McCain's RNC speech

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'm honestly not sure - the only reason I'd prefer Obama at this point is to sweep the slate clean of the last 8 years.

I'd oppose McCain simply for his healthcare plan - I think what we have now is better than what he's suggested.

[chri'stina 190]

I'm honestly not sure - the only reason I'd prefer Obama at this point is to sweep the slate clean of the last 8 years.

I'd oppose McCain simply for his healthcare plan - I think what we have now is better than what he's suggested.

I know it's normal that after 8 years under one President of a particular party, the country might want to change parties. That's why I thought Obama was going to win in November but now I am not so sure. If he wins, it won't be surprising. If he doesn't win, I think that would be more surprising to some people.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't think Obama will win personally - which is amazing given the opportunity handed to the Democrats by the train-wreck that is the Bush administration. The GOP candidate was always going to take a hit simply for running for the incumbent party - but now the polls have them basically level.

As I said - its no surprise that the Republicans basically disavowed Bush at the convention (giving him the bare minimum time to do a perfunctory speech) - at this point nothing that the man touches at this point will work to their benefit.

[almaty 19]

i see obama as winning..and mccain as really not been tested through the primaries...he will loose energy in october

[symbiosis 0]

I don't think Obama will win personally - which is amazing given the opportunity handed to the Democrats by the train-wreck that is the Bush administration. The GOP candidate was always going to take a hit simply for running for the incumbent party - but now the polls have them basically level.

As I said - its no surprise that the Republicans basically disavowed Bush at the convention (giving him the bare minimum time to do a perfunctory speech) - at this point nothing that the man touches at this point will work to their benefit.

I also think McCain will win. 70% of the electorate votes without thinking. That's a huge advantage for the GOP.

But, I would be leery of the polls. Most political polls are still conducted by interviewing individual households by telephone. How many people have dropped landlines in the past few years? A lot. The pollsters say they also contact people by cell. Just how do they do target a proper sample without a directory to tell them with whom they are speaking? I think those polls are going to be completely buggered this year. Since the younger demographic is probably more likely to have gone exclusively to a cell phone, the numbers are probably skewed in favor of McCain.

[metta 0]

I don't think Obama will win personally - which is amazing given the opportunity handed to the Democrats by the train-wreck that is the Bush administration. The GOP candidate was always going to take a hit simply for running for the incumbent party - but now the polls have them basically level.

As I said - its no surprise that the Republicans basically disavowed Bush at the convention (giving him the bare minimum time to do a perfunctory speech) - at this point nothing that the man touches at this point will work to their benefit.

Based on policies/party platform, I'd go for Obama. But policies are implemented by leaders elected at the top of the ticket.

Republicans who voted for Bush believed he would be a fiscal conservative. Their platform said so. But the guy at the top actually failed to abide by their platfor. That's just one example. Most elected to office espouse whatever party's platform to get elected. They are more often than not committed more to their careers than to the policies they publicly subscribed to. That's what McCain meant when he said "me first country second".

I discern a hint of that in OBAMA WHEN HE FLIP FLOPS. ( Do whatever to win. Understandable but puts a flag up)

More importantly, what I question is his wisdom or political maturity.

let me put it this way. Frankly, i support his policies on health insurance, social security etc.

Now if he really wanted to be POTUS because he wanted to make a difference and put those policies in place, he would do what is necessary to get there, his pride and personal considerations notwithstanding.

It doesn't take much to discern that Hillary with 18 million votes and support of certain constituencies (women, midllecalss blue collar etc). Everybody including Obama knew this. Had he picked her as VP nominee, Obama/Clinton ticket would be the dream team commanding an air of inevitability right about this time.

But he gave that option a pass because, we are told, Bill Clinton would be a problem and for this that and other reasons. I think he gave preference to his pride and personal concerns rather than to policies that he purported would make a difference to his nation.

Obama blew it. But more importantly for me, his real motives for wanting to be president become suspect.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If we learn nothing else from the last 8 years its that we should properly scrutinise the people who stand for election, and not buy into stale slogans and soundbite politics.

[natty bumppo 297]

If we learn nothing else from the last 8 years its that we should properly scrutinise the people who stand for election, and not buy into stale slogans and soundbite politics.

it hasn't been learned for the past 200 years ...

[symbiosis 0]

"Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man."

– Bertrand Russell

It explains a lot about the past eight years and maybe the next four.

[chri'stina 190]

I don't think Obama will win personally - which is amazing given the opportunity handed to the Democrats by the train-wreck that is the Bush administration. The GOP candidate was always going to take a hit simply for running for the incumbent party - but now the polls have them basically level.

As I said - its no surprise that the Republicans basically disavowed Bush at the convention (giving him the bare minimum time to do a perfunctory speech) - at this point nothing that the man touches at this point will work to their benefit.

I also think McCain will win. 70% of the electorate votes without thinking. That's a huge advantage for the GOP.

But, I would be leery of the polls. Most political polls are still conducted by interviewing individual households by telephone. How many people have dropped landlines in the past few years? A lot. The pollsters say they also contact people by cell. Just how do they do target a proper sample without a directory to tell them with whom they are speaking? I think those polls are going to be completely buggered this year. Since the younger demographic is probably more likely to have gone exclusively to a cell phone, the numbers are probably skewed in favor of McCain.

You will not be able to have any respectful discussions with people who don't agree with you if you use those type of stereotypes all the time. I vote after thinking. After thinking, I decide McCain is the better choice.

[metta 0]

I don't think Obama will win personally - which is amazing given the opportunity handed to the Democrats by the train-wreck that is the Bush administration. The GOP candidate was always going to take a hit simply for running for the incumbent party - but now the polls have them basically level.

As I said - its no surprise that the Republicans basically disavowed Bush at the convention (giving him the bare minimum time to do a perfunctory speech) - at this point nothing that the man touches at this point will work to their benefit.

I also think McCain will win. 70% of the electorate votes without thinking the way I do. That's a huge advantage for the GOP.

But, I would be leery of the polls. Most political polls are still conducted by interviewing individual households by telephone. How many people have dropped landlines in the past few years? A lot. The pollsters say they also contact people by cell. Just how do they do target a proper sample without a directory to tell them with whom they are speaking? I think those polls are going to be completely buggered this year. Since the younger demographic is probably more likely to have gone exclusively to a cell phone, the numbers are probably skewed in favor of McCain.

Ahhh those who don't agree with me are stupid.

[Mrs.J06 4]

"Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man."

– Bertrand Russell

It explains a lot about the past eight years and maybe the next four.

so true

So, the Pitbull with lipstick bashes Obama and the Dems on Wednesday, and MacSame advocates cooperation with them and "taking the best ideas from both sides" to serve the country on Thursday?

[Mononoke28 135]

McCain's speech did absolutely nothing for me. I turned on the T.V. with an open mind but I was bored half way through and saw many other yawning in the audience while all others would interrupt his every other sentence to clap and cheer.

But there were two things he said that made me shake my head while he spoke. One, healthcare. He actually said that having a free healthcare system would be like having the government act as a third person between the patient and the doctor, and that he would try to come up with ways on how we can all afford healthcare. No, this is not what I want to hear and no, it won't happen since insurance companies only care about how to get more money out of us.

And two, the whole Russia/Georgia schpill. Yeah, it was bad but I don't want to hear my future president talk about how we're going to solve other countries' problems (AGAIN) to live peacefully in the US. I don't want another Iraq and I don't want our money to be spent on how we can go out there and fix things. I want that money here, fixing problems here.

Diana

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't think Obama will win personally - which is amazing given the opportunity handed to the Democrats by the train-wreck that is the Bush administration. The GOP candidate was always going to take a hit simply for running for the incumbent party - but now the polls have them basically level.

As I said - its no surprise that the Republicans basically disavowed Bush at the convention (giving him the bare minimum time to do a perfunctory speech) - at this point nothing that the man touches at this point will work to their benefit.

Based on policies/party platform, I'd go for Obama. But policies are implemented by leaders elected at the top of the ticket.

Republicans who voted for Bush believed he would be a fiscal conservative. Their platform said so. But the guy at the top actually failed to abide by their platfor. That's just one example. Most elected to office espouse whatever party's platform to get elected. They are more often than not committed more to their careers than to the policies they publicly subscribed to. That's what McCain meant when he said "me first country second".

I discern a hint of that in OBAMA WHEN HE FLIP FLOPS. ( Do whatever to win. Understandable but puts a flag up)

More importantly, what I question is his wisdom or political maturity.

let me put it this way. Frankly, i support his policies on health insurance, social security etc.

Now if he really wanted to be POTUS because he wanted to make a difference and put those policies in place, he would do what is necessary to get there, his pride and personal considerations notwithstanding.

It doesn't take much to discern that Hillary with 18 million votes and support of certain constituencies (women, midllecalss blue collar etc). Everybody including Obama knew this. Had he picked her as VP nominee, Obama/Clinton ticket would be the dream team commanding an air of inevitability right about this time.

But he gave that option a pass because, we are told, Bill Clinton would be a problem and for this that and other reasons. I think he gave preference to his pride and personal concerns rather than to policies that he purported would make a difference to his nation.

Obama blew it. But more importantly for me, his real motives for wanting to be president become suspect.

The Republicans have owned the White House for 12 years out of the last 20, or 8 out of the last 10...and the economy is in shambles combined with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan...although the polls show it a close race, I wouldn't place any bets on the Republicans keeping the WH for another 4 years. They have done nothing to prove they deserve it at this point in history.

Edited September 5, 2008 by Jabberwocky

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

McCain's speech did absolutely nothing for me. I turned on the T.V. with an open mind but I was bored half way through and saw many other yawning in the audience while all others would interrupt his every other sentence to clap and cheer.

But there were two things he said that made me shake my head while he spoke. One, healthcare. He actually said that having a free healthcare system would be like having the government act as a third person between the patient and the doctor, and that he would try to come up with ways on how we can all afford healthcare. No, this is not what I want to hear and no, it won't happen since insurance companies only care about how to get more money out of us.

Yeah that was a moment for me too - given that this is what happens already. Who does he think denies all those claims or tells the healthcare provider what drugs and treatments they're willing to pay for?

Clearly - you can't suggest bold reforms to the healthcare system if fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the current problems.

He's also said before that the problem with healthcare is that it costs too much - but he's proposing nothing that will really change the cost of healthcare. Rather he's subscribing to that old cliches of letting the market fix itself...

I thought we learned by now that the interests of private corporations are not the interests of individual Americans.