Obama: McCain focused on biography over economy

I thought Senator McCain's speech was pretty good. I had not listened to any of the candidates during the two year lead-up to the general election - the whole business simply goes on too long. Both McCain and Palin seemed to connect with the convention audience, and the half of America who's votes are needed for their potential election.

It has been mentioned numerous time that there are two Americas - McCain and Palin being aligned with the Euro-Centric half, and their performance has to be viewed in that context. There were indeed few faces of color in the audience. The seed " The Loneliness of the Black Conservative " addresses that issue nicely.

It's his dream to die in the White House

With all this talk of McCain dying, I wonder if anyone has paid attention to just how OLD his mother is—the cameras panned to her perky little 96-year-old visage more times than I can count during the convention. Given his genes, he might just be around for a long time to come.... which I know is not what many of you want to hear!

John's grandpa was 61 when he died and his dad was 70. John McCain is now 72 and has lived an awfully hard life which I do give him credit for. Just don't think he would make a good president.

if you are suggesting that Mccain is going to have a long life because his mother lived to be 96 you dont know death rates and ages by race and sex in this country all white women live longer on average than white men

if you are suggesting that Mccain is going to have a long life because his mother lived to be 96

So you're suggesting there is no genetic component to life expectancy?

(Oh and last I saw, she was still alive. Sorry to disappoint you.)

Of course there's a genetic component, but there's a gender component too. Men tend to die in the same age range as other men in their immediate family. The same with women. Considering the age of death of his father and grandfather it's more surprising that McCain is still alive then not.

In my own family for instance the men tend to die in their late 60's to early 70's while most of the women live into their 90's. No man in my family has lived beyond the age of 75 and no women has died (of disease or natural causes) before 80.

So you're suggesting there is no genetic component to life expectancy?

(Oh and last I saw, she was still alive. Sorry to disappoint you.)

I would have to agree with R. Donald, men don't live as long as women. Because we tend to be more stubborn and not go to the doctor when we are feeling ill. Then the prognosis is worse by the time we actually go (this is an actual fact).

Women, on average live 15-20 years longer. They tend to have a better diet, and have to go to the doctor often.. your point is moot

I don't get the stubbornness on these threads sometimes.

I never said there wasn't a difference in men's and women's life expectancies—just pointed out that how long the parents live offers some indication of how long their children might live.

From an abstract of an article on SpringerLink:

We find that age of death of the mother and the father have persistent impacts on their adult children's overall mortality regardless of sex, even after controlling for socioeconomic and environmental factors throughout the life course.

From an abstract of an article on ScienceDirect:

Human longevity appears to have a modest but significant heritable component.

McCain has two parents. There is no reason to think that he is more likely to live longer than 3-4 years just because of his mother when his father was younger than him when he died.

McCain has two parents.

You don't say! Well then, that changes everything!

It's actually higher than that. According to the BLS the real unemp rate is around 9%.

no no no... you are including people that fell off the roles. That isn't fair!!!

I does not surprise me that a federal beurokicy of Emperor Bush would lie. Lets elect his clone for more of the same.

sorry about the spelling

if they counted the poor who just gave up looking for work period the real rate is probably around 12%

So let's tax the remaining employers so they have to downsize or move out of the country to keep their company survivable. Who's with me? Go Obama!

not all gave up, many just ran out of time to collect.

Chicken, I hope you are being sarcastic. Have you seen the salaries the and benefits the CEO's and board members are getting. Read a prospectus, it tells all.

The connection is Bush finally whizzed away all of Clintons surplus. Talk about spending, increasing debt and the biggest government EVER, take a look at your fair-haired party. Open BOTH eyes.

Except the Democrats do not have control of congress. The have a simple majority in the House and a minority (49 Democrats) in the Senate. That's not control.

And they have to deal with the veto pen, one Bush didn't even pick up while the Congress was controlled by the Republicans.

Unemployment....it seems to me it started climbing back in 2006, when the Democrats took control of Congress. Makes you wonder. There has to be a connection there.

You have to be got be economically uninclined to arrive to your conclusion that Dems are at fault for rise in unemployment.

McCain never did anything useful for Arizona or Arizonans, why should anyone think he'll be any different for the country.

Remember that Texans tried to warn us off of Bush.

Well, then please educate us. What exactly did Bush do to increase the unemployment rate? The last time I checked, the only first hand impact the President has on the economy comes from his involvement in brokering trade deals and appointing the Chairman of the Fed. So, considering Congress killed the last Free trade Agreement, which one of these Presidential duties caused manufacturers to lay off workers?

Failure to monitor and regulate the mortgage industry.

Spill,

When it comes to specifics, I'm a little rushed for time at the moment and in general, I'm afraid that there isn't enough room in even a single article much less a post to give you the entire rundown although I hope that someone more clever then me might be able to attempt it (and may even succeed as well).

But if you really are interested and not trying to be sarcastic, look up: Supply-Side, Trickle-down, or Voodoo economics. Also check out Shock economics if you want a more current take as well as get a look at what these policies can do if left to continue unabated. Those are the policies that Bush and his crew have been implementing.

Fair warning however, it's a pretty long and involved subject which means some homework- a great deal of it you will probably not like and you may not even agree with some or even all of it, but that's up to you.

Anyway, I'd start there and see where it takes you, good luck (and no, I'm not being sarcastic in the least, I truly DO wish you well in your endeavor).

A Democratic hunt again I see. Well, at least none of us Democrats shot anyone in the face with bird shot rounds. j/k.

One of the things that seems to elude everyone are the real points of this election. The Americans that are being forgotten because they do not own 7 homes (McCains advisor gave me the number). They can not afford health, dental insurance because they do not make 5 million a year like other middle class families. some can not afford a decent home, food and other necessities that some of us take for granted because they are drained of their check(s) to pay for gas and the raising price of day care, and food. For single mothers' and fathers' that can not afford proper housing for the kids, what do they do? How would you like to drive a car only using an emergency hand brake, or no A/C in the Alabama heat.

I think it's funny how we throw up our arms and scream bloody murder when Brittney Spears does something wrong. We are so consumed with who's who and what's that. We are willing to send billions to Russia but can't even build levies to protect Louisiana. We have forgotten about the lesser man, woman, and child. Yes we have, we have forgotten on how good it feels to give to those that do not have. Let me guess, next someone is going to say " If you give it to them you are going to make them fat and lazy." Funny, I know I can hear it!

Democratic or Republican it will not matter who wins. If Obama wins it will take years to see anything trickle down because of Congress and Senate fighting him. As for McCain, it will be business as usual because he agreed so much with Bush. Troops are still on foreign soil, gas prices still high because the new drilling will take years to make a difference.

Please, stop saying "Because a Democrats (Congress)that's why we are in such bad shape..." We are in this shape because we have fallen for promises by candidates and they failed to deliver on them. Want to Blame someone, find point the finger, feel better? Guess what we still have the problem of mud slinging, promises being made.

Among the more prominent elements of his tax proposal, Senator Obama would end the Bush tax cuts and allow the top two tax rates to return to 36 and 39.6 percent. He also would allow personal exemptions and deductions to be phased out for those with income over $250,000. The real kicker, though, is that Senator Obama would end the Social Security payroll tax cap for those over $250,000 in earnings. (The cap is currently set at $102,000.) These individuals will then face a tax rate of 15.65 percent from payroll taxes and the top income tax rate of 39.6 percent for a combined top rate of over 56 percent on each additional dollar earned. People in that 102,000.00 to 250,000.00 are often small business owners who have 1-2 employees. We could expect a significant job loss in entry level positions and retail' salesperson" type jobs, OR smalll business owners would have to increase prices to make more profit to off set the higher taxes.

High-income individuals will be forced to pay even more if they live in cities or states with high taxes such as New York City, California, or Maryland. These unlucky people would pay over two-thirds of each new dollar in earnings to the federal government.

Senator Obama's new tax rate would give the United States one of the highest tax rates among developed countries. Currently only six of the top 30 industrial nations have a tax rate for all levels of government combined of over 55 percent. Under this tax plan, the United States would join this group and have a higher top rate than such high-tax nations as Sweden and Denmark. The top marginal rate would exceed 60 percent with the inclusion of state and local taxes, which means that only Hungary would exceed Senator Obama's new proposed top tax rate.

The costs in economic terms of such high taxes are real. For example, of the six countries with higher tax rates than 55 percent, the average unemployment rate is 7.35 percent . This figure includes Denmark, which appears to have a very low unemployment rate of 3.9 percent. However, Denmark spends over 5 percent of its GDP on unemployment programs and benefits, thereby increasing its unemployment rate.

Perhaps a larger worry than the damage to the economy is the long-run budget problem of the United States. While Senator Obama raises taxes a great deal on upper income individuals, the overall tax plan increases the national deficit. As a result, the country will be even less prepared to pay for current and future Social Security and Medicare obligations.

So if you want higher taxes, A bigger deficit and more unemployment and bigger mess for our children vote Obama.

If you want to see what an Obama Government might look like, give your teenager a credit card with no limit and drop them off at the mall this weekend!

Fidel the unemployment rate is at a 5, FIVE, CINCO, fünf , YEAR HIGH.... Not 2.... good grief.

Name one act passed by this congress that hurt the economy and then you might have something, until then your rhetoric is empty.

I think you need to re-read that well written comment. The comment listed numerous statistics that are supportable, search them out they are realistic.

Equally, keep in mind that legislation that congress passes that becomes law, typically takes years to make an impact. SO, what you saw during the Clinton years, that's right was because of the Regan years, most of what you see right now... guess who: Mr. Clinton.

You didn't really even respond to the facts, maybe you can afford a tax hike, I can't.

uhh... the Clinton affect ended 2 years into Bushes first term. The effects do not take that long.

Anyway, I'd start there and see where it takes you, good luck (and no, I'm not being sarcastic in the least, I truly DO wish you well in your endeavor).

While I appreciate your candor, I am afraid you failed to actually address the nature of my previous comment (though admittedly, I was simply being sarcastic to point out the flaw in the previous argument). My point was focused on the Constitutional limits on the power of the President. I understand that economic policies undoubtedly have an effect on the unemployment rate, but again, my focus was on actual implementation of the policy. The President does not make the laws, that falls on Congress. The President can support specific policies, and even ask Congress for support of specific legislation (or exercise his veto power), but the responsibility falls on the legislative body to pass the law. Now, if you want to argue that certain policies he supports led to the current unemployment rate, I am more than willing to hear your argument. All I was trying to do was clarify what it is we are actually talking about.

Laws are not policies. Policies are the choices in how the executive branch executes the laws.

I live in Albuquerque NM , unemployment rate is high. But yet these people vote Republican.This year it will change.

Yeah, but you guys have the worst governor in the history of modern man and he is a Democrat. Sorry, but it is true.

The republicans had 8 years to do the right thing and they blew it! (in fact longer if we include the Contract with America BS they sold back at the end of Clinton's term .) They don't care about you. Now they want reform and change? Yeah, right.

Yeah, but you guys have the worst governor in the history of modern man and he is a Democrat. Sorry, but it is true.

But he isn't running for president. I would think that having the worst governor would be relative to if his policies affected you or not.

He has "worked" for the black urban poor and the black community, both in his "community organizing" and the Illinois Senate.

Even if that were true, so what? Black are not Americans, Blacks don't matter, is that what you're saying?

Susan c , your comment is exactly a true Republican Comment. I bet you live in a gated community, never volunteer and have always voted Republican. Sad , Sad EXAMPLE.

Her comment is also a true GOP racist remark. Classic.

Face it, neither of them have said "This is the plan." The debates will tell a lot.

Thank you TXHorseman. I agree... neither of them have sold me on their ability to run this country. Hopefully the debates will lead me in one direction or the other.

On a side note, I would like to ask one question... Why would it be considered racist to question a leader who seems to work more for one race than another? I don't recall anyone saying that African Americans were any less American than anyone else, only that they weren't MORE American than anyone else. Susan's comment said: "Obama has done nothing for most of the Americans." (Meaning Americans in general, including ALL races) "He has "worked" for the black urban poor and the black community, both in his "community organizing" and the Illinois Senate." (Meaning he showed favoritism towards black Americans over Americans of other races)

This comment doesn't seem racist to me at all, it seems more like Susan was attempting to point out an instance of possible racism, rather than acting as the bringer of racism.

"He has "worked" for the black urban poor and the black community, both in his "community organizing" and the Illinois Senate."

WOW. How any can view this as a negative is beyond me.

Working for the poor is a positive thing, but America is comprised of more than just black and white... All races should be treated equally. This should be true for punishment, public assistance, scholarships, career opportunities, and any other thing for that matter. Race shouldn't be an issue, but unfortunately our country still makes it an issue. There will be people who refuse to vote Obama because he's black. There will be people who refuse to vote McCain because he's white. Unfortunately, there will also be people accused of being racist because they DON'T vote for Obama. It's ridiculous...

I propose the following rules be applied to every election from now on:

1. Make the candidates give speeches and have debates through the radio

2. Be required to ONLY discuss the issues, and none of this other nonsense that should never have been brought up to begin with

3. Any personal attacks would instantly disqualify the person doing the attacking (because after all, maturity is a good quality to have in a leader, wouldn't you agree?)

4. No pictures or racially identifying information would be released. It's too bad that will never happen...

Susan C,

I'm sorry, hone but, I'm from and I'm also still IN Arizona.

"John McCain does not have to "talk" about fighting for all of us. He has actually done it for 40+ years in public service, first in the military and then in the U.S.Congress. His biography is a guarantee that he will continue to serve all Americans."

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

No. He hasn't and he won't. Read through the back issue of the local papers (Tucson Weekly and Phoenix New Times) for the REAL story about McCain. Or just cross refrence his name with: Meecham, Symington, or Keating for an idea of McCain's "service to Americans" here.

(And no, I'm not laughing at YOU. It's just that every time I hear that stuff requoted by people who have never had to deal with his double-dealing first hand. It's like being told David Duke was a member of the Black Panthers: I HAVE to laugh, I'm sorry.)

For anyone who cares about facts, I am a registered Democrat and have voted Democratic for years. I am a member of the ACLU, have volunteered in literacy councils and have been an active member of the League of Women Voters. I have also volunteered at a free medical clinic.

I have been supporting civil rights for minorities since the late 60's. I don't mind being called a racist anymore because I have such good company with people like the Clintons, Geraldine Ferraro and every other person who has opposed Obama (including some black "Uncle Toms").

It is great that Obama has been a black activist. He should be proud of that. But it does NOT give him experience with the AMERICAN MIDDLE CLASS which is PREDOMINATELY non-black.

Black people account for about 12% of a diverse American population. Urban blacks even less. They are disproportionately poor and unemployed. They are NOT typical of middle class America.

They pay a disproportionately small share of federal taxes and receive a dispropotionate share of welfare funds. Because of these facts, the priorities of the black urban population are different from those of the average middle class voter.

I know that facts are now politically incorrect unless used to support Obama. Because I am not black, I am a racist if I mention race. So be it.

Right Susan.

You are just like all the other Democrats who are voting for McCain. If you were a real Democrat you would be supporting Obama because of the policies. Rather than support him for that, you support a guy who has fought against your proffered policy positions for his entire career. Either you are lying about your true political affiliation or you are blinded by Racism.

My My Susan C Did I hit a sore spot questioning your affiliation ?? give me a break you are a Republican, and your initial comment earlier this afternoon is in line with the GOP. kudos if you do volunteer, dont wear out the word disproportionately the urban blacks and the real democrats might not know what it means . Do the right thing vote for your Party. Go Obama !!!!!

Wow, another truth denier. So many on the right.

Obama didnt talk about his past because he was busy talking about how he is going to solve all the problems caused by the Republican party over the last 8 years. All McCain could talk about is how he is a war hero. Being a war hero is great, and I have all the respect in the world for him, but that does not mean he knows jack @!$%# about running a country. And that came out quite obviously last night when he didnt mention a single thing that he would do to produce this "change" he keeps talking about. In fact I dont quite know how he can run on a platform of change when we agrees with 90% of the decisions that have been made over the last 8 years. I am so glad that half of our country can be so easily duped into voting for someone because he has military background. People - stop listening to what you hear on tv and on the radio, inform yourselves before you walk into the voters booth and vote like the sheep that you have become.

The American govt. has spent a TON of money, but not on the economy. It has spent all this money on an oil war and padding the pockets of the rich.

I'm a Democrat, but there is nothing that could make me vote Democratically if Gore had been in office for the past 8 years and had ruined things as badly as Bush. I simply do not understand why anyone would hold on that strongly to any political party.

If I had been of voting age, I would have probably voted for Reagan over Carter, because Carter was terrible. Bush was absolutely TERRIBLE and the country needs to try something different.

Obama's past has been televised on cnn, msnbc & tv one. you guys must have missed it.

Paul: How in the world does a government spend money "on the economy"? How would you describe WHERE you are spending it? Whose economy?

There is no such thing as "the economy" where you can dump tax dollars and fix everything. That is what is wrong with this current Democratic Party. You try to make things so simplistic.

Yea its so much better to spend all our government money on government contracts that just happen to benefit the people who spend the money. Hmm something seems wrong here.

McCain needs to get a 'little man'.

There are so many things wrong about your whole screed that it's impossible to find a place to start. One would have to write a reply 10 or 15 times as long just to touch on some of the more obvious points where you're just plain wrong. It's not worth the effort so I think it's best to leave it stand on it's own so thinking people can marvel at just how twisted it really is. A true work of some kind of right wing art.

Every other civilized coutry in the world has government healthcare and higher taxes for the rich. Not taking care of people when they are sick is barbaric and to me un-American.

If you are one of the few people that complains about your taxes being raised, then you are also among the top 1% of the richest people in the world. Do you really feel entitled to this degree of wealth, and do you not think that it makes you obligated to help those less fortunate than you?

Should I refuse to help pay for a sick person to get well simply because they don't have a job?

Somebody who makes 5 million dollars a year should have everything they want in their lives. If not, your priorities are way out of whack.

Every major city in this country has a county hospital. Do you guys really want the government regulating healthcare? Are you serious?

The statement that every major country has government mandated healthcare is rather broad. Are we talking about the countries that can't afford their own defense here?

Should I refuse to help pay for a sick person to get well simply because they don't have a job?

You can donate as much of your time or money as you'd like. What you shouldn't do is expect the working class to take care of the people who spend all day on the internet blogging and lose their jobs.

While the government does not CREATE jobs, it does create the environment FOR jobs.

Bill Clinton understood this.

The current Republican Environment benefits no one but the rich and the corporations. They dance around, spout blame the employees, rape the country and are rewarded for it on both ends - real estate speculators anyone? How about car manufacturers?

It's time for a government of, by, and for the people. You will not get that with McCain and you may not get it with Obama, but me? I'll take my chances with the dems.

I got sick once in Italy and went to the ER and received amazing healthcare there for free. We don't have the best healthcare in the world.

My father is COO of a hospital and is appaled by what is happening to the American healthcare system. I'm a capitalist, but hospitals should NOT be run like business corporations.

Privatizing everything is not the answer to providing the best care for our sick. A lot of good, hardworking people are losing their jobs.

Western Europe has better healthcare, lower crime, and lower poverty than America. DaRrO, if you are concerned about your taxes being raised, then you are one of the richest people in the world and are not working class. You are affluent or rich.

you are one of the richest people in the world and are not working class. You are affluent or rich.

How did you know? I have 285 bucks in savings! :)

I'm not right or left, for clarification's sake.

I've been in companies where every year our health insurance rate was impacted by the frequency of co-workers hospital or doctor visits. Since I am personally one who will endure a lot of pain before going to the doctor, I hate to see people run and get antibiotics every time they get the sniffles. I'm sort've visualizing a situation where every hospital becomes a county hospital environment. Though I'm far from being an elite, I don't think that's how this should work.

Part of being healthy is maintaining a lifestyle conducive to good health. If I smoke cigarettes for fifty years and get cancer, wouldn't you say "I saw that coming."?

I smoke, by the way.

I'm going to get beaned for this, but if the day comes where I'm faced with death or surgery I can't afford because of my choices, I will have to accept death. At some point we are all cars and it is incumbent on us to change our own oil and perform our own maintenance.

Psychotropics, cosmetic, dental, and things like that? I mean, where do we draw the line on what is the government's responsibility?

To care for the poor should not be imposed by force, (especially govt. force). If so there will as there are most who play the system and give nothing in return. Work for food or die. Hard-hearted? Offensive to bleeding hearts? Probably. I work for $7.00/hr, as a night clerk, so bite me with your rich assumptions. I created businesses that did well for a while, then crashed for various reasons, most of them of my own inexperience. I don't go running to big momma, with my hand out, I do what I can to survive on my own. I cut back on EVERYTHING, selling my non-essential objects and lowering my standard of living until I, get that? I can successfully learn from my mistakes and rise again. Not cry like a little baby, refusing to work for any job not paying me what astronomical amount I think I am worth, while waiting for my govt. check. Like I said, that the kind of life you want? Vote democrat. I choose to be grateful this Great Country hasn't been raped enough by marixist policies to allow me to succeed, or fail, on my own. It's not all on Dems, but is is on the usual suspects inside the beltway and inbedded in all the governments, township, borough, county, state... It's the government that we all are voting for that we deserve. Some make poor choices in life, others sit back and let the government make their poor choices for them. You know which side you are on.

Agreed, the obese American slobs will make universal healthcare a significant problem. People are over-medicating, mostly because drug companies convince people that pills will solve their problems.

Drug companies are profit based companies and make money convincing people they are sick. Sometimes they are, but sometimes they are just being lazy Americans.

However, nobody should worry about losing their home because they get sick.

I don't think anyone would want cosmetic surgery and most dentistry to be free. Those are luxuries.

While the government does not CREATE jobs, it does create the environment FOR jobs.

Bill Clinton understood this

Bill Clintonworked with republican congress to get real welfare reform and put people back to work. Bill Clinton Balanced a budget and reduced deficit spending.

Obama's plan creates a larger deficit and hurts business which is where jobs come from.

Ending the Capital Gains tax on small businesses (where 80% of jobs in the US come from) hurts American business and jobs?

Wow...

Ending the Capital Gains tax on small businesses (where 80% of jobs in the US come from) hurts American business and jobs?

There is a differnce between a SMALL Busineess (10 million a year) and a "small" business. The mom and pop restaurants, drycleaners cafes, coffeshops arent incoporated as an S corp. They are in that 102-250 a year range. Many small business owners are "self employed"

Senator Obama would end the Social Security payroll tax cap for those over $250,000 in earnings. (The cap is currently set at $102,000.) These individuals will then face a tax rate of 15.65 percent from payroll taxes and the top income tax rate of 39.6 percent for a combined top rate of over 56 percent on each additional dollar earned. People in that 102,000.00 to 250,000.00 are often small business owners who have 1-2 employees. We could expect a significant job loss in entry level positions and retail' salesperson" type jobs

Obama is proposing a "shell game" all he does is shift the taxes from one place to another! The small business owner will still be paying them.

You're welcome.

He has outlined it pretty well as of late. Return to Clinton-level taxes and decrease spending of the corporate oil war in Iraq. Invest in energy that comes from America's soil and cannot be outsourced.

Dick C gave Halliburton a no-bid contract to provide services to US troops in the Middle East. My friend just got back from Iraq and told me that Haliburton charges the US $27 per soldier for a breakfast of cereal, eggs, and OJ. That is an absolute raping.

If we get these corporate slobs out of office, we could significantly cut the costs of the war in Iraq. 10 billion a month could probably be reduced by at least 30% if we opened up opportunities to companies other than Cheney's (the GOP's) buddies.

Hmmm....what I meant on 16.1 was if you check out Obama's website you'll see his plan for the economy. You're welcome. I guess this makes a bit more sense.

Here's the link

Obama/Biden Plan to Strengthen the Economy

Thanks Meloney for actually providing something substantive to talk about. I'd love to see more policy-based discussion here at NV vs. all the smearing going on. So, in that spirit here are just a few of my concerns with some of the points from the link you provided.

Enact a Windfall Profits Tax to Provide a $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebate to American Families

My problem with this is that we're already paying unbelievably high costs for energy, and this solution just adds another layer of cost to the stack. Won't oil companies simply treat that as a cost of business and pass it right back to the consumer?

Obama will cut income taxes by $1,000 for working families to offset the payroll tax they pay.

This doesn't make sense to me and just seems like pandering really. Why have the tax in the first place if you're going to offset it? If he really wants to be fair, he should eliminate the self-employment tax which forces millions of self-employed people to pay double the amount other people pay while receiving no additional benefit.

Eliminate Income Taxes for Seniors Making Less than $50,000

Again, this just seems like pandering. Why should one group of people be exempt from income taxes because of their age? If he said, people between the ages of 37 and 46 should be exempt, would that make any more sense?

Simplify Tax Filings for Middle Class Americans

I like this idea in theory, and I'd advocate generally for a much different model if we were going for a major overhaul of the tax system. however, this could have the ironic outcome of costing thousands of jobs. $2 billion in tax preparer fees pays for an awful lot of salaries.

Enact a Windfall Profits Tax to Provide a $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebate to American Families

Does ANYONE really think that the Oil companies will just say OK we wil pay higher taxes? If you want to know where that 1000.00 will come from just go look at your IRA, 401K or pension plan. See how much energy stock is there in those investment fund groups. Oil comnpanies will make less 'profit".

Less profit=smaller dividend. Smaller divident=less money in your retirement account

Obama is simply taking money you would have had in your retirement plan and giving it to you. The differnce is that money would have drawn interest for 20-30 yrs until you retrired.

Obama TOTALLY IGNORS the fact that "Big Oil" is one of the largest investors in Wind, clean coal and alternative energy companies. So cut Oil company profits they cut investment in alternative energy and research. Also dont you think Oil compainies will cut jobs or be less inclined to increase their payroll? Sure they will.

Obama tell you what he KNOWS you want to hear because he know the average American Isnt Smart Enough to understand basic economics.

He is GIVING you your OWN retirement money with this Energy Credit People!

If it was pandering, he would be making a bigger deal about it at his stump speeches.

If it was pandering, he would be making a bigger deal about it at his stump speeches.

That's some flawed logic if I ever saw it. And I think he talks about this stuff plenty.

not really. how do you pander with out actually pandering? Consider the audience that reads his positions. It is far smaller than those he talks to on a daily basis.

how do you pander with out actually pandering?

Well don't forget, he is a very talented politician. If anyone can figure out how to do something without actually doing it, I'm sure he'll lead the way in not doing nothing.

I'm from Chicago. Obama has lived in an area of Chicago that is one of the most diverse places in the country. His neighborhood has people from all different economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds.

McCain lives in a wealthy white suburb and Palin is from the unbelievably diverse state of ALASKA. They can really relate all different types of Americans.

Bill Gates and W Buffet support Obama and will be giving the largest charitable contribution the world has ever seen. Dems can be very giving too.

Gates also agrees that higher income earners should pay more taxes. He's also for instituting an income tax in Washington state.

Just to clarify,

The economy was pretty much in the tank before 2006. I think it is funny how Republicans get amnesia.

Yeah, I agree. Obama doesn't pander, he speaks with enthusiasm. It must be because he actually speaks his own words, and not the words of a speechwiriter.

Why has that fathers' jobs gone overseas? My bet is the governmental rules & regulations toward such things as pollution control and high, rape the rich business owner's taxes. I don't agree with what Bush has done to this country, and his loose purse strings. He is as much the problem as the rest. Govt. bailout, be it for the welfare state or the investment banker is still a bailout. You want compassion, go join a church. They will care for the truly needy, it's NOT govts. job. FDR, that idiot is who started this group think with his "great society" boondoggle, along with the social security scheme that would make Ponzi red with jealousy. Then he sacrifices our men in Pearl Harbor to get the citizen's to jump on board! We've been swirling the drain ever since.

Chicken, why do you and your conservatives hate government so much? It's fascinating to me that conservatives hate government's involvement in business matters. Guess who got a bailout today. AIG (American International Group). How many conservatives are crying now.

Chicken, I think your argument is falling on its face. I actually do belong to a church, but not one taken hostage by Pharisees (hypocrites). Again, with regards to your hate for FDR. This president exercise tremendous leadership. He did what Bush and McCain can't do successfully. He won a war and he created jobs. Oh, he got us out of the depression, remember. Give me a major accomplishment for Bush? Oh, my brother, you can't. Let me help you a litany of failure.

1. There has been a net loss of American jobs
2. We are still fighting an unnecessary war in Iraq
3. Spending 12 billion a month for that Unnecessary War
4. Millions have lost their homes
5. Presided over the worst economy since the great depression (to be continued)
6. Provided the biggest bailout for banks in U.S. History
7. Failed to heed warning of "imminent attack" prior to 9-1-1
8. President of torture
9. Politicized government to win elections
10. Incompetence exercised following one of the nation's worst disasters.

Bonus: Government actually expanded more under Bush than under Clinton.

The bonus has been fact checked. Take a look.

God bless you,

Where do I begin with your ignorant comeback? Let's see:
1. FDR set up the Navy to be attacked in Pearl Harbor to get the Americans to be incensed enough to jump into war against the Japanese in the first place.
2. FDR died before the end of the war. Truman won the war.Open a real history book sometimes.
3. Lost jobs are a fact of life, employment for life is not a Right, last time I checked the Bill of Rights. 4.If giving the Iraqis a chance at democracy is unneccessary then try living in Cuba.
5. Most people that lost their homes shouldn't have been approved for the loans & knew they couldn't afford it when they signed the papers. (Responsibility for their own ignorant actions comes to mind, but that don't compute liberally). Again owning a home is not in Bill of Rights.
6. Maybe if St. bill klinton didn't force the banks to give loans to sub-prime applicants, they wouldn't need bailed out.
7. If the usual suspects in the clinton administration didn't create firewalls against CIA/FBI sharing information, a pattern of the planned attack could have been detected and thwarted. Plus, If clinton didn't let bin laden go more than once, the attack wouldn't have been put into action in the first place.
8. I'm all for torture if it saves American lives.
9. Politicized Govt.? Last I checked, your liberals were in power of Congress and screwing it up very well.
10. What?
Bonus: Do you mean with a democratic run congress as opposed to a Republican Congress under klinton?
I stand by my original statement, You want compassion, Go to Church.
Thank You for your Blesssing, if it were up to jerimiah wright, you know, the guy that led obama's spiritual life for 20 years, all of us Americans should be damned.

Spill let's not talk about history because Palin was a fetus when Obama was walking. Also let me go ahead and stop you on the "executive experience" crap, because that term didn't exist before when many people running with backgrounds very similar to Obama were running. Now we've got this "executive experience" being used by a woman who is managing a state with fewer people in it than most southern high schools.

Here's Obama's resume:

Education
Undergraduate

Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate, 1981-1983

Columbia University
B.A. Political Science with specialization in international relations
Thesis topic: Soviet nuclear disarmament
Graduate

Harvard Law School
J.D. magna cum laude 1988-1991

President, Harvard Law Review
Organizing and other work experience

* 1983-1984 Writer/Researcher for Business International Corporation. Helped companies understand overseas markets in the "Financing Foreign Operations" service and wrote for the "Business International Money Report"

* 1984-1985 Community Organizer for New York Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), promoting personal, community, and government reform at City College in Harlem.

* 1985-1988 Director of the Developing Communities Project (DCP), a church-based community organization originally comprising eight Catholic parishes in Greater Roseland on Chicago's South Side. While director grew the DCP staff from 1 to 13 and their budget from $70,000 to $400,000.

* 1992 Led Chicago's Project Vote! push. This effort resulted in a record number of voter registrations, over 600,000 in Chicago. 1)

Teaching

* 1993-2004 Visiting Law and Government Fellow, then Senior Lecturer, in Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School. Taught courses on the due process and equal protection areas of constitutional law, on voting rights, and on racism and law. Helped develop a casebook on voting rights.

Law Practice

* 1993-2002 Worked as an associate attorney with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Represented non-profits and private individuals in urban development projects, voting rights cases, and wrongful firings. Filed major suit that forced the state of Illinois to enforce the Motor Voter Law and successfully argued a wrongful firing case before the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Illinois Senate 1996-2004

* chairman, Health and Human Services Committee * Spearheaded a successful bipartisan effort in Illinois to pass the broadest ethics-reform legislation by any state in 25 years, and also gained bipartisan support for his successful bills reforming death penalty interrogations and ending racial profiling by police. Worked with the Republican-led effort to reform welfare

*Transparency Act of 2006, requiring full online disclosure of all entities receiving federal funds, and the bipartisan Lugar-Obama Cooperative Proliferation Detection, Interdiction Assistance, and Conventional Threat Reduction Act of 2006, deepening non-proliferation work with WMD and including surface-to-air missiles, land mines, and other weapons that may be used by terrorists

* Barack Obama has introduced nearly 300 bills during his time in the U.S. Senate, and cosponsored close to 1,000 others.

Sponsored Bill Statistics

* Number of sponsored bills: 65 * Number of sponsored bills passed: 0

* Number of co-sponsored bills 364 * Number of co-sponsored bills passed: 5

United States Senate 2004-present

* Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee * Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs * Member, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions * Member, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs * Member, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs * Shares responsibility for the bipartisan Coburn-Obama Federal Funding Accountability and

Now you're gonna tell me all he did was do some community organizing......... STOP HUFFING PAINT.... if you are going to debate at least be honest.

1992 Led Chicago's Project Vote! push. This effort resulted in a record number of voter registrations, over 600,000 in Chicago

Project Vote is associated with ACORN which is under investigation in many states for Voter fraud and they have been convicted in several states already Acorn was invoolved in a 1 million dollar embezzlemt issue.

1993-2002 Worked as an associate attorney with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Represented non-profits and private individuals in urban development projects, voting rights cases, and wrongful firings. Filed major suit that forced the state of Illinois to enforce the Motor Voter Law and successfully argued a wrongful firing case before the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The fact that Obama was an attorney with a small Chicago law firm , Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland, at one point that helped Rezmar ( Tony Rezkos company) get more than $43 million in government funding to rehab 15 of their 30 apartment buildings for the poor. Tony Rezko was a close friend , advisor and campaign funbdraiser for Obama raising 250,000.00 for him.Obama, who has worked as a lawyer and a legislator to improve living conditions for the poor, took campaign donations from Rezko even as Rezko's low-income housing empire was collapsing, leaving many African-American families in buildings riddled with problems -- including squalid living conditions, vacant apartments, lack of heat, squatters and drug dealers. Rezko is being sentenced on 16 counts of influence peddling just 10 days before the election.

Illinois Senate 1996-2004

Obama launched his first campaign for the Illinois Senate saying he wanted to "empower disenfranchised citizens".

Obama began his Political career by challenging hundreds of signatures on the nominating petitions of state Sen. Alice Palmer, the longtime progressive activist from the city's South Side. They kept challenging petitions until every one of Obama's four Democratic primary rivals was forced off the ballot. While "technically legal" to challenge voter signature, this same process was used by White Politicians to keep Black candidates off ballots in southern states.

Obama voted against a bill that involved restrictions on a type of abortion where the fetus sometimes survives, occasionally for hours. The restrictions, which never became law, included requiring the presence of a second doctor to care for the fetus. Abortion opponents see Obama's vote on medical care for aborted fetuses as a refusal to protect the helpless. Some have even accused him of supporting infanticide.

Obama also voted Voted AGAINST making gang members eligible for the death penalty if they kill someone to help their gang in 2001

United States Senate 2004-present

Obama's applying for over 740 million dollars of earrmarks. The most controversial being a 1 million dollar earmark for his wifes hospital which is a serious conflict of interest issues

Secure $1.3 million for a high-explosive technology program for the Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The program was overseen by General Dynamics, and one of Obama's top supporters, James Crown — a member of Obama's national finance committee — serves on the board of General Dynamics.

Obama also secured a $750,000 earmark for renovation of a space center named for Crown's grandfather, Henry Crown, at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

And Obama secured several million dollars for a project at Chicago State University. Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones Jr., a close personal friend of Obama and one of his benefactors, has been a strong supporter of Chicago State, according to the Chicago Sun Times.

Obama has a "impressive resume" as a typical corrupt politician'!

Um what did I say about lying....let me take the time to go point by point.

1. First Obama did not help Rezko obtain 43 million dollars.... Obama wasn't involved with that AT ALL... If he was don't you think he would be under investigation??? How much sense does that make???? He's going to run for president but not be investigated for fraud... like I said stop lying. Lying always sounds good because it' NOT true.

2.

Tony Rezko was a close friend , advisor and campaign funbdraiser for Obama raising 250,000.00 for him.

Wrong again sounds good doesn't it..$250,000. Try $10,000 and that was given to charity.
3.

Obama also voted Voted AGAINST making gang members eligible for the death penalty if they kill someone to help their gang in 2001

I'm against the death penalty for a variety of reasons. I'm glad you religious right people appreciate the sanctity of life.
4. This one is funny because you righties love being big ole hypocrites.

Secure $1.3 million for a high-explosive technology program for the Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The program was overseen by General Dynamics, and one of Obama's top supporters, James Crown — a member of Obama's national finance committee — serves on the board of General Dynamics.

Let's look at military backers of John McCain...
Blackwater
Lockheed Martin
Northrop Grumman/EADS

That's just a few ... there's many many more. Your little figure of 1 mil is peanuts compared to these guys.

4.

Obama also secured a $750,000 earmark

I hate to tell you this, but since you don't know. You do realize that Sarah Palin was going after the two "bridges to nowhere" for 400 million dollars right??? That's also what we call an earmark.

So like I said before lying always sounds better... it's MADE UP FICTION . You're a good story teller though thinking of writing the next Harry Potter?? I think you could add some depth of make believe.

Now you're gonna tell me all he did was do some community organizing......... STOP HUFFING PAINT.... if you are going to debate at least be honest.

I never said that all Obama did was act as a community organizer. I simply singled it out because I wanted to point out that I applaud him for his time spent in that role. As for honesty, I do not believe I said anything that was untrue. In fact, your account of Obama's history actually made my point for me. Of all the bills he has personally authored in the U.S. Senate, not a single one of them has become law. Granted, McCain has had much more time in the Senate to get legislation passed, which further proof of his experience being more significant than Obama's.

I agree that honesty is a key element in any true debate, and that includes not putting words in other people's mouth. Making your own argument is more constructive than misrepresenting mine.

Ok this is what you said the previous post...

His public life however, both in Illinois and in Washington is full of little else than speeches. He has not authored one significant piece of legislation that made an impact..

How am I putting words in your mouth??? You said he did nothing else but make speeches and that's not true.... so let's call it what it is..... LYING...

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included

1. Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law,
2. Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became law,
3. Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
4. 2007 Government Ethics Bill, became law,
5. Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee, and many more.

I would say that's pretty constructive No?? So like I said no one has to put words in your mouth your lack of ability to read and understand English speaks for itself because when your selective hearing / eyesight isn't kicking in your readiness to lie sure is.

* Barack Obama has introduced nearly 300 bills during his time in the U.S. Senate, and cosponsored close to 1,000 others.

Sponsored Bill Statistics

* Number of sponsored bills: 65 * Number of sponsored bills passed: 0

* Number of co-sponsored bills 364 * Number of co-sponsored bills passed: 5

Although I continue to take issue with being told I am lying, I at least see where you are coming from. Of all the bills he has sponsored, not one has passed, and only 5 bills with his name on it have made it through. However, co-sponsoring a bill simply includes having your name put on it in exchange for trying to get others to vote for it...by giving speeches and having meetings with other members of Congress. So perhaps I should have added a series of categories reflecting what I believe counts as actually doing something significant. If such a list existed, I would say that while has has not been completely inactive, he still has not done very much of actual significance. Now, you would likely disagree, by pointing to the number of bills he authored. I wold counter that writing a bill is useless unless you can actually get it passed.

So like I said no one has to put words in your mouth your lack of ability to read and understand English speaks for itself because when your selective hearing / eyesight isn't kicking in your readiness to lie sure is.

Now, as I said, I am saying he did not do much, since I do not consider authoring legislation that doesn't go anywhere being that active in Congress. Yet, once again, instead of simply disagreeing with me, you accuse me of lying, despite the fact that all of the facts you supply would support both of our arguments, depending on how you define significant action. You and I are looking at the same data, and simply drawing different conclusions. I have no problem when someone disagrees with my argument, or fails to see whatever standards of logic I seem to be using. Accusing me of lying simply shows your inability to see two sides of an argument, which is the same kind of one-sided ignorance that most partisan politicos attribute to those who disagree with them. Nice.

President Bush and the Republican Congress for the first 6 years increased Federal Spending by 50 Percent.

On President Bush's Watch, Record Surpluses Turned into Record Deficits. President Bush inherited a unified budget surplus of $236 billion, the largest surplus in American history, Thanks to a Democratic President.

The Bush Administration took these surpluses, and turned them into the three largest deficits in US history, including reaching a record of $413 billion in 2004.

Kinda hard to clean up this huge mess in 2 years that it took the Republican Party 6 years to screw up.

But don't worry "Change" is coming and I'm not talking about coming from the Johnny come lately change Agent John McCain.