Another Interesting Article

[Phil Lilley]

I hardly read any of these topics... sorry. I peeked at this one and saw Al's post and read on. Changed the "crap"... my grandparents were dems...

As for the election- I'll put in my 2 cents.

Bush has done a good job as President. Not perfect but admirable. I think the media is riding the tide of fear and trying to elect their guy. And they are succeeding. I didn't see anything on the evening news about ALCORN... alittle about Aires but was dismissed as nothing to it. May be so but it isn't balanced at all. Obama is a liberal, no bones about it. He and the dems will change our gov't- yes they will. And it will be hard to undo if it goes wrong. Not talking about the economy... I think the media controls the economy more than either party- it's mostly in the consumer's head. I said mostly. The banking thing... it's been coming for a long time and neither party has done nothing to stop it. It is clear who started the loan debockle... the party who placed the rules on loans. But it's the consumer's fault for taking the deal too.

Raising taxes- stop if I'm wrong. If you start taking money out of an ailing economy- out of any sector- out of any business- won't that slow things down even more? Those who make over $200,000 spend much more money on durable and other goods than those who make less than 200k- right? So they won't buy the cars who others make, they won't spend as much money on eating out and traveling within the states to tourist areas and spend money here and there... people with mid paying jobs will be affected by ANY tax hike. Even corporates- they won't spend money to expand and hire more people. It will slow everyone down, not just the high earners. Then why do it? To buy votes?

I am not good at these things- economics and such. It just makes sense.

As far as Obama personally- I think he's a good speaker, that's about it. I think he has issues with white folk- says that in his book. But he's apart of a larger group that will tell him what to do and what to say, even after he wins.

[jjtroutbum]

"Here comes the orator! With his flood of words, and his drop of reason."

-- Benjamin Franklin (Poor Richard's Almanack, 1735)

[Al Agnew]

Phil, while I don't agree with a goodly percentage of what you said, you said it well.

If you are a dyed in the wool conservative, you ain't gonna vote for Obama. If you're a dyed in the wool liberal, you ain't gonna vote for McCain. Most people aren't so radically conservative or liberal that they like or hate EVERYTHING about a given candidate, and it becomes a question of which of their stands are most important to you. I've said it before...I THINK I can live with the things I don't agree with about Obama's positions, in order to see the things I DO agree with have a possibility of coming to pass. Maybe I'm wrong. And actually, there is only a LITTLE less that I like about McCain's positions...but some of the stuff I dislike about his stances are a bit more important to ME. And the truth is that I liked him more before he picked Palin, who I absolutely don't like.

But we truly are not being well served either by the media or the candidates. The last "debate" was a joke. Nothing substantial said by either candidate, just the simplistic talking points and attacks on the other one. Do they not HAVE any substantial ideas? Does the ridiculously short attention span and fascination with trivia of the American people insure they don't go in depth about anything? Or have elections become nothing but personality contests?

We are also not being well served by the internet and by the talk shows, which promulgate lies and half-truths such as many that have cropped up in this election cycle. I've read Obama's book, and I see nothing in the actual words (as opposed to the snippets taken out of context) that indicate he has a problem with white people, for instance.

Taxes...nobody likes to pay them. But the fact is, that even with the growth in revenue that we saw with (or in spite of) the Bush tax cuts, we have been running major deficits. It's real easy to say that there is too much wasteful spending, but without looking up the budget figures (I've done it before and it isn't easy to wade through) I believe that TOTAL discretionary spending (not entitlements, military spending, and payment on the debt) equals only about 25 or 30% of the total budget. That included EVERYTHING else, such as spending on national parks, spending on research into alternative energy, and a whole host of other spending on infrastructure and other stuff that most of us would agree is a good thing. So...if you pare that spending to the bone, you STILL don't get to a balanced budget, and the only other thing you can do is cut the military, cut entitlements, or raise taxes. Given that Obama's plan is to raise taxes on people making more than a quarter-million dollars, the theory is that they can absorb the extra taxes and still buy all those durable goods. I'm not sure that's the right cut-off point, especially given the present economic melt-down, but I suspect there IS a cut-off point where that is a reasonable assumption. I'm also not sure that raising taxes on ANYBODY at this point is a good idea with the current economic crisis, and I would hope that if Obama gets into office he and the Democrats will examine the changed situation before following through with their tax plan, and change or postpone it if necessary. I believe, and HOPE, that whoever the next president is, they will listen to smart people and do what is best for ALL Americans. Maybe that's wishful thinking, but the alternative is despair, because things are getting more serious all the time.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Chief you cannot tell me you have never changed your mind on anything, everyone has. Example hey I think this rattle trap is the best lure to use today. Couple hours later well maybe this one isn’t working some I might try this jig and pig. See there that’s a flip-flop.

In my opinon that is not an example of flip flopping. Changing plugs to catch fish is just that. Changing. Flip flopping is to change your view or stance for political, monetary or some such gain. I will and freely admit that I do change my mind if I find that someone else has or something else is better for me. But I will not flip flop just to gain friends, money or what have you.

[bigredbirdfan]

No, I posted a link to an article that tells the truth. I just post facts.

In the face of proof still full of denial. Kool Aide again please we have a left wing conspiracy. John McCain a fraud. OMG another trash can

[Phil Lilley]

In his book he tells of how he was brought up by his parents and his grandmother... both had different ideals. But it bothers me he attended the church he did for so many years, basically following his father's way of thinking. Why do you go to church? You like the people, you agree with the tenants of the church, of that particular church, and it's leaders. It falls in line, at least for me. No I'm not voting against him for that but it amazing to me that he's allowed to run for President with the past he's had.

As a conservative, my wish is that the dems would put up someone with impeccable credentials for their candidate. Biden- he's a great guy. I don't like his stance but he's someone I could stand behind in times of crisis or peril. McCain- again, I don't agree with all his stances either but he has served this country well, as Biden. Obama has not. Given time, he may but he is not proven himself.

[soggyfeet]

Phill, Dano, and all the others that read my post before it was edited I apologize for the name calling.

I’m just so disgusted in what the Dems have done to this country and all the votes I have wasted on them. I don’t agree with this Gov bail out at all. I have enough financial problems myself and don’t want to think about my tax dollars to going help cover up for some jerks in Washington and wall-street. I know enough of my money is spent on the Dems because the Union gives them a lot. In my opinion the loans should have been sold off to the highest bidder. I know if I was in the position these companies were in the Gov would do that to all my assets and they sure as heck wouldn’t come in and give me the money. This company should have been treated just like any other. Break it up and sell. I find it disgusting but almost comical that 2/3 of the stock market decline has come after the great Dem bailout.

As for the flip-flopping thing; a politician is the voice of the people if at one point in time the people want one thing and after time they realize that it should be another then the political puppet should change that is his job. Now another way they get into trouble for flip flopping is a good bill with a whole bunch of garbage attached to it. I don’t want my spokesman vote for a good bill that will hurt more because to the piggybacking stuff attached to it. That makes me so mad like the troop funding. Those guys need it and the Dems wouldn’t vote for it unless there was a time line for withdraw.

I wonder sometimes what this country and world would be like if during WW2 if people acted they way we do now. Do I agree with this war in Iraq? NO. But that doesn’t matter we are there now and need to take care of business before we leave. We had that change 14 or 15 years ago but Washington decided to tuck their tails and run. I believe that if we leave before it is stable over there we will have to start all over again after the next Dem Pres that doesn’t pay attention. The loss of life and injury is a horrible thing over there but why don’t I hear anyone talking about the senseless loss of life over here in the states. I think I saw somewhere that Chicago alone has a higher death rate than all of Iraq (not sure on this just heard it somewhere). Please correct me if I’m wrong.

This country is in bad shape right now and bigger Gov and less morality is not what we need right now. I’m not a religious person but the teaching of most of the religious books is a good thing. We need to take a few steps back toward the puritan ways in which this country was founded. People need to realize that for every action there is a reaction. If the action is bad or evil there needs to be harsh punishment instead of rehab to prevent it (rehab doesn’t work if they live better in jail than they do out in society). If it is a good action there need to be praise instead of ridicule. If we actually made people responsible for their actions the Country would be in a better place.

OK rant over.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I’m just so disgusted in what the Dems have done to this country and all the votes I have wasted on them.

That is all fine and dandy that you want to point fingers but, you really need to take a hard, unbiased look, at what has happened from 2000 to 2006.

[taxidermist]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5p3OB6roAg

[soggyfeet]

That is all fine and dandy that you want to point fingers but, you really need to take a hard, unbiased look, at what has happened from 2000 to 2006.

Its not 2000 to 2006 that disturbs me its 1992 to 2000 that has made me mad