US Presidential Elections 2008

[Superstar]

Here's some more just for fun:

Obama is like "The One" in the Emerald City who says "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain".
Problem is, Obama has so many curtains it reminds me of David Lynch and Twin Peaks.
Excessive curtains, rooms amidst the curtains where stuff is pretty freaky and everyone speaks backwards but the guy who loves sweet potato pie isn't lost there.

 

[Kali]

Who is his Bob? ^^ 🙂

 

[Karol]

Not an American, but I´d vote Obama.
Don´t like republicans at all.


And I think the skin is making a point over there... and this is very sad. I don´t care what sin color he has, the problem is I can´t stand another 4 years with some warlord being US president....

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I don´t care what sin color he has, the problem is I can´t stand another 4 years with some warlord being US president....

Aye, but I think that is his sin color indeed. You trade one warlord for another; just fighting on different fronts and with different objectives.

 

[Karol]

Aye, but I think that is his sin color indeed. You trade one warlord for another; just fighting on different fronts and with different objectives.

But at least you change something... Repuclican way of warlord we already now and are kinda tired of it... 8 years of Bush it´s something to try to forget.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

But at least you change something...

But what do you change? Nothing. You shift the bandaid from one area to another. That is all you are doing. It's the Presidential Three Card Monte. There is no change.

 

[Karol]

So what? So people shouldn´t vote? Or should them vote for another one with ABSOLUTELY no chances to win? I think Obama was right about the campaing... It´s all about HOPE. We know it´s almost the same thing, and we won´t see much change.. but, better a different shit, then the same shit.
We don´t know FOR SURE what will happend.. with the economy etc, so better a unsure choice, then one we know it´s terrible.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

So what? So people shouldn´t vote? Or should them vote for another one with ABSOLUTELY no chances to win? I think Obama was right about the campaing... It´s all about HOPE. We know it´s almost the same thing, and we won´t see much change.. but, better a different shit, then the same shit.
We don´t know FOR SURE what will happend.. with the economy etc, so better a unsure choice, then one we know it´s terrible.

Hope is wonderful and great. But the election is not about what we hope for; it's about what policy we want in place to govern our country. What policies of Obamas do you support?

I never said not to vote, in fact I encourage you to vote. But you are voting for a President, not a slogan. You are not voting for change- you are voting for Obama. There is no change there.

What policies of Obama do you like? How long do you think it will take before his plans become approved? How long before the change comes?

 

[Karol]

Actually I´m not voting at all.... It´s just a opinion based on the few thing I hear about it here in Brazil. It´s a opinion of someone who doesn´t live in the US, and it´s only thinking about herself and her country. McCain it´s better for our economy cause he has less taxes BUT except that, everything point to the other side of the coin.

I don´t know how it works in the US, and just yesterday I saw in the news some especialist saying the congress will be democrat, so, aprovall wont be a problem, thjinking logical, BUUUTTTT, I don´t now how things works.

But as I said, just an opinion as a foreign. I like your country, but sadly I don´t live there, SO, I´m just thinking about my own bank account.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

SO, I´m just thinking about my own bank account.

Now THAT is a good reason why one would vote for one person over the other! That is a valid reason. Thank you! And I can respect that reason a whole lot more than just saying 'change'. 🙂

 

[Relic]

Darling, your statement reminds me of a total opposite to the saying "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't."

Here is the thing though, I don't think of either man as devils or evil. What I do know of Obama makes for some head scratching. All of the negative associations that would normal destroy a political run hasn't bit into his numbers that much, in fact he's winning by polls.

So Darling, it's not his skin color, or his middle name or his association with an unrepentant domestic 'terrorist', his association with acorn and other agencies that supported the failed policies responsible for the banking collapse, his lack of political experience as an executive or even congressman, his willingness to work around rules concerning campaign finance despite his personal pledge not to, his willingness to raise taxes during a recession, or that he comes from the utterly corrupt Chicago political machine. (I should know, I live in Illinois.)

None of this must matter that much because he's winning.

I myself have no issue with race, ethnicity, or religion, however I do have some rather large problems with him as president. Some of the other stuff for Obama does not pass my stink test. Heck, I even believe in socialism to an extent as it is 'charity' and is necessary for peaceful society.

I don't trust him to conduct it though, not in a financially responsible manner, and sadly...not even in an ethically responsible manner. The latter is more sadder than the former.

Why Hillory did not win the primary, I'll never know.

 

[Superstar]

(T)he problem is I can´t stand another 4 years with some warlord being US president....

Well the one thing I do like about Obama is that he has an isolationist approach for America and why if he had a different economic plan he would get my vote.

-----------
rant

Personally speaking there is no need for embassies in foreign countries in this day and age of internet conferencing.
I'd love to see US representation confined solely to the UN and let that body of world cooperation do its job.
It's not America's duty to prevent nations from squabbling like children or to impose democracy on nations as being "helpful" anymore than it has the right to impose Christianity or any other such value system it deems appropriate.
If they want to blow each other up, let 'em! Sometimes you just have to let people have at it.
Oft-times the best friendships come from such things.
If you separate them all the time it's all bluster and the fighting never ceases because they know mommy will intervene.
If you let them fight they always cry for mommy when someone gets hurt, but the fighting afterwards is lessened or vanishes completely.
If countries want nukes, sure - its too difficult as is to prevent it anyway. Let the UN deal with the problem.
In other words if America minds its own business it won't have people pissed off at it. Who is ever mad at and/or wants to bomb Switzerland or Finland?

Additionally, while it may be initially harmful to the American economy I'd love to see a tariff on imports to America in the 1000%+ range to force American companies to stop outsourcing to foreign countries for labor and goods. I'm really disgusted to see "Made in China, Made in Mexico, Made in Taiwan" etc. on "American" products. That has more to do with the complete out-of-whack import/export laws and effects on American labor however.
America can produce its own stuff and has no need for foreign import - or should if it wants to get away from foreign influence on policy and domestic affairs.
Is it any wonder that American car companies are suffering when everyone wants to buy imported cars; as just one example?

Nor am I particularly pleased with the attitude of the world concerning America; that it has some obligation to helping other countries out of some perceived philanthropic duty or otherwise and complains when it isn't so philanthropic - it should be neither. Let the UN do its job.
The amount of American money pouring into to foreign nations is truly sickening.
I am also not happy with American citizens who believe that some immense list of rights exists.
The US Constitution is pretty specific on what rights are granted by the government (subject to amendment), not some set in stone universal and arbitrary rights of animals and other crap born into the clutched fists of every person or animal paw.

end rant (for now)

 

[Skanky Vamp]

In other words if America minds its own business it won't have people pissed off at it.

I do disagree with you there Supasta. I think certain people will be pissed at America and our culture regardless if we mind our own business or not.

 

[crabby patty]

wow politics is confusing! I find it really hard to follow, fair play to you guys you are much more with it then me!

I feel stupid! 🙁

 

[Superstar]

I do disagree with you there Supasta. I think certain people will be pissed at America and our culture regardless if we mind our own business or not.

Just imagine if we had stayed out of the cold war due to this isolationist view at the beginning and not imposing precepts of democracy elsewhere. All those nice European countries and elsewhere who like us so much might still be a part of the Soviet Union. Maybe the Soviet Union would have spread further. Maybe the Soviet Union would have fallen on its own. Who knows? It sure wasn't and isn't our business to interfere with other governments.

The US and Soviets were allies during WW2. It was only due to conflicts of interest on how the rest of the world should be viewed that started the whole thing.
A simple "this is our country, don't mess with us and we'll get along just fine - cool with you?" would have shaped things much differently.

 

[Karol]

Problem is, truly, the US can´t mind with their business only.
The US is the larger economy, for ages. And lends money for everybody... Has this sad habit to choose a side in a war and just arm them to the teeth, and later consider this same side the enemy. It rules the world and we can´t deny (sp?).Now China is growing but since my memory recalls, the US is the role model for a laaaaarge amout of countries.
And the economy nowadays is so confusing that a speculation problem in the US made the entire world trumble.
I think is impossible to change the culture at this point... Here in Brazil for exemple, the country tries to copy everything they can to please US, to be like US. People don´t know european movies, they like Hollywood. People don´t here UK music, they like american boy bands... And I know it isn´t only here.
Bush thinks that he can rule the world, be the chief of everything, and he´s doing it. Let Iraq and etc mind their own business!! Ok, there will be a civil war, but who choose US the leader? Almost every country has sometime borrowed from US, "so... ok ok... you´ll be the leader".
Yes, I agree that US will be the bad guy, no matter what, cause now it truly is. It´s erasing local cultures, everything looks the same now, there´s aways a war with it stuck in the middle... I can understand the minor countries thinking it, cause I feel like this in my own country. The "problem" with me is that I think their just jealous, "everybody wants to rule the world".

 

[Superstar]

And the economy nowadays is so confusing that a speculation problem in the US made the entire world trumble.

This is one of the problems of a "global economy".
First thing they teach you about a portfolio: diversify.
That goes for cultures as well.

They tremble because they got just as greedy and bought American stocks.
Them's the breaks.

 

[palabravampiress]

Well, since we've moved on to the subject of the U.S.'s influence on other countries (a valid issue in any U.S. Presidential race, given the amount of influence that the President wields in terms of foreign policy), let me just say that I am 100% against the idea of exporting our "values" to other parts of the world by force and manipulation. I don't like it when we oust dictators in favor of more "U.S. friendly" dictators. I don't like it when we wage wars by proxy, arming one side against another until we feel threatened by the armed side's arms and arm the other side, instead. I don't like the way we occupy foreign nations to *force* them into "democracy" for their own good. I don't like the way we fund allies' economies so that other, "less friendly" countries have to shape up and come begging. I think our foreign policy is atrocious and could benefit from a healthy dose of Isolationism. We may run the world, but we have no right to do so. In fact, I think many of our leaders could and should justly be tried for war crimes (*cough* Bush *cough*).

All of that said, I also think that many (not all, but many) of the other countries of the world need to shape up and take some responsibility for their own d*** actions. The U.S. is not the great evil, corrupting force that so many seem to think it is and, to be honest, we're not doing anything all that out-of-the-ordinary in terms of foreign policy. Other countries fight wars by proxy or by force, too. Other countries lend money, borrow money, and seek foreign trade and influence, too. Other countries stockpile arms and try to manipulate foreign powers for their own interests. The U.S. gets a lot of flak from the world for its policies and, yes, it deserves a lot of that flak, but no one ever puts that into context with their own countries' various histories, policies, wars, and misdeeds. Rarely do people ever put that into context with the *good* that the U.S. does, either, and there is a lot of that, as many people wordwide benefit from our foreign aid in terms of things like food and medicine, send their best and brightest to our universities with our scholarship money, and (until recently) grow their own personal (and national) wealth by doing business with Americans and with American companies. I find it both amazing and appalling how those who profit from us then turn around and so freely and openly disparage and resent us. Globalization is a system; every country that participates shares in the consequences, both positive and negative. I get tired of everyone laying *everything* at our door. We're not some all-powerful, culture destroying force for evil in the world; we're a collection of poor slobs trying to pay the rent and having to occasionally dip into the Ramen Noodle cabinet for the week.

Basically, I would like to see the next president practice more diplomacy in our dealings with other nations and return to a somewhat more Isolationist approach to global affairs, especially in terms of military action and funding. Things at home are a mess. We don't have the money or the time to focus quite so heavily on the wider world right now. We need to revitalize *our* flagging democracy. We need to protect *our* rights. We need to keep roofs over *our* heads. We need to feed *our* poor. We need to provide medical care to *our* people. We need to educate *our* children. We need to pour money into *our* economy. And we need to do these things even if it means we need to take money out of foreign aid, foreign militaries, and foreign investments and put it back into our own coffers. It's time for us to get our own house in order and, quite frankly, I think it's time for a lot of other countries to cut the proverbial apron strings.

 

[Kali]

Well, since we've moved on to the subject of the U.S.'s influence on other countries (a valid issue in any U.S. Presidential race, given the amount of influence that the President wields in terms of foreign policy), let me just say that I am 100% against the idea of exporting our "values" to other parts of the world by force and manipulation. I don't like it when we oust dictators in favor of more "U.S. friendly" dictators.

I don't like the way we fund allies' economies so that other, "less friendly" countries have to shape up and come begging. I think our foreign policy is atrocious and could benefit from a healthy dose of Isolationism. We may run the world, but we have no right to do so. In fact, I think many of our leaders could and should justly be tried for war crimes (*cough* Bush *cough*).

Ever read Chomsky on the Manufacture of Consent? .... installing friendly dictators in 'client states', serving US interests abroad.... sounds right up your street.

 

[nerd4hire]

If I was voting in this election my priority would be energy policy. Everything else is driven by it - Economics, International policy, employment, plight of the poor, taxation.

Obama's energy policy is thoroughly nuts. Starting here...

Obama is quoted on his plans to bankrupt the coal industry and drive up the price of electricity

McCain's policy is similar but different - not as radical Also he's shown a willingness to be flexible on energy. With this one you want a flip flopper.

And before anybody says it there's no such thing as 'clean coal'. It's an oxymoron.