McCain Shocker!

[RoboDad]

Robodad,

I know that Dems are usually pegged as the tax hikers but didn't Obama mention last night that he would give tax cuts to 95% of Americans. To me Obama speaks more of a pro business platform than most Dems and many Republicans do. In addition He seems to want to shift focus on "The War on Terror" to where to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Bill Kristol himself said on Fox News that he loved Obama's speech.

There is no question that his speech had some centrist elements, and there is also no question that he is a brilliant orator (at least when given a scripted speech - extemporaneously, not so much). But he also outlined numerous expansive and expensive social programs, without explaining how he could possible pay for them and still lower anyone's taxes. And let's not kid ourselves. If he raises corporate taxes the way he wants to, we'll all be paying for it anyway, in the form of higher prices.

 

[hoodonit00]

Robodad,

I know that Dems are usually pegged as the tax hikers but didn't Obama mention last night that he would give tax cuts to 95% of Americans. To me Obama speaks more of a pro business platform than most Dems and many Republicans do. In addition He seems to want to shift focus on "The War on Terror" from Iraq to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Also I know that some Hawks wouldn't deign to talk to Iran face to face but it could be a start. Bill Kristol himself said on Fox News that he loved Obama's speech.

I know this was not addressed to me but I would like to put my 2 cents in. How is Obama going to give other poorer nations 800 billion dollars, enact a nationwide health plan, fund the countless billions of dollars for an alternative fuel source and any other number of his programs without raising taxes. What he says and will do, do not add up. And like I stated before. These big conglomerates who are going to be taxed the most. Do you think they are just going to take this sitting down? No they will raise the prices on the goods that they produce and ship more jobs out of the country for cheper labor. As far as Pakistan, you can pretty much count them out. With Musharrif gone, you can pretty much bet that they will no longer be an ally to the US.

 

[pixletwin]

8 years ago I would never have given a second thought to flying somewhere. 8 years ago I would never have worried about going over seas.

 

[Spartan Rex]

At least Palin is feminine and good looking enough to wear a skirt and not a bright pumpkin orange pant suit....take that Hillary!

(A huge plus and important factor in choosing a VP )

 

[hoodonit00]

Which, technically, gives her 18 more months of executive branch experience than Obama has.

But I still won't vote for her.

No disrespect intended, but what do you hope to accomplish in not voting?

 

[sirrobert]

Robodad is there any way thet you can give a link to some of Obama's platform with regard to his raising corporate taxes and funding social programs? I am thoughtful but unfortunately not well informed.

And I am not in denial about his proposal bout tax cuts. How much fat's left on the plate after the tax cuts that Bush has already made.

 

[barbelith]

I know this was not addressed to me but I would like to put my 2 cents in. How is Obama going to give other poorer nations 800 billion dollars, enact a nationwide health plan, fund the countless billions of dollars for an alternative fuel source and any other number of his programs without raising taxes.

I would like to see precisely how he plans to do this as well. However he has broadly explained how he would pull this off. The tax increase on the wealthy is likely to largely offset the moderate cuts for the middle and lower classes. Closing corporate tax loopholes and subsidies will also help and of course Obama has pledged to gut the budget line by line to get rid of needless programs. Whether any of this will work remains to be seen, but it's better than the alternative proposition.

It's also worth noting universal health care is ultimately cheaper than the current framework, which has incredible social and economic costs and negatively impacts families and businesses alike. Preventative care is cheaper than emergency care, and requires far fewer missed work days.

Alternative energy could also pay off in a major way. A concerted effort to come up with a replacement for fossil fuels will be worth hundreds of trillions of dollars - not just in direct and oblique savings but in terms of employment and patents. I'd rather see the technology that ultimately replaces oil generating money for Americans rather than the Chinese.

 

[ProgMatinee]

8 years ago I would never have given a second thought to flying somewhere. 8 years ago I would never have worried about going over seas.

Safety concern or perception concern?

I think Bush policies hurt perception of Americans, but I think we're safer as a whole now than say November of 2001.

 

[pixletwin]

Safety concern or perception concern?

I think Bush policies hurt perception of Americans, but I think we're safer as a whole now than say November of 2001.

Honestly I think its a combination of both.

 

[SoundClown]

I thought the McCain was an idiot but now I'm sure.

 

[hoodonit00]

If we can keep this civil this might be a worthwhile thread.

In the next couple of months they have to spin Palin as the next Hillary so that they can get the anti-Obamites to cross the line. But they also have to spin her as a conservative balance to McCain's more centrist leanings.

I'm glad I'm not working for the Republican party's PR firm.

I honestly don't think they are going to have to spin much. I would hazard to guess that alot of Hillaries people are just begging for a reason not to vote for Obama. With McCain being a moderate, and having a woman VP, I think your more moderate Democrats will flip parties. And as far a Republicans not voting for her. I think if a more moderate person was the Democratic nominee, this theory might hold a little more water, but with Obama, who most Republicans consider would be a disaster as president, most will not sit this one out.

 

[creature4000]

Well done McCain!!!

 

[ProgMatinee]

I'd rather see the technology that ultimately replaces oil generating money for Americans rather than the Chinese.

This is EXACTLY my thing. Americans need to be involved and hope to high hell that they secure the patents and ownership of the next technology. Otherwise its just moving what Americans pay to Middle East to say Germany or Switzerland or Japan or some other country thats great at inventing stuff.

And just imagine if we came up with a reasonably affordable conversion to solar. Imagine all the jobs it would hire for decades converting all the current homes to the technology, instalation, etc. Its a win for environment and its a win for businesses and its a win for employment!

If we're stuck for the next decade greasing the palms of the current dealers of a soon to be outdated technology while someone else is doing the research...lord almighty we'd be screwed. Maybe we can invent another cartoon character or sport to export?

 

[barbelith]

I think Bush policies hurt perception of Americans, but I think we're safer as a whole now than say November of 2001.

I actually think we're less safe.

 

[sirrobert]

I know this was not addressed to me but I would like to put my 2 cents in. How is Obama going to give other poorer nations 800 billion dollars, enact a nationwide health plan, fund the countless billions of dollars for an alternative fuel source and any other number of his programs without raising taxes. What he says and will do, do not add up. And like I stated before. These big conglomerates who are going to be taxed the most. Do you think they are just going to take this sitting down? No they will raise the prices on the goods that they produce and ship more jobs out of the country for cheper labor. As far as Pakistan, you can pretty much count them out. With Musharrif gone, you can pretty much bet that they will no longer be an ally to the US.

I figure he'd fund the energy plan the way most politicians do it: get real cozy with businesses who are already doing the research.

Can you give me a link to the Obama's proposal to fund poor countries?

Also, since Musharrif is gone who is in power now?

 

[pixletwin]

One interesting thing: no matter who wins it will be historical. There has never been a black man occupying the White House and a woman has never had a higher Gov. position in America.... (except maybe Hilary )

 

[BadMoon]

One interesting thing: no matter who wins it will be historical. There has never been a black man occupying the White House and a woman has never had a higher Gov. position in America.... (except maybe Hilary )

Historic indeed.

 

[barbelith]

I would hazard to guess that alot of Hillaries people are just begging for a reason not to vote for Obama.

Perhaps. I have serious doubts PUMA was ever anything than a fringe movement. Considerable mental gymnastics are required to go from supporting Hillary to supporting McCain re: issues.

With McCain being a moderate

You can't vote in accord with Bush 90% of the time and be a moderate.

 

[barbelith]

Imagine all the jobs it would hire for decades converting all the current homes to the technology, instalation, etc. Its a win for environment and its a win for businesses and its a win for employment!

I remain shocked this is not a major plank of the Republican platform.

 

[ProgMatinee]

I actually think we're less safe.

I disagree completely. The terrorists whether they began in Iraq or not, are there and we're at least consuming their resources while we spend ours.