<p>Obama is a gamble in my opinion. He can inspire a country for sure but he is a bit shifty on certain crucial issues as well as trivial ones. From his long term association with left wing radicals to not wearing a lapel to his dealings with rogue nations. </p>
<p>Obama is the most liberal Senator yet a economic protectionist while McCain is a uberhawk on foriegn policy and a likeable firm candidate who knows the Army and has the respect and knowledge of it. Overall two very strong candidates in my opinon but as I'm economically conservative and socially liberal then I'd say Obama is my man. But foriegn policy and military prowess is particuarly vital at such a turbulent time so I'm hesistant on such a young inexpierienced and naive candidate. I believe in a strong Israel (something both parties agree on) and I think America needs to reassert itself as a top military force. Right now we're gradually and slowly declining as a military power, something that needs staggering improvement with the (re)emergence of Russia and China. McCain is also very admirable in his bi-partisan dealings in my opinion. </p>
<p>The problem with Bush's economic policy was rapid spending when America was booming. The basics of economics is that counter cylical policies are what the government must maintain. When the economy booms, you cut spending. When the economy drops, you spend. But right now the government spent during the boom creating a imaginary comfort zone for people. Then the dodgy lender met the dodgy borrower and because of this 'imaginary comfort zone' forged by the relentless spending of Bush the deals went ahead. And then when the money dried up, the dodgy borrower couldn't afford the houses and subsequently the whole mortgage crisis occured. Bush needed to have saved during his first term and spent all of the assumed surplus in the last year and until his term ends. </p>
<p>Of course its more complex then that all but in simplification thats what happened.</p>
<p>So for now I'd like to say McCain but if Obama picks a VP that can deal with foreign policy and military and has experience Obama will get my imaginative vote.</p>
<p>To me, the election seems to come to this: do you elect Dumb, or do you elect Dumber????</p>
<p>McCain is too old and stuck in his ways, and Obama is the typical Democrat. Who do I pick? McCain. </p>
<p>Obama is going to be in real trouble with the American people if he gets elected. He has bit off a lot more than he can chew, promising more than he can handle just to get the party ticket. Furthermore, he has no way to accomplish his new plans. It's insane...</p>
<p>P.S. Has anyone heard the rumor that Obama will swear himself in on the Koran at his inauguration?</p>
<p>For Obama I assume you're saying? Well Obama's crucial weakness is in ironically the Democratic strongholds where he lost to Hillary Clinton. Number of candidates:</p>
<p>Colin Powell - Not someone noted by many but its a thought (Political junkie that I am :P). Shows Obama is bipartisan and has the foreign policy + military + experience but will never fly. He'd be destroyed in the South for 2 blacks.</p>
<p>Al Gore - Perfect candidate. Experienced and he can carry Clinton supporters + greens + South + is white (who thought that'd be an advantage, lol)</p>
<p>Janet Napolitano - Woman plus governor of a red state. Every woman would vote for them together (Michelle is more liked then Cindy, lol)</p>
<p>Bill Richardson - Hispanic + experience + Clinton + Very good in sucking Hispanic support from McCain and his immigration laws that has hurt his conservative supporters</p>
<p>Hillary Clinton - Regan/Bush and LBJ/Kennedy worked why not Clinton? Women + experience + Clinton supporters + South + Bill Clinton (much more effective against Republicans guaranteed) + Chelsea Clinton (becoming an asset)</p>
<p>Not all of these would want to be VPs but this just shows Obama's options. He just needs experience and white and true blue Democrat. Plenty of qualified Democrats who fit the bill. </p>
<p>For McCain I'm thinking Charlie Crist from Florida, Bobby Jindal (I like him and I'm Indian) amongst others. McCain might like Bobby Jindal because of youth but it'd be two southerners (Although Bobby Jindal could attract northerners due to Oxford education, articulate, young basically Republican version of Obama). </p>
<p>Interesting race...</p>
<p>Obama got sworn into the Senate on the Bible. Can we please stop this drivel and concentrate on the issues the new leader of the free world will need to deal with?</p>
<p>While Barack as a few buddis across the isle he actually has a very very poor record of working across the isle, especially in the national senate. Once the dems controlled the house and senate, he pretty much said srew you to the republicans even though he was a principal supporter of the McCain Feingold bill (it would have been McCain Obama if obama didnt jump ship). Infact, it came off very much like he was using the republicans as a tool for him to gain power instead of empower his constiuents in illinois (like me).</p>
<p>I don't like McCain because he is not a conservative and he reaches across the isle.- not that any of the Republicans are really conservatives either. I don't like Obama because he is a socialist. The government can stick their medicare, national healthcare, welfare, etc.</p>
<ol>
<li>he'll support conservative justices</li>
<li>he wants to keep us in Iraq and keep the focus off of Afghanistan</li>
<li>he's anti-choice</li>
<li>he want's to keep Bush's tax cuts while in the mean time, we're AT WAR</li>
<li>he graduated 894/899 at Westpoint</li>
<li>he wants to expand oil production and drilling at home, and decrease it abroad</li>
<li>lmao, he thinks that offering $300 million to someone who comes up with a battery for an electric car is somehow going to help us...</li>
<li>Barack will provide me with $4000 a year for my college tuition. McCain? NONE!</li>
<li>he supports free trade at ALL costs</li>
<li>he want's to construct 100 new nuclear power plants</li>
<li>he supports the gas tax holiday...</li>
<li>his mortage crisis plan is based on what else--CREDIT!! </li>
<li>yeah, so he's been to Iraq more times than Barack, but he still can't tell the difference between a Sunni and Shiite muslim!</li>
<li>his website lists three tax cuts for middle class families, but 9 for the upper-class, business owners, and entrepreneurs. </li>
<li>he considers women's health programs to be pork!</li>
<li>Abstinence only? I don't think so. Because then the women foot the bill</li>
<li>he claims to be anti-IRS, but most every one of his policies has to do with the IRS!</li>
<li>he will "Will Work With States To Establish A Guaranteed Access Plan." In other words, he won't do SQUAT to stop insurance companies from discriminating against those with preexisting conditions</li>
<li>he expects broke folks to go to the doctor at wal-mart (no joke)</li>
<li>he supports an NCLB-style program for doctors--a no no</li>
<li>he won't allow citizens to hold their doctors accountable for mistakes</li>
<li>he didn't support the GI bill</li>
<li>as far as he's concerned, there is only one border: the border between us and Mexico. But may that border overfloweth when companies locate near it!</li>
<li>several of his top campaign advisors are lobbyists</li>
<li>he's a flippin homophobe, and will nominate judges as such</li>
<li>even climate change--it seems he refuses to say global warming!--is nothing but a national security issue!</li>
<li>he thinks we need natural resources for nothing more than economic purposes!</li>
<li>George Bush supports him....</li>
<li>he supports NCLB</li>
<li>he voted against supporting MLK day</li>
</ol>
<p>So ASC, why is obama better than, what good qualities does he posses, my mind is open, please sell him to me (not in a slave related way, that was bad and not intended).</p>
<p>Obama. Simply because I think we need a major change from Bush.</p>
<p>Unfortunately I'm moderate, and don't fit in either category- economic conservative, social liberal (rather libertarian, even though I think Ron Paul is insane).</p>
<p>However, I love Bobby Jindal. I think he's amazing. If he was the vp ticket with McCain, my choice may be rather difficult. Unfortunately, I highly doubt he's leaving the governor's position- he already left his job as a Senator, and has claimed that he will not abandon Louisiana.</p>
<p>Give it 20 years; Jindal is young yet. He will be a major force to be reckoned with.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Obama is going to be in real trouble with the American people if he gets elected. He has bit off a lot more than he can chew, promising more than he can handle just to get the party ticket. Furthermore, he has no way to accomplish his new plans. It's insane...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Exactly. Obama, I believe you have good intentions. I believe you. But really...</p>
<ul>
<li>You can't give us all free health care. </li>
<li>You can't make the poor "unpoor"</li>
<li>You have no experience whatsoever in foreign relations</li>
</ul>
<p>You CAN however</p>
<ul>
<li>Overuse the word "change" to convince a bunch of unhappy, hopeful people that you will be their Saviour. </li>
<li>Give good speeches</li>
<li>Be black</li>
</ul>
<p>Someone said this election is "dumb or dumber". I agree. The lesser of the two evils is McCain. </p>
<p>P.S- Haha did anyone see Hugo Chavez's speech where he was supporting Obama? I mean, c'mon, Chavez is the biggest socialist/communist wannabe/dictator. But then again, Obama is his kind. At least on the socialist side.</p>
<p>Obama is naive. Obama may not be able to handle the rogue states, his plan is inconsistent and shifty. Obama has been associated with left wing radicals for a huge length of time. McCain won't lie to the Michigan public that every job they've lost will come back. McCain promotes bi-partisan policies, something that should be a plus and not a negative. Obama has dodged every decision possible and is a economic protectionist. Sure that may help America's 'economic ranking' but wouldn't you rather be second in a growing world then first in a stagnant one? </p>
<p>The next 4 years will determine how bad this economic recession is and when China etc will bridge the gap and then overtake us. </p>
<p>These tax cuts, whether they are for the upper classes or the middle class will only help stimulate the economy. The war is also a pretty big stimulant. </p>
<p>Obama is a dice roll. He can be better or he can be worse. McCain is proven to be competent, innovative and courageous. Plus he has experience. If Obama gets a solid VP I'll go to him but at the moment McCain is a preferred candidate for me. </p>
<p>But it was Hillary Clinton if I got to pick out of everyone.</p>
<p>1) Big was totally the wrong word. The war doesn't cost that much economically (110 billion dollars in a 14 trillion dollar economy)
2) Stimulant is a strong word to use. Perhaps slight boost could be used but boost is also kinda too strong</p>
<p>But I do think that the war either has had negligible impact on the economy or has in fact been a slight improvement. When activity in Iraq was at its highest the economy was actually quite strong. Its only been the last 6 months that economic troubles have occured. Last year so 3ish percent growth which is considered solid on the back of tremendous first half growth. The last six months crash was due to the crisis in the housing market and the subprime mess. </p>
<p>Spending money means building bombs, tanks, ships, missiles etc so it offsets most of the economic losses. At worst I believe that the Iraq War has been a slight burden on a economy that would inevitably had to have faced this problem. I think the Iraq War is neither a loss or a gain now. Apologize for the wording but I strongly believe that it is no catalyst or significant intensifier of our economic problems.</p>
<p>yea, I like mccain, but it seems like theyre both selling us the same thing, bigger govt (mccain in defense, obama in social), more power, more infiltration of our liberties, im really a libertarian, but they dont have a chance.</p>