they have to be "bundled" money from people in the company, targeted to those candidates. <br /><br />I think the maximum any individual can give is about $2300.
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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Joe, no disrespect was intended. You're one of the good guys and I apologize for my snippiness. Politics is something I can't avoid...I'm drawn to it and it sometimes (especially in a rough election year) makes me say things that I normally wouldn't say. I apologize for my condescension in this thread.
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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>If Iran attacks Israel sometime, the sitting president won't be able to push the yellow 'PRESENT' button...........<br />
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Posted By: <b>Jerry</b><p>Question for Obama Supporters<br />Does the association with Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers Bother you and how do you get past it?
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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>Think you're right about 'Bundled'. Those candidates know VERY WELL though who the money's coming from. Most companies play both ends agains the middle though, maybe just a little more on one than the other. In a highly predictable outcome, Obama CLEARLY has the educators and lawyers in his court (no pun intended) though......<br /><br /><br /><br />OPENSECRETS.org disclaimer from donor list...........<br /><b><i>Because of contribution limits, organizations that bundle together many individual contributions are often among the top donors to presidential candidates. These contributions can come from the organization's members or employees (and their families). The organization may support one candidate, or hedge its bets by supporting multiple candidates</i></b>
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