US Elections - who's going to be the next President?

[webmaster]

Who do you think is going to the next President of the United States?


Barack Obama


John McCain


Special BBC Coverage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/ame ... efault.stm

[suzie]

At the time I voted on here it was in a dead heat at 2and 2. That is just what this whole election has been like, ive never seen one so close before. One thing about it when we wake up on nov 5th , we will know for sure .

[webmaster]

It's going to be exciting!! We're getting blanket coverage over here (UK), as I imagine in most countries (perhaps not Iran ) as the outcome will effect every country in the world. Obama is reported to be ahead but there are many unpredictables in play so you are right, Suzie, the world won't know for sure until the voters have spoken.

[Its2Good2BeTrue]

Wow, Bryan, you sure don't lack courage to go through a heated political discussion once again. Good luck!

[webmaster]

I was just asking for people's predictions - you can just vote and not say anything, as some have.

But I don't mind if people air their political views - the whole world has an opinion and are talking about it so why should we be different? It's not as if we can ignore it.

To nail my colours to the mast, I'm going to be very disappointed if Barack Obama doesn't become the next President - otherwise it's more of the same and a missed golden opportunity. America needs to change.

[John M]

I'm going to be very disappointed if Barack Obama doesn't become the next President - otherwise it's more of the same and a missed golden opportunity. America needs to change.

I couldn't agree more, Bryan. As it is, it's going to be an uphill battle to undo all the damage the Bush administration has done to the country, the economy and the environment. I hope Obama wins, and I hope he is actually able to accomplish the needed change. But it's going to be one hard row to hoe.

[doris-day-fan]

I just cast my vote for John McCain - we need someone who respects LIFE! The other side is too pro-choice and I shudder to think if we become an Obamanation - yikes! Obama is too socialist for me and his Markist views are frightening. I hope and PRAY that the McCain-Palin ticket wins. I am not strictly a party voter, but vote for the person with integrity. I cannot vote for someone with such radical ties as BHO with his ties to terrorists, etc. Let the LA TIMES show that video that has BHO cozying up to those who do not have the US interest at heart. Once a terrorist, always a terrorist - I judge people by the company they keep...Rev Wright, Mr Ayres, Mr Kahlidi, etc., etc., etc.....I am not ready to call BHO a president of these United States. WHy isn't BHO taking care of his brother living in the streets oversears, his poor auntie in the slums in the Washington, DC area???

I've stated my opinon - I know some are not going to like it, but it's my opinion and I'm standing by it. God help and bless America and the whole world!

Mary Anne

[doris-day-fan]

Here is one MAJOR reason why NOT to vote for Barack Husein Obama...The Freedom of Choice Act:

Obama has made a promise - to pass the Freedom of Choice Act. However, should Obama keep this promise, “not only will many of our freedoms as Americans be taken from us, but the innocent and vulnerable will spill their blood.”The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is a bill introduced in the United States Congress in 2004. It would remove all restrictions on abortion in the United States, both on the state and federal level. “FOCA goes far beyond guaranteeing the right to an abortion throughout the nine months of pregnancy. It arrogantly prohibits any law or policy interfering with that right,” says Bishop Serratelli. This is the “dark reality” kept secret by propagandists for ‘choice.’The bill is strongly supported by presidential candidate Barack Obama, who promised in a speech for Planned Parenthood that “the first thing he would do as President would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act.”Among those no longer free to choose under FOCA, says the bishop, would be pro-life doctors and nurses, whose freedom of conscience is currently protected under the law. Religious hospitals and clinics would also be forced to perform abortions up until the birth of the baby.NARAL America presents the bill as a systematic presentation of Roe vs. Wade, but opponents like Bishop Serratelli note that it would eliminate those restrictions the 1973 court case allowed, such as parental consent, waiting periods, information for mothers regarding emotional and psychological dangers, and restrictions on late-term abortions.The bishop hails the death of freedom, should FOCA get passed. “Gone the freedom of conscience so essential for a civil society,” the bishop tells his readers. “Gone the freedom of women and young girls to have all the information they need to make their own choices!”The bill would also “force taxpayers to fund abortions,” thereby nullifying the fundamental American policy of taxation with representation. It would also “redefine a woman’s ‘health’ so as to expressly permit post-viability abortions.” The bishop clarifies, “Thus, a child who survives an abortion can be left to die for the health of the mother … This is infanticide. Gone the freedom of her baby, once born, to live!”Pro-Abortion advocates’ “zeal for the Freedom of Choice Act,” Bishop Serratelli writes, “sounds the alarm for decent Americans to wake up! The more the right to life is denied, the more we lose our freedoms. The ‘pro-choice’ movement is not pro-choice. It stands against the freedom to choose what is right according to the truth of the human person... At this point, we are still free to choose!”

Mary Anne

[webmaster]

Keep your skirts down, Mary Anne!

It's not about pro or anti choice or the propaganda put out by the McCain camp about socialism - which really means caring about society and trying to rebalance the 'every man for himself' attitude. If you care about life so much, shouldn't you care about the people who have already been born? Or are you happy to see people's lives ruined by poverty while others have more than they need?

[Theodomus]

My goodness, I don't even know what to say to that.

In my opinion that is propaganda of the worst kind!

And come on - Obama a terrorist... That has been proven wrong a long time ago, just that the republicans keep on mentioning it. He has been on a board of some welfare organisation with this Ayres-guy - Years after that guy has done anything and just as republican party members as well....

And I wish that not everybody standing a little bit more "left" than a republican is automatically seen as a socialist or even a communist...

[Haymarketaddict]

I've stated my opinon - I know some are not going to like it, but it's my opinion and I'm standing by it. God help and bless America and the whole world!

Mary Anne

thanks for that Mary Anne - at least this time the rest of the world (meaning us) is allowed to get some of those blessings not just you guys in the USA. As for the other things you wrote - I could not disagree more. Sure thing - Obama is a terrorist - of COURSE - looks like the McCain Propaganda really worked on you. Oh RIGHT I forgot - his second name is HUSEIN - very good indication ...that's why you point that name out so often, right ... I mean - the name says about everything! Did you chose your name?? I didn't ....
And if we ask about politics.... and why Obama isn't helping his brother - I'm sure Obama isn't perfect.... he has to learn and he will ... but be fair and also ask for instance why McCain/Palin are supposed to be standing for the little people .... the normal working everyday joe the plummer kind of people ... while one of the two owns about 7 houses and the other one got an all new wardrobe for more than 100.000 Dollars in a couple of weeks? Total hyporacy to me.
And I as a woman can't understand why ANY other woman would want her own rights to be restricted by ANY man! I'm pro life - but only for myself and I would NEVER dare to make that decision for ANY other woman on this earth - not one. EVERY woman MUST have the right to decide that for her own self. so I'm pro choice ALL the way.

[webmaster]

America used to be a great country that everyone respected - that's probably going back to JFK - then you had the Nixon stuff, you got through that, soon after Jimmy Carter - nice guy but he didn't make a difference, Regan turned out to be a fox and was much better than anyone had thought, he brought respect back to the USA. Bush Snr - the less said the better - Clinton started very well and ruined it over Monica, who I saw in London when she was publicising her book, Then George W - what can you say? Paradoxically I perversely like him but he's made America one of the most disliked countries on the planet because of his attitude to the rest of the world - 'attitude' covering a multitude of sins.

We need America to be a world leader that everyone respects - Americans are the nicest people you can meet - get it together guys!!

[webmaster]

I think I screwed up the voting system - someone asked me to ad the option to vote for neither of them and adding it seems to have wiped out the previous 10 (?) votes (with Obama in the lead by 7-3 roughly) so please vote again if you can.

(This sounds like the hanging chads affair!)

[John M]

We need America to be a world leader that everyone respects - Americans are the nicest people you can meet - get it together guys!!

We're trying!!

But the scary part is how we keep moving backwards! The rest of the world is progressing, but America is regressing back to the dark ages: creationism, rejection of science, embracing of cultish religious fanaticism in many different forms. Even imperialism. It's amazing to me how we are SO dysfunctional these days, and rejecting all the concepts of progressiveness that made America great up through the first half of the 20th Century.

[Dianne]

You know, I give Mary Anne credit...I don't think I could have come forward with my political views as she has. However, since she took that step...I think I will. I'll preface this by stating that I cannot endorse EITHER candidate and if I can take this a bit further....I must mention that I don't want McCain -- the WAR monger -- as he'll take this nation even further into debt and into war. Again, I don't want Obama -- he DOES have Marxist ties -- i.e. Zbigniew Brzezinski. Now ,I could go on and elaborate upon what Brzezinski stands for ...but then again, I could also give you the WIKI link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zbigniew_Brzezinski CHANGE??? Please tell me WHAT changes he is proposing.
This great nation, the United States of America, was founded on FREEDOM and governed with checks and balances -- The Constitution. However, those checks and balances have been ignored throughout history. What we are faced with today should be of no surprise. This country with all of it's social programs has caused most of the crisis that we are now facing. The war on drugs, the war on poverty, the war on terror, etc. you NAME it. None of these government programs have worked. They've only contributed to the problem.
And one, namely, the WELFARE system has only taken the father out of the household....so that the mother could collect...does that make sense??? AND also, What makes one think that redistributing wealth will help the situation. Redistributing wealth is just another name for TAXATION.

Let's look at the BIGGER picture -- Corporate America -- does that REALLY follow party lines -- NO. Both parties (factions) are corrupt. The US banking system i.e. the FEDERAL RESERVE is not really Federal at ALL -- did anyone know that? But most people think that it is....Marion and I have had this conversation...and she was surprised that it wasn't Federal. I could go on...but I doubt most even want to hear it. Yes, those outside of the US are majorly affectled by what we in the US do....NO one candidate is going to solve the problem. WE created it.

And Bryan, I'll try to keep my skirt down too!

[Theodomus]

Redistributing wealth is just another name for TAXATION.

Come on, Diane - Don't you think that after years and years of tax cuts and support for the rich people and big companies of the US it is time to ease life on those who don't have that much money and are severely affected by the financial crisis now?

I have just read today that the big oil companies again made huge profits this year. Exxon even the highest in its history.

And what about the banks that are now helped with 250 bn US$ from the government (paid by the tax payers) who use part of the money now to GIVE OUT MILLIONS OF BONUSES to those people who got them in this mess?

[webmaster]

Why is 'Marxist' a dirty word in the US? Have any of you read anything he's written? - I thought not.

This is a hang-over from the 'cold war' when you were all looking for commies under the bed - think for yourself. Find out more before you judge. I don't know all that much, although I've read a bit about him - and he's buried near me (Highgate cemetery) and considered one of the world's greatest thinkers.



http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/marx.html

[jmichael]

I'm going to try this again, and hopefully this time, my comments won't be deleted.

While everyone has a right to vote for their candidate of choice, it's really sad that the extreme right wing spouts misinformation about Obama simply to discredit him and deny this country a great leader. The distortions of truth repeated elsewhere in this thread are nothing more than someone mimicking what others have alleged without any compelling facts to back it up. What's next: someone finds out a member of their church subscribed to a socialist newsletter years ago and suddenly they are branded as unpatriotic?

Sadly, this is all about fueling hate and fear to manipulate people into voting for candidates who support their personal brand of self-interest. It's as if they have the exclusive right to speak on God's behalf and assert what is morally right for this country. The hypocrisy is staggering.

Michael

[John M]

This country with all of it's social programs has caused most of the crisis that we are now facing. The war on drugs, the war on poverty, the war on terror, etc. you NAME it. None of these government programs have worked. They've only contributed to the problem.

While I admit that there needs to be some further overhaul to some of the programs, they don't really have anything to do with what we're facing now; remember when Clinton left ofice we had a balanced budget AND a surplus. That was only 8 years ago. The social programs have zero to do with CEOs running their corporations into the ground and taking huge payoffs for themselves while shafting the workers and the stockholders. It is solely corporate greed that is responsible for this current financial crisis, mainly from the lenders.

Let's look at the BIGGER picture -- Corporate America -- does that REALLY follow party lines -- NO. Both parties (factions) are corrupt. The US banking system i.e. the FEDERAL RESERVE is not really Federal at ALL -- did anyone know that? But most people think that it is....Marion and I have had this conversation...and she was surprised that it wasn't Federal. I could go on...but I doubt most even want to hear it. Yes, those outside of the US are majorly affectled by what we in the US do....NO one candidate is going to solve the problem. WE created it.

?? The Federal Reserve has some private components and some governmental ones. It IS a government agency, but one has that has independence within the government. Here's a tiny part of the Wiki entry on it:

The Federal Reserve System is an independent government institution that has private aspects. The System is not a private organization and does not operate for the purpose of making a profit. The stocks of the regional federal reserve banks are owned by the banks operating within that region and which are part of the system.[26] The System derives its authority and public purpose from the Federal Reserve Act passed by Congress in 1913. As an independent institution, the Federal Reserve has the authority to act on its own without prior approval from Congress or the President.[27] The members of its Board of Governors are appointed for long, staggered terms, limiting the influence of day-to-day political considerations.[28] The Federal Reserve System's unique structure also provides internal checks and balances, ensuring that its decisions and operations are not dominated by any one part of the system. It also generates revenue independently without need for Congressional funding. Congressional oversight and statutes, which can alter the Fed's responsibilities and control, allow the government to keep the Federal Reserve System in check. Since the System was designed to be independent whilst also remaining within the government of the United States, it is often said to be "independent within the government."

Corporate America needs a MAJOR overhaul. What I don't understand though is why so many people on the right (usually the Republicans, not so much the Libertarians) rail against socialism when it comes to the American worker and taxpayer, but support it when it comes to the super-wealthy and the corporations. How many more tax breaks and special legislation to remove any oversight do the corps and their CEOs need?

The Bush administration has systematically taken apart many of the governmental oversights we had in place on corporate greed and look at our our current financial crisis. They took apart FDA oversights they said were bad for business and lo and behold we had RECORD food contamination and poisoning scares over the last three years. Governmental oversight and programs aren't socialism, they are REQUIRED to protect the majority who fund the system with their work and tax dollars from the greed and the whims of the tiny minority in charge. It's exactly why government exists at all.

[BabeWilliams]

While I can't vote in the real world, I have a chance to vote in school. It's just for fun, but I think I'm going to do it anyway..

I'm going with the minority here, and going for John McCain. When people at my school say this, the first thing to pop out of someone's mouth is.. "Are you racist?" No, I'm not racist.. I just agree with more of McCain's views, then I do Obama's. In speech, we watched a video on both candidates. It really opened my eyes to a lot.. Like, did you know John McCain was the James Dean in his school, and was a POW for 5 years??? And Barrack Obama was named after his father, who was originally from Kenya??? Any way.. That's all I have to say..

[John M]

Good for you, Megan! It's terrific that you are taking an interest now. Before you know it, you'll be able to vote, and far too many people today don't exercise that right. It is a right and a privilege and a responsibility. And it's a national embarrassment that we have such a low voter turnout when we trumpet that WE'RE the shining example of Democracy for the world to follow.

To add a few more tidbits to the Obama vs. McCain chart:

McCain graduated 894th out of 899 in his class at U.S. Naval Academy, where he was known as a party man and earned more than 100 demerits PER YEAR.

Obama graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law School (top 10 percent of his class) AFTER getting a BA in Political Science from Columbia University.

McCain left his first wife, Carol (after she waited for him for nearly six years when he was a POW!), because she had been in a terrible auto accident that left her disfigured and married his much younger and extremely wealthy current wife, Cindy. (Cindy had just turned 9 when John and Carol were married). The Reagans gave her a job in their White House to help her support herself.

Obama has been married to his only wife for 16 years.

If "Elitist" means smart, well educated and devoted to your family, I'll take it and vote for the elitist Obama.

[jmichael]

What I don't understand though is why so many people on the right (usually the Republicans, not so much the Libertarians) rail against socialism when it comes to the American worker and taxpayer, but support it when it comes to the super-wealthy and the corporations.

That's a very good question. Possibly, because they don't see that giving huge tax breaks and credits to the super-wealthy and large corporations is just another version of redistributing wealth in this county. When they criticize Obama for making that statement, they conveniently overlook the fact that the current administration has been doing the same thing by favoring the rich. Oh, the money can trickle down a little bit, but don't dare let that trickle become a stream. If we let that happen, we're all becoming rampant socialists with anti-American intentions. Perfectly ridiculous.


Michael

[John M]

What's next: someone finds out a member of their church subscribed to a socialist newsletter years ago and suddenly they are branded as unpatriotic? The hypocrisy is staggering.

Michael

Funny you should say that, Michael. McCarthyism is making a big comeback lately. Now I never talk about my clients, but I did want to post a blog entry that one of them made recently detailing a VERY disturbing letter he got at home. Billy is one of my favorite clients and I loved his response...

Posted October 15, 2008 | 07:05 PM (EST)
William Friedkin
Right-Wing Intimidation Hits Home

Let me share with you a letter I received at home, Tuesday, September 30th. At the time, I knew nothing about the sender or the organization of which he's Chairman. Now, thanks to the Internet, I know a good deal more about him. This letter arrived in a large, thin cardboard envelope, labeled "UPS Expedited Mail." The envelope also proclaimed that this was "Expedited Mail by UPS Mail Innovations" and it was "Time Sensitive Material." I don't remember ever getting "Time Sensitive Material, Expedited by UPS Mail Innovations." Here is the letter accompanied by a legal memorandum from the sender's attorney:

The rest can be found here...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-f ... 35015.html

They had to go to considerable lengths to get his home address, which is scary.

[Theodomus]

Megan, good that you interest yourself and as John said - Take your right to vote as soon as you can. As I always say:

Somebody who doesn't take the chance to vote has no right at all to complain about the government he gets afterwards.

But Megan, what does

Like, did you know John McCain was the James Dean in his school, and was a POW for 5 years??? And Barrack Obama was named after his father, who was originally from Kenya???

has to do with the way either of them is going to govern your country?

Remember, except for the Indians ALL Americans have their roots in another country.

@ John

That is scary and throws a sad and disgusting light on some people who would appearently do anything to get through their candidate...

What I think is frightening is that McCain is now going for the same methods (robot calls with proven false accusations etc.) than he had to go through in the pre-eliminaries in 2000 by Bush's election team and which he always talked about as disgusting.

[ellenarden]

I'm always amazed at how much emphasis is placed on the Presidential race in this country. Our president is very much a figurehead. The laws and amendments are enacted by Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives), not the president. Much more attention needs to be paid to the people who are running for Congressional seats. These are the people who will shape the future of this country.