Obama or Mccain
Hey Everyone
We want to know who you like and why ? Many of us dont really want to vote for either. Let me know about that too. And many of us also think there is something wrong with the way our government functions expecially our election process. What do you think ?
PD
Sadly, this election is going to come down to the "lesser of two evils".
Do I pick the Giant Douche or the Turd Sandwich?
Since I am adamantly opposed to increased taxation in order to fund social programs that have already failed, I have to vote for McCain.
Foomis Reply:
May 8th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Agreed.
Do I pick the Giant Douche or the Turd Sandwich?
Although I appreciate the South Park reference, I do not think that quite applies. Mccain would clearly be another puppet in office (not as bad as our current manchurian candidate), where Obama comes with less strings attached.
"increased taxation in order to fund social programs that have already failed, I have to vote for McCain"
This quote from a post above shows people’s ignorance when it comes to where our Tax dollars are currently going. Maybe if we spent money on social programs such as EDUCATION, which i consider to be at least somewhat important, it would make this country better. Instead, our country has put itself into incomprehensible amounts of debt by spending Trillions of dollars on death and destruction that is going to take GENERATIONS to recover from.
John from Cleveland Reply:
May 8th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Education is the states’ responsibility. Ask your local government about this.
As for your FEDERAL tax dollar:
21% goes to Social Security
20% to defense
16% aid to the needy15% medicare10% debt service4% health and education
3% veterans/civilian retirement
3% transportation
6% other
site: http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/102817/How-Your-Tax-Dollars-Are-Spent
So, before you open your yapper and call me ignorant, please quantify your remarks. 52% of every tax dollar goes to government programs that I never will see a dollar of for a long long time.
Scott the Trucker Reply:
May 10th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I can’t disagree with you John on this one. We have talked about Tolls before. The Texas Toll Authority has used it’s toll money to go on vacations and buy donuts. There’s 9 people in the authority who spend $2,000.00 per month on just donuts. And over $100,000.00 combined on vacation and food. My point is when it comes to such things as a tax, it needs to be used responsibly. I can’t say where to use it. But looking at your numbers, which I won’t argue. The said amounts need to go to that interest. When we all pay out social security for example, it should stay there. The federal tax should be used for federal programs and federal grants and loans, etc. Such as Texas and all tolling states should use toll dollars to pay employees and rebuild roads.
Also when it comes to wasted tax dollars this $256 million a day for the war is bullshit. That money is coming from somewhere and I don’t remember seeing a tax column on my pay stub that reads to the effect of "the war"
To answer Pete’s question. I’m not sure yet how I will vote. I know I won’t vote for McCain. I feel Republicans don’t care for anything less then the upper 3% of society who make up the rich and famous. I don’t think they care at all. They have proven to me in my life of only 27 years that war, genocide, dictatorship and money is what they only know. Democrats have proven to me that wasteful earmarks for their own gain is all they’re worth. Both sides are useless in their own resp. I may still write in Jesse Ventura. I’m not sure yet. My fear is if too many people write in a person who has no chance it will offer votes to the candidate they absolutely don’t want in. I do like Obama as he does fit my demographic better. He’s more charismatic and open-minded in my own pointless opinion. Truth is, neither of our votes count. The electoral college will decide who wins the office. On January 20, 2009 we’ll either have a selfless sellout from Arizona or a boy afraid of open debate from Illinois. Eitherway we will have an outhouse builder who over the next four years will over fill it with broken promises and bullshit. Its a lose/lose situation. God Speed. This country is broken and needs steady controllable healing in which we will never see in our lifetime.
Jerry from MT Reply:
May 27th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Just looking over your % breakdown I don’t see where any of our tax dollars are being spent to pay down the deficit, unless that is part of the 6% other. So it looks to me like the trillions of dollars we are borrowing to wage this stupid little war are being left out to be paid for in the future by our children. While I don’t believe either party is any better at controlling spending than the other, I can’t understand how anyone would vote for the borrow and spend policy’s McCain has supported by supporting Bush. That coupled with the fact that the next President will be picking 2-4 Supreme Court justices puts me firmly in the Obama camp (or Hillary’s if she had a shot).
John from Cleveland Reply:
May 27th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
um, debt service…. 10%… and it is in there.
John from Cleveland Reply:
May 8th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I failed to mention that we spend $8,701 per student in the U.S.
How much money do we have to throw at education before it works?
site: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/30/education/30census.html
Kris, while I appreciate the response, I disagree.
With the amount of pandering to the minority vote the left has obviously undertaken, for Obama to get re-elected he would have to continue down the path of making concessions to them.
I guarantee we will see a ton of ads saying that the right is racist and hates mexicans because they want legal immigration.
Please quantify your statement when you say that one has more strings attached than the other.
This is why we need another Reagan/Kennedy. So much charisma behind each that they could get elected without having to suck up to partisan groups looking to push their own agenda.
We will see that this election will not come down to the issues at all. It will be all about who can get more dirt on the other and if McCain can distance himself from the president.
Two words below: Jerusalem Keep (Brian, is your site trying to tell us something?)
I wish there was more from which to choose, but the way the system in place works, we have but two main candidates. The sad part is there are great men in this country who can out perform these two guys hands down, but do not have the backup needed to get elected.
Maybe I’ll move to Mexico and take early retirement before too long. Buy a small villa in the country near the Sea of Cortez and travel to Cabo every so often just for the hell of it.
Something to think about anyway.
As far as our system, I feel it was set up in a time when the average American had to travel great distances over rough terrain on top of a horse or donkey to vote. The time has come to change it, but no one with balls big enough has spoken about it yet. In time, I feel these things will change. Sooner than later, I hope.
I love your show Pete, keep up the wood work my friend.
John,
Now that I agree with. It is unfortunate it may come down to who makes the other look worse.
Don’t you think he has that "charisma"? That ability to rally the country (together/ united (or as much as humanly possible)) with out using "scare tactics" or a warped definition of patriotism.
shaneInTX Reply:
May 27th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Kris, no he doesn’t have that charisma.
Maybe he does in the Northeast, in Chicago, and the West Coast. But not enough in other places among independent or traditional voters.
Zac don’t pull the ‘ignorant’ card, it makes you look bad and shows you really have no rebuttal. John is right. Go back and look at school performance since the 1970’s when Jimmy Carter created his abomination also known as the Department of Education. Then analyze the money spent per student on education since the 70’s.
Spending and performance are as inversely proportional Zac. The rise of the Teachers’ Unions have done absolutely nothing to raise performance standards for TEACHERS, let alone students. And let’s not even talk about the complete breakdown of discipline in schools, particularly the inner city. Rather than the reflex of blaming racism for the plight of inner city schools, think about the fact that urban districts have soaked the fuck out of their tax base and drove businesses out to the suburbs.
Now stop whining about Bush and attacking your fellow Pete’s Big Blog crew, and wake up.
When are people going to finally realize they’re betting on the wrong horse? Spending has risen at an alarming rate for 30 years, it’s not working. This isn’t as difficult as the politicians are making it out to be.
John from Cleveland Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 9:03 am
^^^^ look at Detroit. That is probably the best example of it. They are still blaming whitey for their problems and don’t blame the mayor who is a criminal of epic proportions.
Personally, I think that parents are to blame when it comes to failing education. Too many parents wouldrather be their child’s friend than actually force them to do their homework, stay off drugs, abstain from sex, and actually pay attention in class. Instead, they all have $2000 in consumer electronics in their bedrooms and sit on their personal cell phone "sexting" with their boyfriend all evening when they should be studying.
Scott the Trucker Reply:
May 10th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Bravo Jonh. You hit the nail dead center. Today’s generation which is sadly mine. Has no responsiblitly. Growing up my parent’s made responsiblity a priority in my life. I was the who screwed it up. They sat down with me at my request to help me out. If I didn’t ask for help, they didn’t know I was struggling. I didn’t have a tv in my room untill my teens and proved I wa smature enough to have that tv, the catch is it was off of "rabbit ears" as nobody in the house had cable or satelitte. The biggest electronic in my room was a stereo. Our video game system was in a seperate family room and even though my parents never had to ask or tell us, when the sun was shinning the tv is off. My parents are far from perfect. But their practices in rasing my brothers and me will be passed down to my children, my fiance even agrees. The room is for sleeping and toys. When we send our children tho their rooms they won’t have the luxory of entertainment. And untill they graduate high school all their friends will be their age.
The problem that I had with what John said was that he thinks that somehow if he votes for a Republican in the coming election he will be taxed less and it will go to better use. If you can look at the last 8 years in which our country has been spending at record levels and amounting record levels of debt and say "this is great, give me 4 more years of it", then there is no argument that I can make that will get through to you. The US dollar is at its all time low against every major world currency (your money is worth less today than it was a year ago), Oil has been manipulated up to $120 a barrel, we are spending BILLIONS per month on defense (if you do the math, far more than 20% of your federal tax dollar), and American society has major problems that are not being dealt with.
To me that is not an OK situation and it is time for a change.
John from Cleveland Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Please don’t start on the "weak" "strong" dollar thing again here. I am in no mood to give you a lesson on macroeconomics.
Here is just a blurb from: http://www.chicagofed.org/consumer_information/strong_dollar_weak_dollar.cfm
U.S. firms find it easier to sell goods in foreign markets. U.S. firms find less competitive pressure to keep prices low. More foreign tourists can afford to visit the U.S. U.S. capital markets become more attractive to foreign investors.
I was not here to discuss deficit spending. I am all for a blanced budget amendment.
Todd Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 10:41 am
John,
The weak dollar does mean everything you said, but it also means a loss in purchasing power to those who liquid savings is mostly in dollars. Inflation (which literally is a weak or devalued dollar) hurts the poorest among us, especially those on fixed incomes. Because wage increases typically lag several years behind inflated prices (again, due to lack of purchasing power in a weak dollar), those on the bottom of the wage scale are pinched tremendously. A weak dollar also means a loss in value to those holding US debt, which is another discussion.
(Please note I was pointing out the obvious above for the benefit of those unfamiliar with economics as it pertains to inflation, not necessarily you)
Scott the Trucker Reply:
May 10th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
When G.W. Bush took office a gallon of gas was $1.46. In that same amount of time, my wages earned have not hardly budged one cent. Although not an economist, I do know that the economy is falling to shit. I know, I know…this all part of a balanced economy…highs and lows. Well, this is America and as an American I demand more of this country. Theres way too many "sheeple" in this country and way to many sell outs to go with them. I say if the oil producers want to jack the price of oil, then I say lets jack the prices of such commodities as paper goods we send to them. Lets make a roll of toilet paper $6.00 per roll. Lets start getting taxes from companies that want to move to America to sell their foreign junk. And lets tax the shit out of American companies who move their plants over international borders to sell products for more and pay employees less. I hope you see where I’m goiung with this. Lets take America back. First lets start by removing the some 12 million illegal immigrants who don’t pay taxes. Then remove the minor offenders from prison or put them on a huber program and make them pay for their own jail time. Lets stop pork belly spending and lets start to demand respect and freedom. Fuck G.W. Bush and his cabinet of oil extremist.
and education’s primary source of funding is from state and local taxes but there is and should be federal funding as well to make sure that children in wealthy areas are not the only ones getting a decent education in this country. The federal funding for education has been cut every year that Bush has been in office as his military spending has increased and I do not like what this forecasts for the future of our country. http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.a…)
Hey Zac, your comment #8 (on May 9, 2008 at 9:05 am) I completely agree with. As far as another 4 years of what we’ve had for the past 8, I think you would be hard pressed to find a rational person who says "give me 4 more years of it" save for the war profiteers like Blackwater and the oil companies. I’m totally with you on that, and I bet John from Cleveland is too. John can correct me if I’m wrong, but I didn’t interpret his remarks as an endorsement of the Republican party or even McCain himself.
Calling the two candidates a choice between the "Giant Douche or the Turd Sandwich" is hardly a ringing endorsement of either one of them. It is funny though.
Anyway Zac, I think as usual that many of us agree on what our problems are, we just have different ways of expressing them. I’m more inclined to believe McCain is the lesser of the two fuck-ups, but I could certainly be wrong and I can respect people who don’t agree.
However I have to say, when it comes to education, more massive spending programs won’t get us anywhere. I think John sums it up pretty well in his analysis of the problem with PARENTS.
its not necessarily about the candidates to me as its the baggage that they bring with them into the white house. Bush had much less to do with the f#%king up this country over the last 8 years than Cheney, Ashcroft, Rice, and Rove. I think that McCain would be a good choice for president if he would bring an new type of cabinet official into the White House with him. Until proven otherwise, I will assume that he will be bringing the same type of big business crony with him that has been the staple of every republican administration that I have been alive for. To that I say, NO THANKS!
BTW, I agree completely that parents should be responsible for their children’s education…..but saying that is not a way to help to fix anything. Something that we can affect on a macro level is how much money is spent, and more importantly HOW IT IS SPENT, on getting American children educated to the point where they can compete in the world economy. I don’t know if increasing the funding will help, BUT I do know that cutting it will not HELP us get to where we need our education system needs to be. In my humble opinion, it should be the best in the world not ranked somewhere in the mid 20’s as it currently is.
Zac, it is impossible to disprove a negative statement. So, I will go the other route. If you are convinced that McCain would surround himself with those business types, you should ask why Bush was. Remember that Bush came up through the business route and McCain came up through the military route (or the vietnamese capitulation route if you believe the guy from yesterday)
Will some other people please contribute?
Scott the Trucker Reply:
May 10th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I’ll add. Both Bush and McCain are sell outs. Both used "Daddy’s" ranking to get to where they are now. I like Obama because he was at the bottom in his life. For Bush and McCain that bottom was where my top may never be. I do respect McCain for certain topics over Bush though. But Bush is too much like a dictator. Although I respect a person who is Commander in Chief in times of war, I don’t need some with post war stress syndrome using the young make a point. I don’t need a guy who sold out information to the Vietnamese to settle international disputes. I want something completely new. Be it Hillary or Barack or most of our fantasy of Ventura. I just want someone who tells it like it is 100% of the time. Besides I’m trying to steer away from sugar to have everything sugar coated for our censored ears and minds to handle. I want someone who when they say "I will fix transportation and the housing industry" to explain how, not just just babble on about whats wrong. We know whats wrong, tells us how.
I am going to wait and see a) Who McCain chooses as his running mate and b) Who is the Libertarian and Constitution parties’ nominee.
The age issue with McCain is valid and is the reason his running mate matters. If his running mate is a ‘gang of 14′ type (eg, Sen. Graham), I’ll be looking 3rd party or sitting out.
I think it may do a lot of us small government small ‘l’ libertarian types to get out a vote 3rd party. We survived Carter, we can survive his second coming in Obama. When one reveals their lack of understanding regarding the economies of markets by advocating higher taxation (soak the rich) and wealth redistribution, I think it therefore follows they won’t have the framework to effectively deal with the economic challenges which face this country.
As PBM listeners almost uniformly agree, the current system is not simply ‘broken’, but a danger to the common welfare of the citizens it is supposed to protect.
I must ask those who favor more government intervention (Democrats, generally) why more of the same is really a fix? It isn’t as if any Republican or Democratic President or Congress in the last several generations has really been on the side of the common individual
Democrat and Republican voters who feel they are forced to choose between the lesser of two evils, look to the 3rd parties and see if maybe there aren’t even lesser evils.
The Congress desperately needs some non-D and non-R members who put individual liberty first and understand that means liberty to earn fortunes great and small without a claim upon it by the state and legally bond with whomever you choose without sanction by the state.
Let us return control of 100% of individual incomes to the people who spent the hours of their life earning it and thus return charity to its proper definition of something freely given rather than government seizure and redistribution. Let us focus our charity on those in our own communities with that 100% control. Who will lead such a charge?
And how great would the realization of this vision be? To remove the state as a social meddler and income arbiter and see a prosperous America where charity is funded and run by individuals concerned over their fellows who volunteer money and time, where education is freed from the abysmal performance of publicly run systems with no consumer accountability. Where curriculum fights don’t exist because parents can vote with their feet. Where people and businesses are freed from onerous and unnecessary paperwork and regulation. Where citizens are born and raised in an place where self-reliance is the norm because each of us everywhere looked around and down and choose to lend a hand to those who need it.
It seems to me, politicians who know they aren’t the answer to our problems who are elected to office by citizens who recognize themselves as the answer is the only way we are ever going to get out of the fix we are in.
Now we’re getting to the point where I can’t argue with you. That’s a good analysis of what McCain’s baggage will be if he’s elected, and I think it sucks. I also agree that Cheney is MUCH worse than Bush. If I suspect McCain will bring people like him in, that is a huge negative and certainly something to think about. It still doesn’t change the fact that I think Obama would not be a good leader. His judgement is questionable at best. His ’solutions’ are really just the same old ideas of throwing more money at problems, funding them through oppressive taxation, and more governement control. Only this time they are packaged in a younger face and more glib personality.
Todd Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Shane, that might be a good thing, in the end. I don’t believe Obama or McCain or Clinton for that matter, have the proper economic understanding to really steer us out the economic pickle in which we currently find ourselves. I think Obama, if his left-leaning associations, rhetoric and voting record are a good guide, will only make things worse, especially with a similarly left-leaning Democratic Congress.
The fastest way out of a stagnant economy is laissez faire (government hands off). Let the bad investments go south and let the fortunes be lost and let us reset with the sound elements of our economy which will undoubtedly remain. It will hurt like hell, but economic growth will feed on the ashes of the now shed dead wood, yielding a lush crop.
Where do you get that from? I haven’t heard much in the way of solutions from Obama at all, which is one of my major problems with his campaign to this point. If you know that Obama’s solutions involve "oppressive taxation" and throwing money at problems at least provide some sort of link to a speech or other document where he even hints at that. I do not actively support a candidate at this point but I’d rather attacks on either one be backed up directly by something that they have said.
My comment about McCain was not based on him having said that he will be bringing those people with him into office but rather based on every republican administration since the 70’s having the same people involved in them.
shaneInTX Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Where do I fucking start?
More government control -
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120995014765166523.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Progressive Taxation -
http://www.ontheissues.org/Economic/Barack_Obama_Tax_Reform.htm
And finally, taken directly from his website, my support for the statement that he wants to throw money at all problems. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/
No Child Left Behind Left the Money Behind
Todd Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Zac,
The ACU (American Conservative Union) rates politicians based on their voting record and whether it matches ACU principles. Someone really left/liberal would get a low rating and someone really right/conservative would get high ratings. See the 2007 ACU ratings here. Obama scored a 7 and McCain 80. McCain’s fellow Senator from Arizona Jon Kyl scored a 100, which means he voted the way the ACU preferred on every vote. Clinton scored a 0.
If you don’t like the ACU, check out National Journal’s ratings, which rated Obama the most liberal of 2007.
Well, Zac, no one can say that democrats do the same thing because only one has been elected since the 70s.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO ATTACK A CANDIDATE, provide evidence or at least your logic for doing so. That is what I was saying, and then provided my logic for my previous statement.
shaneInTX Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I posted, it’s awaiting moderation…..
Todd Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Too many hyperlinks will get ya trapped. I think 3 is the limit.
I have no problem with "IF YOU ARE GOING TO ATTACK A CANDIDATE, provide evidence or at least your logic for doing so. That is what I was saying, and then provided my logic for my previous statement."
I have a problem with you saying "but rather based on every republican administration since the 70’s having the same people involved in them" and you bring no supporting evidence.
Don’t give me a "debate" where you can make up or twist information and others can not.
Todd Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Zac,
John makes a good point. It seems you have a double standard here. I responded to your challenge by replying to the original post, just scroll up, it is listed right after #16.
For the record:
Reagan’s cabinet:
State: George Shultz, Navy, MIT Professor, Sec of Labor and Treasury
Treasury: James A Baker, USMC, Under-sec of commerce
Defense: Caspar Weinberger, Army, Attorney, California Legislature
Attorney General: William French Smith, Navy Reserve, Attorney, served on many international councils
Bush 1:
State: James A. Baker, see above
Treasury: Nicholas Brady, MBA Harvard, NJ Senator, worked in banking 34 years
Defense: Dick Cheney, The current VP
Attorney General: Richard Thornburgh, JD UPITT, Governor of PA,
Bush 2:
State: Condie Rice, BA/MA/PhD Poli Sci, Provost at Stanford
Treasury: John Snow (first Sec Tres), PhD Economics, worked in the rail industry,
Defense: Robert Gates, PhD Russian Studies, Former CIA director, Former president of Texas A&M
Attorney General: Michael Mukasey, Belarus-born, BA Columbia, Yale Law, Attorney, Professor, Federal Judge
John from Cleveland Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 11:28 am
My post above is just to squash the statement where Zac says the previous presidents surround themselves solely with business types. From my angle, they are all highly educated, many worked in teaching, and only a few were hardcore in the private sector.
These are links to Past Republican US Presidents since Nixon. I would have to say that there are some familiar names that pop up in each. Not to say any one is right or wrong but a tend is a trend.
Nixon
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1404.html
Ford
http://encarta.msn.com/media_461520307/gerald_ford%E2%80%99s_cabinet.html
Reagan
http://encarta.msn.com/media_461520309_761560259_-1_1/ronald_reagan%E2%80%99s_cabinet.html
Bush 1
http://encarta.msn.com/media_461520310/George_H_W_Bush%E2%80%99s_Cabinet.html
Bush2
http://encarta.msn.com/media_701501964/George_W_Bush%E2%80%99s_Cabinet.html
I did not do that sorry. I have an aspiring but overactive 13 year old youngster who like to push my buttons. LOL
Zac Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
They can have all the degrees in the world and can even have taught a class at a university while still having a major part of their occupational history and wealth come from heading up large corporations. You left most of the pertinent information out about the history of almost every one of the people that you listed above. I would urge the other people in this forum to look a few of them up one by one and see what you find.
You did not squash anything I said, I am at work now and can’t go through that person by person to prove what I was saying, but there are a lot of highly educated but SERIOUSLY SCARY people on your list. People that I wouldn’t leave alone with a puppy much less leave in charge of your country. Listing the Degrees of certain cabinet members does not "Squash" anything to do with the point that I made.
No, but it does go against your statement of: "I will assume that (McCain) will be bringing the same type of big business crony with him that has been the staple of every republican administration that I have been alive for." Is basically false.
Go home, do all of your homework, and get back to us.
Zac Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I did my homework….when I was getting my BA in political science. You just proved my point by quoting me from earlier saying nothing about their intelligence or level of education but rather that hey are people who have ties to big business and run the country in a way that benefits it.
I think I agree with what you said to a certain degree. But I beleive if McCain became President we would see more individuals with the calibre of education Condi Rice has but maybe a little different view of the new century.
Zac Reply:
May 9th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I hope that is true, but would like to hear him talk more about it if it is.
Whomever it is that steps into that office they better be in search of the best and the brightest. They should surround themselves with innovative thinkers who are the top dogs in their fields and be willing to tell the President,in a tactful and highy educated manner, “Thats a bad call your about to make Mr. President and this is Why.”
In all fairness, I also pulled up Clinton and Carter
Carter’s cabinet:
State: Cyrus Vance, Navy, Yale Law, Secretary of Army, Dep. Sec Defense under LBJ
Treasury: W. Michael Blumenthal, PhD Princeton, worked both in private and public sectors
Defense: Harold Brown, PhD Physics Cal-Berkley, director defense research, Secretary of Air Force, President Cal Inst Tech
Attorney General: Griffin B. Bell, Law degee from Mercer Univ, Army, Private attorney, US Appeals Court Judge (appointed), Later worked under GHW Bush for reforming Federal Ethics Law ((HE SUPPORTS MCCAIN FOR PRESIDENT PER WIKI))
Clinton’s cabinet:
State: Madeline Albright, MA/PhD Public Law Columbia, Professor Georgetown, Ambassador to UN
Treasury: Robert Rubin, LLB Yale Law, Managing Partner Goldman Sachs,
Defense: William Perry, PhD Mathematics Penn State, Managing Partner of Hambrecht and Quist (investment banking), professor engineering Stanford
Attorney General: Janet Reno, LLB Harvard Law, staff director of FL house judiciary comm, FL State Attorney re-elected 4 times)
(Um, 2 of 4 as managing partners in investment firms… sounds nothing like what you claim the republicans do)
I just realized why education in this country is fucked up. (I know that a lot of this is a generalization)
Kids go to school and come home to an environment where parents are letting them do their own thing and not getting involved on a level necessary. What happened to the days where a kid spent 2-3 hours a night on homework? If the kid fails, they blame the teachers, the administrators, and the "lack of funding". Of course they themselves are never to blame.
You don’t send your dog to obedience school and then let them come home to pee on the floor, chase the cat, and chew on shoes. You do exactly what the trainer told you. Use corrective behaviors. Show them right from wrong. Reward good, scold bad. You don’t blame the trainers or breeders. (well in the case of humans, the breeders are often at fault).
Scott the Trucker Reply:
May 10th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Again John, gotta agree. Although 3 to 4 hours of homework is extreme. I think children need time for sports, organizations and family. I for one wish I’d have played more sports. I come from Wisconsin Dells, WI. (Google it) I went to school with alot of these attraction owners, the people who provide a service for tourism in other words. I was also unpolular as I rebeled against clicks and jocks. So I was out. But I was active in Boy Scouting untill about my sophmore year of high school. I didn’t find a place in front of a tv, but also I didn’t find aplace behind my school work either. I was very active in the respect of hunting, fidhing and mountain biking. And even as a 27 year old I need to ask, what happened to all of this? Do they still have scouting? Are kids still volunteering to be active? All I see is glamour in our youth. Who can find the biggest sunglasses and who can cake on the most make up. The blame is on the parents, the school can’t regulate this due to "hurting someones feelings". You know what? FUCK feelings, grow up and except critisism, I will for my actions and post here. Like Pete says, prove me wrong, I’ll listen.
The economic problems of this country and it’s people are pretty significant and far reaching. No one should be exempt from contributing to the solution, and that includes the federal government. Poverty in this country trickles up and down, hurting every single one of us. I’m not particularly fond of paying taxes, but I pay them and do so with less reluctance when I know that my tax dollars are going to programs that do good. What burns me up is knowing that in the last 7 years my hard earned money is going to line the pockets of private contractors in Iraq, it has fueled rampant out of control corruption there, and here, and continues to fund a war that is unwinable and wrong. We must stop forcing our ideals and our way of life on a people that can’t manage it and don’t really want it. That is why I will, and I must vote for Obama, and I will do that without holding my nose for the first time in my life. Besides the fact that the next president will more than likely be appointing 3 -4 new Supreme Court Judges, (something I can’t imagine anyone with a conscience, who cares about women’s rights, or civil rights could overlook) we can not have another president who will not make every effort to end this war. We do not need another warmonger in office who will not be willing to at least negotiate with our enemies (and please don’t call me naive, I don’t believe that blowing people up makes us stronger, and that bully tactics gain us respect.) So many of you are critical of Obama for the so-called company he keeps and yet you do not hold any of McCain’s associations to the same standard. "How could Obama stay in a church with such a hateful pastor," you say. At least he was a member of that church from the time he was in his 20’s. They were his extended family, and like most of us who have a close friend or family member who is a little crazy, a little out there, even a little confused, we don’t throw them under the bus. We disagree with them and we still love them. My father is a racist, he’s also a bit of a bully, and I disagree with almost everything that comes out of his mouth, but he’s my dad and I love him, and forgive him. Obama, even at his best is still a politician, who has had political ambition for quite some time. He is also very, very smart, and I doubt very seriously that if his pastor had always been quite as divisive as he comes off, (in the snippets of video that have been wallpaper for the main stream media in the past few months) I doubt he would have stayed in that church. I commend Obama for not pandering, I commend him for trying to give Rev. Wright the benefit of the doubt. I commend him for trying to keep his differences with the Reverend private, and I feel quite bad for Obama, that despite his best efforts he had to put that relationship to bed. I also take Obama at his word that he consistently debated with Rev. Wright on things and issues that he disagreed with, in the hopes that he could change his mind or look at things with a different perspective. Not unlike what we do here on these blog’s. We try and have healthy debate and hopefully we do that not just to hear ourselves, or in this case see ourselves talk, but in the hopes that we may just change someone’s mind. I would rather be someone who listens and tries to see all sides, then be someone who just simply turns my back on people who I disagree with. Can you not find it within yourselves to see that Obama at least tries to make a difference? That is more than we could say for McCain who is not debating any of these hate mongering people. He’s not calling them out, he’s just "embracing" the support of a pastor who says that the Catholic Church is the "great whore." He’s "glad" to have the endorsement of a pastor who believes that Katrina was God’s judgment on homosexuals, and one who believes that 9.11 was the fault of the "abortionists, homosexuals, and the ACLU." If that’s not about hate and prejudice, my goodness what is? And when you look at McCain and decide that he is the "lesser of two evils" are you forgetting that he voted for TORTURE, as in water boarding, or that he strongly resisted a holiday for MLK. AZ was the last state to have MLK day. Maybe you may want to remember that he voted against the GI bill, because he’s afraid if you treat the troops that are coming home too well they may not want to go back. OMG! Are you kidding me? He has flip flopped so many times he has lost all credibility. In 2005 a permanent presence in Iraq was not good and shouldn’t happen. Now, in 2008 it must happen. Bush’s tax cuts were offensive to you in 2003 and now they must be made permanent?And oh yeah, let’s not forget that he called his wife a c**t in public, or his legendary outbursts on Capitol Hill, where he said, F**K You to Senator Cornyn, calling U.S. Senators Pete Domenici an a**hole and Chuck Grassley a f**cking jerk. In 1995 he tried to hit 93 year old Strom Thurmond. He has an out of control temper, he’s a gigantic hypocrite, and he can’t be taken at his word for anything. He is seemingly in bed now with the Bush neocon’s and with that relationship blooming we can look forward to the invasion of Iran, if Bush doesn’t do it before he leaves.My nephew, who I love dearly, just joined the military. Not because he believes in this war, not because he loves his country, but because he felt he had no other option. It is my belief that a very high percentage of men and women who join do so for the very same reasons, with the exception of those who signed up right after 9.11. It is because of them that I promise I will do whatever it is that I can, to make sure that McCain does not win. A McCain presidency would be a disaster.
Scott the Trucker Reply:
May 10th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Joyce, Amen. Happy Mother’s Day. And down with John McCain!
Joyce, I have to thank you for saying so much of what I believe so that now I do not have to do it myself. I agree that McCain would be a disaster as president. While I have some misgivings about Obama I feel the same about Hillary. I don’t believe any of the three will do a great job, but I believe that Hillary or Obama will do less harm. If we really give it serious thought I think we have to admit that none of the candidates are going to be able to accomplish all that they promise. If they just do us no more harm I will be grateful.
Several people spoke about education in earlier comments. As most of you know, I taught for many moons in an urban district and I actually retired early for several reasons. One of them is that way too many kids coming to school today have no respect for one another or the adults who work with them. They are bold, uncooperative, and downright mean. These behaviors are a direct result of what does or does not happen at home. It becomes very frustrating to spend so many extra hours preparing lessons, correcting papers, and writing reports and then have parents blame the teachers when their 5th grade child can’t count by 25s and then they refuse interventions (remediation) for the same child who cannot read above a 3rd grade level. Many of the students had no father at home, were being raised by grandparents, or had parents who did not take responsibility for their children. What we were told by the administration was that because the schools cannot change what goes on at home, we must come up with changes in the way we educate kids. I don’t pretend to have all the answers as to what is the best way to educate kids, but I do know that in order to understand what really goes on in schools, one must actually be there to see it for oneself. Standardized testing is useless in the eyes of most teachers and causes us to "teach to the tests" which means leaving some important learning behind and creating very boring classrooms.
Joyce, I hope you will continue to contribute to this blog. It’s so nice to have women express their views along with the guys.
BTW, Pete is now posting the entries instead of Brian for those of you who have not yet noticed.
Joyce, I have to thank you for saying so much of what I believe so that now I do not have to do it myself. I agree that McCain would be a disaster as president. While I have some misgivings about Obama I feel the same about Hillary. I don’t believe any of the three will do a great job, but I believe that Hillary or Obama will do less harm. If we really give it serious thought I think we have to admit that none of the candidates are going to be able to accomplish all that they promise. If they just do us no more harm I will be grateful. I doubt that any one of them will be able to get us out of the mess our dear president and his cronies have created. I realize several of those who post here will take issue with my placing blame on this administration but I can assure you, it is a common complaint.
Several people spoke about education in earlier comments. As some of you know, I taught for many moons in an urban district and I actually retired early for several reasons. One of them is that way too many kids coming to school today have no respect for one another or the adults who work with them. They are bold, uncooperative, and downright mean. These behaviors are a direct result of what does or does not happen at home (I realize there are many extenuating circumstances). It becomes very frustrating to spend so many extra hours preparing lessons, correcting papers, and writing reports and then have parents blame the teachers when their 5th grade child can’t count by 25s and then they refuse interventions (remediation) for the same child who cannot read above a
3rd grade level. Many of the students had no father at home, were being raised by grandparents, or had parents who did not take responsibility for their children. What we were told by the administration was that because the schools cannot change what goes on at home, we must come up with changes in the way we educate kids. That doesn’t seem to be making enough of a difference so far. I don’t pretend to have all the answers as to what is the best way to educate kids, but I do know that in order to understand what really goes on in schools, one must actually be there to see it for oneself. Standardized testing is useless in the eyes of most teachers and causes us to "teach to the tests" which means leaving some important learning behind and creating very boring classrooms.
Joyce, I hope you will continue to contribute to this blog. It’s so nice to have women express their views along with the guys.
BTW, Pete is now posting the entries instead of Brian for those of you who have not yet noticed.
^^^^ Exactly what I said about teachers. The current "crop" of students wants everything handed to them. Nothing is their fault/Everyone else is to blame.
I can’t wait to see many of these college kids hit the street to find a job. With the lack of job openings, I bet that I will see them slinging electronics at HH Gregg for $18k per year.
Joyce, welcome to the board. It is nice to have another contributor. While I disagree with your choice, I respect yours. I personally doubt that McCain is a war hawk. Remember it is the job of the party Whip to tell the electors which way they are supposed to vote on issues. You won’t find many people that vote against their party on major bills/resolutions. I feel that his and others’ voting records should only be marginally counted for or against them.
I like Obama. I he is charismatic and has the right idea about getting away from the way politics are now. I am not sure about how far left he is, since he gives little specifics on what he believes.
The president has two major powers that I worry about in this election, judge appointments, and Commander in Chief.
For this reason, and because of Obama’s differences in my beliefs on these two issues. I have to vote for McCain.
In no way should we leave Iraq. We can pull back from major action there, and hold the borders. There are a number of options to try, but we cant allow Iran to dominate the region. Obama speaks of diplomatic efforts with Iran, while Iran speaks of Israel and the west’s destruction. Diplomacy hasnt worked with Iran for decades, either with the U.S. or a number of our other allies. Bush 41, turned his back on the Iraqi people once, if Obama is elected, history will repeat itself again, same as Vietnam.
The judges issue for me is another important one. To many judges are making up policy, interpreting the constitution differently from its original intent or taking too far. Even with more conservative judges, I dont believe that Roe vs. Wade will ever be overturned. My feelings on this subject are more specific than general. I dont want it overturned, However, I do believe that abortion has too free of a reign. This topic isnt on abortion, so I will leave it at that.
Out of time… Dont forget to vote.
Pete, one thing. During your show, every once in a while, give out the whole phone number in numbers. There are many with PDAs now that dont have the keypads with the letters on the numbers anymore and dont know that INDIE is in numbers. I found it on your site, but others may have not made it here to find it.
Just a suggestion.
Darain Reply:
May 10th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
fix:
Figured I better fix the typo so I dont sound too much like an idiot. My appologies.
Pete, one thing. During your show, every once in a while, give out the whole phone number in numbers. There are many with PDAs now that dont have the keypads with the letters on the numbers anymore and dont know *WHAT INDIE is in numbers. I found it on your site, but others may have not made it here to find it.
Just a suggestion.
I say if you want the war to continue vote McCain. If you want our troops to continue to die, vote McCain. If you want your taxes to go to fund a thoughtless wat, vote McCain. If you want an angry old man who when faces tough choice attempts suicide, vote McCain. If you want a guy who has no problem telling someone "where they can go" when he disagrees, vote McCain. I’m not saying Barack is the answer, but I just don’t see him exploding or disrespecting this country. America has no business trying to make the world a democracy, hell it hasn’t worked for us. Lets change this bullshit and take a risk, whats it going to hurt? Don’t bring up taxes either, its so cliche. President Clinton had us in the good, nd he did it between Bushs. My new campaign ad is; "Fuck McCain so he can’t fuck America" down with the Republican Party and on with Freedom.
Thanks for your respectful replies and welcomes. I do appreciate it. I wish I could write more, or even better call in, but it’s rare that I can listen to the whole show, and I usually hear the re-broadcast. Pete, if you do read this….please know that you have a huge fan here in Los Angeles. I love your show.
With all that said….John, it appears to me that you are a very intelligent and articulate man. I respect your mind although I obviously disagree with your veiws. One thing that leaves me scratching my head is your comment that you think that McCain is not a war hawk. He endorses this war, has no plan for ending it, and he’s singing songs about bombing Iran (which I find really offensive.) It has been reported that he may have ties to military contractors. He has very close advisors who are lobbyist’s for European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company and they won the bid for the Air Force Tanker bid over Boeing. Boeing has filed an appeal with the GAO, focusing on McCain’s alleged involvement in that deal. Again, he has flip flopped on every issue that may have contributed to the portrait of the pre 2000 moderate that some think he once was. I also do not understand how anyone can question Obama’s desire for diplomatic efforts in Iran. What is our choice? Do you actually believe that bombing Iran is a wise decision? Do you honestly think that our military would even be capable of handling yet another conflict? We can’t deal with the 2 we already have. It is my belief that we have no other choice but to try desperately hard to negotiate some kind of agreement between Iran, Iraq, Syria, etc. The current administration, (and I mean George Bush, who seems to be getting another head scratching pass from many of you, blaming all the chaos on Cheney and Rumsfeld. Which I find totally bizarre considering he is the president, he appointed these people, he’s the "decider" remember) has squandered all our credibility in the world. Beirut is burning right now and all our government can do is say…Stop it you guys, stop interfering in Lebanon…That is what our foreign policy has come to. A McCain presidency will not do a thing to change that. I believe that the well-being of this country, is dependant upon a radical change in presidential image, and that to me, without question, is Barack Obama. One more thing….in response to what I said about McCain’s voting record someone said, most of the electors vote along party lines. I wonder….do you say the same thing about Obama when he is accused of voting to the far left? Okay, I could go on forever, but I will stop for now….
Joyce, I do agree with you that Bush is ultimately responsible for our messes, but with all do respect, do you think he’s capable of coming up with these plans himself? I loathe the man so much I can’t bear to look at his face or hear him speak. I immediately feel as though he is lying or trying to cover up something, and I truly believe that he is not an intelligent man. Cheney and Rumsfeld, on the other hand, are very intelligent and have a powe