<p>Anyone who.....
-Will IMMEDIATELY withdraw ALL forces from Iraq within 48 hours of inauguration
-Will IMMEDIATELY disband Department of Homeland Security and replace it with something more effective, along with getting rid of their nonsensical rules
-Will IMMEDIATELY cut spending by more than 30%, reducing the deficit
-Will IMMEDIATELY bring an end to all this war on terror nonsense
-Will IMMEDIATELY tear the Patriot Act into pieces, permanently repealing it
-Will IMMEDIATELY implement changes to the tax system: cut rates by 50%, and instead get rid of all exemptions and deductions, other than for unreimbursed work expenses, education, charitable contributions, and mortgage interest
-Will IMMEDIATELY rid the government of any bureaucracy and inefficiency so that it will be a lean, efficient organization rather than the bloated bureaucracy it is now
-Will streamline the immigration process so that it is easier and faster to gain permanent residence for legitimate reasons
-Will promote PEACE, rather than invading countries
-Will INCREASE funding for alternative energy by more than 500%, especially biodiesel development, and pledges to be completely 100% oil-free by 2015
-Will INCREASE accountability and transparency in the government
-Will INCREASE funding for high speed rail travel by more than 200% to ease the burden on the air travel system
-Will put a swift and immediate end to all corn subsidies, and will ban high-fructose corn syrup
-Will IMMEDIATELY repeal NCLB, and switch to the voucher system, and let the free markets improve schools
-Will IMMEDIATELY close down Gitmo and either RELEASE or BRING CHARGES AGAINST the detainees in federal court
-Will increase the fuel economy standards to be up to date with EU standards by 2020, NO EXCEPTIONS
-Will champion a woman's right to choose
-Will champion homosexual rights
-Will fund stem cell research
-Will increase financial aid for college, grad and professional schools</p>
<p>....and is completely honest about ALL of this.</p>
<p>Oh wait, out-of-the-box thinking is banned in the government.</p>
<p>Ok, after reading some of your posts I think I am going to throw up! The major problem with the majority of these post is that they support democrats or republicans. I think one issue the country is missing out on is the huge debt (9.2 trillion), which is more than 3 times our annual budget. Nearly 50 percent of our budget is used on entitlements each year. Government spending is in excess far beyond what it should be. Government spending should be at the most 30-50 % of the current level. The best candidate for the job is RON PAUL. Oh and you people decrying the gold standard: From 1800-1913 inflation was virtually 0 every year! Go to the minneapolis fed and find the data yourself.</p>
<p>I love what you said, but not how you said it.</p>
<p>Don't refer to people for against your point as "You people".
Don''t discount the arguments made just to get your point across, or your no better than Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>Once again, I agree, but also consider that if you get the ratio of our debt, it's not as bad as you make think, if 9.2 Trillion was a lot, then we wouldn't have lost 17 Trillion in 6 years.</p>
<p>i agree with the OP, i'd vote for barack obama! not that i can vote yet...im not in college ! but just browsing.......</p>
<p>barack isn't another sleazy, equivocating politician. he doesn't say what people want to hear, which might hurt him if he offends the wrong people, but he's the kind of man we need for strong stable leadership and to get things done</p>
<p>Not to go aginst certain candidates BUT..... I would have to say Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, Edwards, Gulliani, Romney, Huckabee, and all the rest of them are all sleazy politicians. They are in it for the power and will fix the country but only with your money.</p>
<p>To be honest I don't really like any of the candidates. If this is the BEST our country has to offer it's a pretty pathetic selection. I'm fed up with Bush and the Republican Party for not standing up for conservative principles, but I'll still end up voting Republican.</p>
<p>I really like Huckabee but after reading some of his comments from back in the 1990's I'm a little more cautious about him. He's also very religious and I don't like the religious right. Romney seems like the best all around candidate. He's brilliant and made a name for himself in the business world so he's a smart guy. However, he's flipflopped on quite a few issues and he's Mormom which I don't like. Then there's Guiliani who did a great job with NYC right after 9/11, but is a little too liberal for me. I don't think he'd be willing to cut spending and taxes enough to really change the country for the better. </p>
<p>If I had to pick right now I'd go with Romney, but I feel Guiliani has the best chance of beating Hilary (once she gets the nomination).</p>
<p>Oh, my gosth nschuchert: If you want someone who is conservative go for ron paul. Look at his record, it is the most conservative and principled record out there. For those who like clinton: Cmon I think there are kindergarten teachers with as much experience as clinton has.</p>
<p>jclay2: Are you still spouting off about the gold standard when you admitted yourself that you have little experience with the economic theories underpinning either fiat money or a commodity standard?</p>
<p>I've explained to you before why the gold standard is a bad idea, you lost that argument, and yet you're still on about it? Give it a rest.</p>
<p>A little inflation is a good thing for the economy; 0 inflation is bad for a number of reasons; getting rid of the inflation is not the only economic policy objective.</p>
<p>You're seriously going to need to get those things through your head, because you still come across as entirely ignorant.</p>
<p>I think Ron Paul is the best candidate so far, but his whole stance on the Fed is ridiculous and stupid, and his thoughts on environmental protection are either insanely naive and ignorant, or reflect him not caring about the environment. I'm not sure which.</p>
<p>I also think that Ron Paul's "I dislike managed trade" stance is a dangerous step towards protectionism, which in the end is very, very bad.</p>
<p>Finally, I think RP is just a step off of a very pro-life candidate, which further worries me. Oh well, can't have everything we want.</p>
<p>BTW, open note to all the Ron Paul fanboys on the thread:</p>
<p>Give it a rest. I know the Paul campaign is all "go out and spread the word!", but your continuous proselytizing on the web has gone far past interesting, and head-on into the territory of damned annoying. You're not converting people, now you're just annoying them. Especially me.</p>
<p>For the people who say Clinton has experience, what has she done to make her qualified to lead this country? She came up with a t terrible healthcare plan that failed during his husbands' administration. She only stayed with Bill so she could have this opportunity to run for President. The Clinton's are power hungry and the thought of her in office makes me sick. I can at least put up with Obama. I don't agree with him but at least I know he's passionate about his views while Hilary just agrees with whatever is politically expedient at the moment.</p>
<p>nschuchert: Obama is obviously a politician and is just an actor like the rest of them. Remember this is his JOB. He has nothing else. I can't believe how many people don't realize that a large majority, maybe 90-97%, of politicians are just vying for power and serving their own interest.</p>
<p>You have to admit that, regardless of whether you like him or not, Obama is an Excellent speaker. Every time I hear him speak it's captivating. He's got the same kind of quality that past successful leader-orators such as MLKing and JFK had, he makes people want to listen to him. There's no comparison to our current president: I guarantee, should Obama win, there won't ever be any "Obama-isms" like there are "Bush-isms".</p>
<p>I don't get very captivated when I hear Obama speak though. I mean he has a great vocabulary and a great speaking style, but it doesn't electrify me in the same way as say MLK.</p>