Which candidate has the best policy for solving America's economic problems?

Absolutely.

The same old tired Republican "they'll raise taxes" line is totally phony. The Facts are in this independent analysis of both candidates tax plans. Not only do they show what their published plans will do to America but this analysis shows what the candidates claim in their stump speeches.

Obama is clear an honest about his his economic plan. He probably helped write it. If you make less than $111,000 a year you will see a tax decrease under Obama's plan.

McCain is absolutely clueless, he panders to the crowd and makes claims that his plan doesn't even include. McCain believes people making $5 million a year are in the middle class and they deserve a tax break. While according to his published plan people making less than $111,000 will pay more taxes.

An Updated Analysis of the 2008 Presidential Candidates' Tax Plans

Obama cares about the middle class because not only was he raised by his mother who taught him to put himself in the shoes of others, but also because he was raised in a middle class home, and at times in his life, lower middle class. His story of graduating at the top of his class from Harvard of all places, which he payed for through loans and odd jobs, only for him to go back to Chicago for little pay, to help the less fortunate, rather than taking a high paying job. People who really care, those who not only sympathize, but can empathize, they make for the type of politician who will work their butts off to get this economy back on track. Obama is looking toward rewarding the 90+% of the population for our hard work, though people on the "right" interprets it as taking money from the hardworking to give to the lazy. When in fact the poorest of Americans, usually work the hardest jobs, if not 2 or 3 at a time.

McCain's proposals are meant to keep this the same, geared toward protecting that 5% of the population. He wants to make Bush tax cuts permanent. I guess we are expected to continue to wait for that "trickle down" thing the Republicans have been suggesting would come.. Anyone who can say that the economy is in crisis, yet fundamentally strong, first of all, doesn't know what the he!! he's talking about because the two seem to contradict each other, but besides that he is also is out of touch with reality. The fact that only later this year did he begin to acknowledge that the economy is not working for the lot of us, shows he has no foresight in these issues. As he stated in trying to puff up Palin's record, something to the effect of as a senator it's hard for him to relate to the issues of everyday people while busy yelling over legislation. Not only does that point out that he's a horrible senator due the fact that's exactly what he's supposed to be voting on behalf of, everyday people in his state.

Below is the best description of the differences between the tax plans I've seen:

[replace * with .]
go to freakonomics*blogs*nytimes*com/2008/09/16/competing-tax-plans-two-perspectives/#more-3083

In fact, independent groups such as the Tax Policy Center have concluded that FOUR OUT OF FIVE U.S. households WOULD RECEIVE TAX CUTS UNDER
OBAMA'S PROPOSALS.
McSame on the other had, WHO HIMSELF ADMITTED"[t]he issue of ECONOMICS IS NOT SOMETHING I'VE UNDERSTOOD as well as I should" and said that THE ECONOMY IS STRONG has shown time and time again he just doesn't understand the challenges confronting the American people. Asked this week what short-term relief he would offer, ALL HE CAN COME UP WITH IS MAKING BUSH'S BUDGET-BUSTING TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY PERMANENT IN 2010 -nearly two years from now. Not only are the Bush TAX CUTS SKEWED TO THE WEALTHY, AS MCCAIN HIMSELF ARGUED IN 2001 and 2003, but McCain has refused to explain HOW WILL HE PAY FOR the never-ending war in Iraq while making Bush's tax cuts permanent. Together, they would cost $6.3 TRILLION over 10 years.

Picking a VP for the most important job in the nation is a major test for each candidate! It's a telling task that characterizes what each nominee offers to a nation that has gone from a wealthy great union to a broken divisive ghost in just eight years!

Obama picked Joe Biden for VP, an excellent needed addition as Biden is an
expert on foreign affairs and the economy!

Mccain choose vanity over substance… Mcain choose novelty over experience… There are least 50 –80 more acceptable and viable conservatives available for the VP job!

The nation is starving for intelligent leaders, people with the wisdom that will select the best advisers and cabinet available! The democrats will do this hands down. The GOP had its chances and they showed their hand- their derelict policies have paved the way for monopolies / deregulation thus creating the current crisis!

The "Saving and Loan" scandal, the "Suprime, mortgage and banking industry meltdown" have GOP/John McCcain written all over these collapses!

It is the job of the federal government to provide oversight to protect its citizens from corruption, greed and inadequacy. This are crucial issues that the GOP and John McCain have never grasped! A. Greenspan and several other financial experts are coming out of the closet. What they are saying is simple, "the nation can't afford any more of John McCain/George Bush fiscal management/mismanagement! Enough! Read and listen to the experts/politicians and leave denial on the doorstep!

What is incredibly astonishing to me is that even after John McCain clearly demonstrated with his statements that not only he does not know about the economy but that also does not understand the fundamentals that regulate it, the US pools including the gallup still indicate that he may be ahead of Senator Obama…What is going on????

Is America still so racist?

I love this country too much to believe that, but still…too much is too much!

Obama's "class warfare, raise taxes on hard-working Americans" plan will only sink the economy further.

Well, the democratic rhetoric has the US citizenry scared and paranoid. That is the problem. I keep hearing HOPE is coming, but not sure what to put my hope in?

Unemployment rate, although higher since Dems took control of congress and won several gubernatorial races, is still lower than Europe and Japan (two key competitors in global market.)

Inflation lower than Europe and Japan. Although, again up since Dems took control.

McCain outlined a PLAN of streamlined regulation rather than de regulation.

Another KEY INDICATOR is individual worker output is steady.

You wonder why McCain/Palin are up in the polls. Maybe middle America is not as "dumb" as you left wing liberals were hoping.

excuse me? You want to come take a peek at my checkbook? And to say I must be destitute then is just the sort of thinking of the GOP. We are NOT better off then we were in 2000, only someone with BLINDERS on, or a trust fund which I suspect you may have, would think that.

Are YOU really that uninformed?

WOW, to even make that statement shows your are only looking at the TV ads. It has been seen that Obama's plan will reduce taxes for people who make under 250,000 a year. Thats right, if you make more then that then you should vote for McCain, otherwise the rest of us or the 95% of American who make less will benifit from Obama

If any of you had bothered to watch NBC News with Brian Williams last week there was a comparison of Obama's and McCain's tax cuts and how they REALLY would affect families in different income levels. The BIG LOSER again is the middle class. The only family that would truly benefit from either side's tax cuts was the family earning the least that pay no taxes......BUT...get a refund? (refund means get money back....why does ANYONE get a refund if they have not paid taxes?) Why not do something to reduce expenses such as our electric bills, grocery bills, work with insurance companies to lower premiums. Why not have a flat tax rate for EVERYONE? The money saved by eliminating the "government regulationS AND tax collections" alone would save millions of dollars. Talk about wasting money! That way everyone wins. Less money out on expenses means more money in the pockets of Americans. ANYONE that can read can surely understand that More Government means MORE taxes......SIMPLE! And PLEASE don't cast your vote based on the promise of government paid "Health Insurance" GOOGLE IT PEOPLE! Every country that has implemented this is B-R-O-K-E. How are THEY going to pay for it?????? People have to wait MONTHS for EMERGENCY CANCER surgery! Please research before you vote. Don't listen to me or the media.....READ....READ....READ!

John McCain took $84 million from the U.S. Treasury to run his campaign — mostly, it seems, to air silly attack ads about sex education for toddlers or lies about tax plans that even Karl Rove said had gone to far. (Karl Rove!)
Barack Obama, as the first major candidate to turn away this sort of public funding, takes $0. He raises his own money from people who want to support him.
I'm afraid McCain doesn't have much of a leg to stand on when it comes to waxing indignant about people irresponsibly using taxpayer money for their own gain.

Stupid writes as stupid thinks, unimpressed and gop gen, I not going to tell you how silly and misinformed you both are. It's clear that your either brainwashed or just stupid, anyway there no help for your kind it people like yourselves who put this country in the mess it's in are ready to do it again, may God help America if we let your kind do it again.

Yeah McCain to money from the treasury to promote getting away from special interest. The same thing Obama promised till he got a better deal. Now Obama just owes a lot favors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yyc32ciiGs&eurl=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/16/fiorina-palin-couldnt-do_n_126827.html

I'm tired of McCain whining about these town hall meetings. Obama offered to do THREE, and the McCain camp turned him down. Wouldn't three be better than zero if McCain was so set on having these meetings?

It's a poor and illogical excuse for his dishonorable behavior. He's just trying to equivocate.

I am so sick of people like rich conservatives (Limbaugh, Hannity), plus a couple of the idiots i read above, trying to tell me that the economy is growing and I'm not as broke as I think I am. Great! the economy grew by 3%, but unfortunately I and those around me are not reaping those benefits, people I know are going into debt, some facing foreclosure, some losing their jobs due to cutbacks, and you know, I didn't drive 20 minutes to school with my tank on E for fun! You wanna keep repeating stupid talking points and technical definitions to see if the economy is in decent condition or not, go right ahead. But the more intelligent and rational people are able to simply observe the foreclosures, unemployment, 50 year old businesses going bankrupt, wall street practically crashing, the U.S. borrowing money from China, etc, etc. to make that assessment. But hey, you probably think all of that is some liberal conspiracy.

That's why John McCain should not be allowed to "reform" our economy. He has the same mindset of his supporters and his economic adviser who said we are "whiners" to complain about not being able to afford things we used to be able to afford. The McCain camp pretends they believe we are in a crisis, but we remember the truth, they think we're in a mental recession. How idiotic these right wingers can be.

What's sad though is that besides the right wingers that will vote in decent numbers, It's really gonna be those persons who agree with Obama's policies, but are too afraid to confront/challenge their prejudices, and too ignorant to allow themselves to vote for a black person, that's who's gonna help McCain win. And as I've said previously if we end up in 4-5 wars, let their children and grandchildren be the first persons drafted.

UnimpressedInOregon

look dummy, We weren't better then either, want to blame congress guess what there republicans too 52-49 majority only, so what can democrats do when republicans filibuster and bush vettos, you do need 60 to ovveride him, get facts get then come back again

It goes far deeper than that. I have studied the economy for a long time and having been a daytrader for a time, I have a unique perspective. The trickle down economy only works for a short period of time. The trick is to keep up cash flow in the marketplace. You cannot keep cash moving through the market if it is all in the hands of the wealthy. The bottom line is that you have to examine the economic health of each particular strata within the class structure in America and make your tax policy accordingly. The trickle down worked so well for Reagan because he did not use it for long. After a time he throttled it back. He realized that after the seventies you needed to concentrate capital for investment. If you do it too long then what happens is the top echelon will keep the money and invest it thereby getting richer and richer while the poor get poorer. The investment becomes this vampiric noose around everyones neck. You have to ease taxes at some point on the lower echelons and grease the wheels of the economy. Bush almost had the right idea, but he didn't quite understand. To get the effect he wants he has to reduce taxes on lower incomes until wages stabilize and the median American way of life is not in jeopardy any more. You also have to leave the same or increase taxes on the super wealthy. Face it they aren't going to feel the effects as much. I mean too bad you had to buy a Lexus instead of that Bentley. There is more too it than that. The Republican party would never allow John McCain to regulate the market place. That will never happen. This is the reason we have a two party system in the first place. Dems and Repubs may not like it but they in fact need one another. If you go too long without a Democrat in office the country and the economy will get sicker and sicker for the aforementioned reasons. Repubs want money in the hands of a few. Go too far and bingo whammo you arrive where we are now. Interestingly Bush was like a super Repub it usually takes longer to bring a country from slot number one to its knees. I don't know if you would call that an effective stupid person or maliciously dumb but there it is. WE NEED REGULATION Democrats are the only ones that are really capable nobody in the Republican party would ever regulate Wall Street. McCain doesn't know what he is talking about. His advisor all think we are faking it or whining or some such crap. Not very good economists in my opinion, but I guess if the republicans pay enough money they can get someone to say anything or maybe they'll just say anything to win.

Hey colokid and RepublicanGeneration. Personally I think you guys are reaching a little over your pay grade. If you guys would like to contribute something to the adult conversation then bring us some adult facts or at least say something that makes some sense. One sentence putting down Dems does nothing for Republicans. If you want to do something for Republicans then get your facts straight and list how McCain is going to actually fix the economy. I'm not saying you guys are dumb quite to the contrary. I'm suggesting you might be intelligent. Prove it to me. You want people to vote for McCain give us something actual and factual. Try though to come up with something a little better than trickle down and a 9/11 witch hunt commission. We all know that McCain says that but even Republican senate insiders are whispering to themselves that they would never allow one of their own to bite the hand that feeds.

You have more faith in their intelligence than I do. Time and time again, we see Republican supporters unwilling to talk about the issues or apply rational thought to what needs to be done to turn this country around. No logical person can conclude that to continue the policies of the past 8 years is going to turn things around, and that's exactly what John McCain wants to do. At some point, you have to conclude that it's time to try a different course. "Trickle down economics" DOESN'T work. It's been proven more than once.

Tom-286396 the problem is that for the most part the Republicans are economy dumb. The only one that even came close was Reagan, but like I said he used trickle down for half of his first term. Most people don't understand trickle down can only be used as a short term stimulus not a long term noose. GWB has been using it for too long. In the long term it kills growth and destroys the mid strata in the economy it is proven in practice and in theory. I find it very odd that otherwise intelligent economists have let the Republicans push it this far, but I guess it doesn't surprise me too much GWB was never one for sound advice from experts. I bet Sarah Palin would be like throwing gasoline on a fire. She wants to reform Wall Street. If I was on the floor now i would be shaking if i heard that. I mean its like run far and fast before old loony pants gets her hands on Wall Street its like putting the guy down the street in charge of nuclear weapons or something. The lady went through 6 schools to get a degree and now she thinks she is qualified to reform Wall Street. Good lord save us.

It sounds like the same old democratic lines; blame , blame, blame. If the Dems were so worried about the American people, as they always and loudly say, why didn't they DO something about it. They control the House and Senate, where Obama has supposedly worked for the past 3 years, yet nothing has come out of them except to blame Bush for everything wrong under the sun. The Dems have been stubborn and ignorant to the point where the country is collapsing. They would rather see us in the gutter than actually work with the Republican party. Remeber the 80's, when we had a Dem president, Dem controlled house and senate, who did they blame for the double digit interest rates? Oh, Reagan from the years before caused it. The Dems are never wrong and will give this country away rather than admit they made a mistake or concede there are other ways to do things other than their way!

Stop the BS folks. Most us know damn well Obama's proposal is more beneficial to us all. However, let get some McBush Straight Talk out there. Most of White America would rather the pain on the economy for 4 more years than have a Black president.

The bursting of the housing bubble and it's unfortunate side effects are a direct result of the federal reserve system and their money creation policies. The fed has been especially manipulative in the last decade, under BOTH the CLINTON AND BUSH administrations. People would love to turn the recent unsettling events into a partisan issue to use as politically ammunition, but the democrats and republicans are equally responsible, and they propose the same solution. The wrong solution. More regulations. Neither Obama nor McCain understand the federal reserve or the boom bust economy which it creates (see: Austrian Theory of the Business Cycle). As a matter of fact no politician in Washington understands the things, with the exceptio of Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, who accurately predicted this mess five years ago.

VOTE anything but McBAMA 08

And voting that way, what does it get you? You continue to look the way you do. As an angry independent that is stuck being angry cause you wasted your vote. Pick a side, and stop wasting time.

However old you are, there isn't enough time to elect any of your independent candidate. In any life time.

I find one of the most hilarious comments posted is about McCain voting 90% of the time "in line with Bush's policies" Last time I checked ALL of Congress is guilty of the same horrific voting record, oh yeah.... they usually vote lockstep on 90% of the bills that come up for a vote. This is just rhetoric, no content or substance in this point. It only holds weight in the minds of those simply washed. Another whopper is the "experience" argument, lets face it No one but an Incumbent President has the type of experience that any recruiter worth their weight in salt would accept. All anyone can ultimately fall back on regarding such an important decision is the "gut" feeling they get from the content of the candidates character and record ( if they have one) of how they respond when faced with tough decisions and crisis. I'll throw my chips in with a vet willing to go with conviction over party anytime. The Palin pick just solidified that McCain is still willing to snub the pundits and talking heads in favor of choosing a reformer (like him) over anyone in the good old boy network. Washington is in dire need of reform, and I highly doubt that Obama (recipient of the 2nd highest amout of campaign contributions from the corrupt freddie mack and fannie mae) chicago political machine man( you know thats clean), Acorn advocate (corruption), Ayers sweet deals (corruption), IS This type of stuff credible change ???

"WOW, to even make that statement shows your are only looking at the TV ads. It has been seen that Obama's plan will reduce taxes for people who make under 250,000 a year."

And that's a benefit how? Reduce taxes for us, and then tax the rich more and maintain the single highest corporate tax rate in the entire world.
So what happens from this? We see slightly lower taxes, but drastically increased costs and massive job loss. Who cares that he will lower taxes for the poor and middle class? If he saves you 2% in taxes, but increases your costs by 5%, you're STILL losing more money. I'd rather he just tax me more, at least then while we all suffer we could at least find jobs. The world record 35% corporate tax rate is already the single greatest contributor to outsourcing, how on earth would it be a good idea to increase executive income tax at the same time, do you really think losing all our jobs and seeing inflated prices would be ok as long as we see a marginal tax decrease on our incomes? Wow, that's wearing some seriously thick blinders. Waving a few dollars in front of your face so that you won't notice costs rising by more than those few measly dollars, the poor CANNOT afford the sort of tax policy Obama is proposing, he doesn't have to take directly from them to make them suffer. Think about long term results, not immediate gratification. Giving you five dollars is meaningless when they take ten in return. Even as they claim to have given you money, you're still losing five dollars.

"but unfortunately I and those around me are not reaping those benefits, people I know are going into debt, some facing foreclosure, some losing their jobs due to cutbacks, and you know, I didn't drive 20 minutes to school with my tank on E for fun!"

Yep, I know that one. Lived out of a car for quite a while, and my job is ending next month with no replacement found yet. This is why I DEFINITELY can't vote for Obama. I want to see more jobs being created here at home, but how can that happen from someone who wants to maintain the highest corporate tax in the world while increasing income tax for business executives? He's promoting a policy that practically forces greater outsourcing, job reductions, and increased consumer costs. I'm already losing my job soon, and I have to work three and a half hours from home, staying in a dump in one place and driving home to my fiance on weekends when I can actually afford to get there and back. I'm not reaping any benefits, and as long as we take so much from businesses, I won't see any benefits. I'm going into debt, I can't even afford or get approval for a house to worry about foreclusre, my job is gone starting next month, and the job I DO have was found only several hours from home with little available anywhere close to home. So with all of that going on in my life, why would I vote to take more from the rich and big business, and thus take away even MORE jobs and lower salaries even more for those who DO still have a job?

Unfortunately, McSame will continue to lie about everything and the vast majority of undecided voters tend to be less intelligent which certainly favors the GOP. They will continue to concentrate on fear, guns, and religion that is just what people like Rove use to win elections. These idiots vote with emotion and not intelligence, following the Republican playbook to steal another election. How else can you explain the recent polls..... How can so many Americans be so stupid? How did education in America every fall this far? Genuinely frightening....

Let's all hear it for blaming the Democrats because they have been in charge for 2 whole years. This would be so funny if it weren't so sad. The fact is the Democrats really have NOT been in charge for the last 2 years. The Democrats were finally able to apply the brakes to the rubber stamp to everything Bush wanted but that is it.

Saying the Democrats have been in charge for the last 2 years is misleading. Granted, Pelosi and Reid are not the effective leaders they should have been. BUT, when the Republicans plan and implement that plan to block any meaningful legislation by filibustering and/or threatening to filibuster and when that fails, have Bush veto legislation, that is hardly honest to the American people. The really sad facts are the Republicans have been running that game plan ever since they lost their majority in Congress. They then turn to the American public, point their fingers at the Democrats and say "Its all the Democrats fault, they have been in charge for 2 years!" And guess who loses? We do! The Republicans set the record for filibusters at 77 this year! That does not count the threatened filibusters.

Come on America. TAKE YOUR BLINDERS OFF AND EAR PLUGS OUT AND SEE AND HEAR WHAT THE REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW, THE TRUTH!

Unbeleivable!!!
Obama Has no Experience any where in any area, Economic, financial,enviromental, nothing notazip! or in any other area! oh he does have some in the bul---shi- pretty boy I can blow smoke up the a-- of the american people and make it pretty and they wont even know it happed to them!!!! DA !!! Open your eyes People.

The Bush admin may not have been perfect , But lets put the responsibilty for tons of the real problems where it belongs, the last 2 years is the only part of the Bush admin that has had a ton of problems and it is due to the CONGRESS !!! The DEMOCRATIC CONGERSS!!!
Since they took over the control our economic,financial, and every other part of our lives have been reduced to rubble and if the Democrats win your way of life or what they dont ruin the rest of the way will be ruined! The facts are the democrats like making government big more controling more programs for those who dont want to work, for those who come here Illegally, Democrats want to take hard earned money from hard working people they dont care upper, middle or higher class as long as you work they want your money to fund thier programs for those who dont,wont and haven't worked so we can all be equal(Nancy Polosi) own words!!

They want so many programs with your money that soon you will need the programs and we will all be dependant on the government! This my Friends is Socialism!!!!
The Facts are the facts! so before you fire off your mouth check them out.
You can Check to see when this country stared its down hill slide!!! check out when the Democrates took over congress, see who votes for the very things you are concerned about
Obama has not been a senate long enough to even know what he beleives check out how he votes on real issues he passes!!!
I am Proud to Give my vote to John MCcain I am so sick of hearing obama say he is just more of the same well folks I can tell you I sure am not willing to trust my country to a person we know little about and what we do know is obama is the scariest worst person to take the reins of this country in all history!
John mccain is nothing like Pres Bush ! John Mccain has proven over and over his integrity, patriotizm and love for the country and people, can obama ??? I think not, he shows his action and loyalties by being sworn in on the quaran!! The book that is clear about the people of this country!!! he didnt swear in to be open minded on that book he swore in on it to pledge his alegance to up hold the laws of that book! he will not say the pledge of allegance, he will not wear our countrys flag, he changed the countrys seal on his plane to his own !!! And this is the guy you want to run our country!!! Open Your Eyes!!!!

The president dont have all the say there are channels that everything that gets voted on has to threw, congree the senate, they have powers and they can make laws so dont put th e blame on one area of the government.

Bad practices and dishonest people Business that has nothing to do with the president are what have caused alot of this mess!

Thank God! someone has the guts to stand up to plate other wise we would be in a Deppression! would you rather have that?
Well I SAY IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE SOULOTION, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!
stop whinnig and get doing something to help!

You really feel this way? how bad has the last few years been on you? What have you sacrificed? I gave up a year and a half of my life in Iraq and i am proud of it. I am not so proud of the missed birthdays that my son endured. I am not proud of the missed Christmas, and thanksgiving that my wife, now my ex-wife, had to plan and make happy even if she did not feel it. I am proud of the men and women i served beside, and of the one that i remember everyday who's names is proudly displayed on my bracelet because he gave up more than me. John McCain gives me hope. ask yourself this... If the president of Russia supports Obama what's in it for him? Why does he not want McCain? Perhaps he wants a stronger U.S. ??? Right... that's what he wants.

Obama the sharpest???? Then why can't he tell me and you and everyone else how he is going to accomplish all his promises and pay for them? Obama knows exactly what McCain does or less. He has absolutely NO record of doing anything but voting "present." We could put Donald Duck into the White House and get whatever we are going to get with either of these two. Don't be fooled by all the hype people. I'm so sick of "more of the same" I'm leaning on voting for the candidate that can tell me what he wants to do and how and how he will pay for it and shut the hell up about his opponent, I don't care about their opponent when the candidate is speaking. I can listen to his opponent myself.

You showed your ignorance with the "NO record" "present" quotes. One minute the repubs say he's only voted present or that he has no record, but then they dig up bills they say he was responsible for that damaged society, contradiction?

You apparently haven't listened to the recent speeches he's been giving on the economy. If you had truly wanted to hear what the candidate has to say in reference to those things, it doesn't take much effort. Just going to barackobama.com would do the trick. He has his policy outlined, and video's of recent speeches.

Obama is a politician, and more than likely some of the things that he plans to do won't see the light of day, or be approved, or even turn out the way it was supposed to. But at least he has an idea of what he wants to do for the economy, and he has a real plan, that's free for your viewing pleasure at his website.

I haven't checked out McCain's site in all honesty, but he kinda had me at his assertion that the people who had entered bad mortgage deals should bear the responsibility themselves, yet he didn't mind the bail out of Bear Sterns, kinda let me know alot about his positions. Not to mention his 08 appreciation for the Bush tax cuts, which benefits rich people like he and his wife the most, not to mention he plans to give the largest tax breaks to large corporations, which I'm pretty sure doesn't fall under that 90% middle class thing, as Obama does.

Obama may be reaching for the stars with his plans for policies he'd like to implement, but as I recall a president wants reached for the stars and ended up on the moon.

Hey Jan Black he already did explain those things watch the news please before posting untruths. That would be extremely helpful for those of us actually concerned about having a real discussion instead of spreading out and out lies.

I'm a little confused. Let me I have this straight Senator Obama has done what?

* If you grow up in Hawaii and Kansas, raised by your grandparents, you're 'exotic, different.'

* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

* Graduate from Harvard law School (tops in your class) and you are unstable.

* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience. You also create the largest grass roots political movement in the history of the U.S. based around the constituency of common people!

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

* * If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.

You are vindictive, subversive, hateful- all the traits of the GOP are well represented by such slander!

you got it all wrong honey, clinton left us with the highest unemployment rate this country has ever had

Hanna where have you been Clinton left this country in great shape and the lowest unemployment rate in year sense Bush Sr had us up to 7% you need to go back and check history meaning you need to stop watching the faux news media I mean the gop news network and get the facts

Rube, that was wonderfully put. BRAVO!!!

YES rube very well said thank you. its great to see someone with a mind of their own I can tell you don't watch fox news the gop network

right on rube!!

this media/conservative/bigoted spin is so alarming. I think our younger generation (and some of the old folks, j/k) are much better with the race issue overall: confronting it, talking about it, recongnizing it, and not giving it so much power over our lives and rationale.

But there are just too many people this election season who let their prejudices dominate their common sense. So much so that they choose to believe this unbelievable "radical, unpatriotic, socialist, anti-white, elitist, muslim, sexist" label that has been relentlessly pinned to him. The reason they allow themselves to believe these bad things despite the obvious, is because he is BLACK. It's hard for someone to admit to themselves, let alone anyone else, that they feel uncomfortable voting for Obama because he's black. First they said the undecideds account for the fact that Obama's inexperienced, he hasn't been on the scene long enough, they don't know him, he has to campaign harder, be more specific about change. Then Palin's non-experience, lack of record & substance, yet wide acceptance after one speech, booted that claim as anything reasonable.

So they resort to accepting smears that suggest he's some foreign monster that wants to enslave any nonmuslim black man I guess... LOL When in fact he isn't radical, he's progressive. He isn't unpatriotic, but how does one prove that anyway? listen to his 2004 keynote. He isn't a socialist, he just believes those at the top should feel obligated to give to those at the very bottom. (some call that a christian view, some call that morals)
he isn't anti-white, he's half white. he isn't elitist, he was raised in a middle class home, living on food stamps at various points in his life. He isn't a muslim, he used to not have strong religious views as a youth until his organizing days when he "found god", & you know what, so what if he was a muslim, why would that effect anyones vote!! And he isn't sexist! I've only ever seen Obama treat women, and anyone, with respect. Even when Hillary was being a "not so nice" person, he was still nice to her and never resorted to any sexist comments.

Jen,

It has been proven many, many times that every country which tried to provide health care in the manner Mr. Obama has suggested - has gone broke and it has thrown their economy into the dumps. Mr. Obama is an excellent speaker and fabulous communicator. However, share with me any job he has ever held in private industry and any position of management he has ever held in government ?

I respect your opinion and you have every right to one , but your taxes will be increased just as mine will be if Mr. Obama takes charge. The core strength of our economy is small and medium sized businesses run by millions of Americans. Those business owners will be the ones most affected by tax increases with a disastrous affect on our economy in lost jobs.

I am not a business owner but have been in the past, and speak from experience from having felt the sting of tax increases by Democratic tax acts.

Alan W,

What are you talking about? Have you not seen any of the tax plan comparisons, or read any information on McCain versus Obama's respective tax plans? Get your head out of the sand, and get yourself informed!

Obama's tax plan CUTS taxes for 95% of Americans, while McCain's tax plan cuts taxes for the wealthiest 1% at the highest rate of all! Most of those small- to mid-sized business owners that you speak of get LARGER TAX CUTS under Obama's tax plan than McCain's.

Once again, please inform yourself before you make rash statements that are absolutely and completely false. Barack Obama isn't yesterday's Democrat, and has a tax plan that helps the MAJORITY of Americans, rather than the minority that McCain supports.

Wake up people, and start reading today's news. Barack Obama is the only candidate that has the plans and ideas and supporting cast to truly improve the lives of ordinary Americans.

thanks for telling the truth. we all need to check the facts first.if you got it wrong 4 and 8 years ago america cant afford to get this one wrong. palin scare the hell out of me. have two sons dont wont to lose them in a war. concern parent

It seems crazy to me that we allow all these executives that got paid many millions of dollars to keep their wealth. The current economic model seems to privitize profits and publicize risks. This is not capitalism, there is no sense of a laissez faire economy any more. How is it that socialism has such a bad reputation? If we are going to rescue these wall street firms, let's keep them under the Fed.

The Fed contributes billions of dollars to the government every year, let them handle mortgages and our 401(k)s. I am sick of paying huge fees in all of my accounts only to hear about multi-million dollar bonuses being paid to investment bakers. My retirement funds are going to support the outragous lifestyles of those on Wall Street at the same time I have not made much money in the accounts for ten years! Maybe the profit from my 401(k)s could at least give us health care!

Deregulation of the financial sector was passed by Clinton---not the republicans---check your facts.

Verde, Check yours. It all started with Reagan which created the Savings & Loan fiasco.

The last words of a lost argument: "Clinton did it!"

MV as I recall, there was a huge (expected to last TEN YEARS AT LEAST) budget SURPLUS when Clinton left office. Bush burned through that in his FIRST YEAR & took us into a DEFICIT in his FIRST YEAR, and it has only continued to get worse since then.

Hate to tell you, but this deregulation was initiated in the Clinton administration and backed by Greenspan who now wants to point fingers elsewhere.

Sir, deregulation was reaffirmed by the GOP senate/house- include McCain on that list...

And the major difference between Clintons financial tenure and Bushes are obvious...
great prosperity vs. major recession!

Sir- update your facts!

Bravo, Carol! I couldn't have said it better myself! McCain IS part of the problem! Why does no one remember The Keating Five?

If you check your facts you'll also discover that John McCain's chief economic advisor, Phill Gramm pockected over $1.5 million from banking and investment houses lobbyists to get this legislation passed.

verde sick was right it deregulation was started under Reagan. and I love the GOP everytime they screw things up they blame the Dems and its funny they have had control for 28 of the last 40 years and they still can't admit to their screw ups they are like lil kids its always someone else who done it. I guess the GOP should be renamed to GOD because they are perfect.....................

I really hope Obama has the guts to put out a commercial reminding people about McCain, Gramm and the Keating Five. The timing is perfect

while he running that slam campaign, ask him to include his comments on supporting his racist minister for over 20 years .

alan you sound like the racist and I bet you are

Alan!! Get real. That minister is just another angry American like you or me. I can't believe you're still on that. If you're looking for an excuse to not vote for Obama. Do what the other half of the country is doing; accept the economy and a BS war the way it is, hope McBush will truly help the middle class (and not his peeps; lobbyists) As Bush and Cheney did.

All because you can't live with thought of a Black Man as President.

Let the truth set you free!!!

"MV as I recall, there was a huge (expected to last TEN YEARS AT LEAST) budget SURPLUS when Clinton left office."

No there wasn't. We were doing well until shortly BEFORE Clinton left office. The very last time we saw any NEGATIVE economic growth was while Clinton was still in office. We went from a strongly decreased deficit (never actually a true surplus but rather a highly reduced deficit, the reduction in the deficit being incorrectly called a surplus because more was coming in than going out, but we never passed the zero mark to reach a real surplus positive) seen from a massive technology boom that the majority of the world benefited from, to one of the sharpest declines in history, all with the same President in office. As the boom ended and all policies and predictions were based on that boom lasting forever, we saw a sharp decline that we simply were not prepared to handle, and before Clinton ever left office we were faced with one of the sharpest economic declines in US history. Bush moved in just a short time later, and Clinton quickly threw blame in his direction, although of course Bush hadn't even yet enacted any of his own policies and had time to create any change before seeing all that blame. Bush may be an economic moron, but Clinton was no better. Civilians and military alike all suffered because of Clinton, his policies riding into the first couple years of the Bush terms, the problems already being seen BEFORE Bush ever took office. Your "ten year" prediction is entirely made up. We have had two of the worst Presidents in a row from all economic standpoints, ignoring influences well outside of US control, such as the primarily asian technology boom. Clinton created one of the sharpest declines in history, quickly erasing all of the benefits we saw while he was in office, and then Bush continued with Clinton's ridiculously harmful policies and still does to this day (such as the world record corporate tax rate, at more than double that of the second highest, which is the greatest contributor to outsourcing today), both Presidents combined leading to the suffering of today. If the roles had been reversed, Bush in office during the Clinton years and Clinton in office today, we would have seen the same boom during the 90's, and the same decline as the boom ended leading to the same problems of today, with high corporate rates leading to job loss and outsourcing, and the same housing crisis caused by Clinton pushed regulation policies and Bush's strong backing. Our policies of today mirror most of what we saw during Clinton's time in office, and we see the suffering it causes without any boom to ride. But regardless of what you think about the policies of both, there was NO surplus when Clinton left office, and we were faced with a HUGE economic landslide beginning to roll. What we see is the culmination of two of the worst Presidents serving in the White House in a row, the vast majority of problems today (with regards to US contribution since the world economy is only influenced partially by this one country) resulting from the end of Clinton's term and his horrible policies leading into the Bush years and the continuation of those policies along with additions of policies that also failed to take into account long term consequences. I support Clinton about as much as I support Bush, which is not at all. Horrible economic policy knows no political boundaries.

Wow, that's a rigid requirement just for one to be able to leave a comment... I mean if the Republicans used that litmus test they may never have chosen Palin as their vice-presidential nominee! Then where would the country be?

I've taken various economics classes (and unlike McCain have already read the Greenspan book).
McCain - "[t]he issue of ECONOMICS IS NOT SOMETHING I'VE UNDERSTOOD as well as I should" and said that THE ECONOMY IS STRONG.
Palin she said she "Didn't even know what Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae do. (Sept2008)

You nailed it on the head!

Once again the GOP has given us this "family values"
alternative to intelligence and the obvious need for a restructuring of how the American Government does business- regulation, deregulation, oversight etc.

the economy is in shambles and McCain offers...
vanity, curiosity, high risk- continued policies of Bush!

My checkbook and my bank account can no longer afford the failed old policies! All for the need of the novelty and self-righteousness of the GOP ticket- mccain and palin! Enough!

I suppose you think this person is too stupid to vote? Is that how you debate issues, by insulting those who have a different opinion than your own? In my opinion, you lost your argument... you clearly have nothing relevant to say, so you insult the intelligence of others. Brilliant.

The GOP keeps us worried about taxes the issue it more jobs and good paying jobs not low paying jobs or no jobs if we start rebuilding america with good jobs like we had over 8 years ago alot of the problems wont be there like loss of our homes and health care the big issue is creating good jobs and so far McCain hasn't said anything except stay the same ole course and we can weather it just remembe we need to stay the course of the last 8 years and everything will be ok so vote McCain if you feel this way

"The GOP keeps us worried about taxes the issue it more jobs and good paying jobs not low paying jobs or no jobs if we start rebuilding america with good jobs like we had over 8 years ago alot of the problems wont be there like loss of our homes and health care the big issue is creating good jobs"

To create those good jobs, the first necessary act is to lower the corporate tax rate (currently the single highest rate in the entire world at more than double that of the second) to reduce outsouring and decrease consumer costs. Then, we need to NOT follow through with Obama's plan to increase executive income tax, which when coupled with that world record corporate tax would lead to immediate consumer cost increases to compensate for increased business costs and maintain a steady executive income.
Who cares if us poor and middle class see a marginal tax decrease if ALL costs are increased at the same time. Give a man five dollars, but take ten in return, he still loses five dollars. To create good jobs, do NOT tax the rich more, do NOT maintain the current world record corporate tax, do NOT eliminate Republican invention incentive programs that let individuals contribute to new technology ideas outside of big business. In short, for Obama to create ANY type of job, he needs to do a 180 on the vast majority of his tax and incentive proposals.
The GOP SHOULD keep us worried about taxes, since taxes are what will create or take away those good jobs, as well as increase or decrease business growth. That change is 100% entirely dependent on which tax policy will be implemented, either world record corporate tax with a simultaneous executive income tax increase, or reduction of the corporate tax rate to fluctuate based on actual profit margins and no modification to the already higher tax rate the wealthy are paying.
Good paying jobs and business growth in the US will NOT happen with world record business taxes to the government, especially when they have to compensate for executive incomes at the same time to account for high tax rates against the wealthy. This will only take away jobs, increase consumer costs, and increase outsourcing, all the while the government can claim that they are helping by throwing you a few bucks that doesn't even marginally cover increased costs caused by where the money is coming from.

I just want to be able to afford ONE working car to get my family around. I don't need FOUR cars like the republican business owners I work for, who write off a multitude of frivolous expenses that have nothing to do with actually doing business. I don't think that's too much to ask.

Sorry neighborhood!
The facts are people who own their own Business work 100 times harder than you who work for them, running your business takes all your time, money, and effort, but you wouldn't know because you just work for someone you have never actually owned your own, not only is all they have wrapped up in their Business they also give you the job that pays for your living and is all you can do is bad mouth them! Being Republican has nothing to do with it I am sure there are Democrats who also have their own Business and have lots of cars and big houses and take big write offs, there are perks to owning your own Business after all you commit your life to it and you put up everything you own to make it prosper, I think you earn the right to buy the things you want and to have more money than your employees after all the employees never put up a dime for the company.
Just sounds like your UN happy in your job ! at least you still have one, maybe you could go start your own, that way you can see just what it takes to start and run a Business ! you probably will want to stay an employee.

AMEN!

I loved the comment about "the lipstick is off the pig," now let's talk about the issues. Americans are not as easily duped or manipulated as the Republican Party seems to think with this constant "narrative" about nothing. Let's talk the issues. All Americans want to know what the candidate is going to do about the economy, war, health care, our infrastructure, etc . We do not care about moose hunting, lipstick, pregnant teenagers, etc. Let US HEAR WHAT IS PLANNED FOR THE ECONOMIC CRISIS!!!!

Amen Amen!

I still don't understand why he hasn't come out and called McCain a Republican. McCain is flying under the radar as an independent blaming "Washington" for all the problems...well...wasn't it the Republicans that ran Washington these past 8 years? Also, why is it that whenever someone says, "The Dems had the majority in the house and the senate the past two years and nothing has changed", why can't they come back and point out the fact that Bush overrides anything that comes from congress by vetoing it or issuing signing statements that basically state that his administration does not have to follow whatever bill he is signing. This is ridiculous! We are where we are because of the Republicans, this president and his administration!!

I want to hear Obama call McCain what he is...a Republican! Don't let McCain divorce himself from his party as if he didn't have anything to do with this mess! He's a REPUBLICAN and they're the ones who were in charge these past 8 years!!!!!

He continues to do that, not as forcefully as many of us supporters would like, but at the same time the media doesn't tune in to Obama these days unless he says something that sounds like "Palin" or "lipstick". I also believe Obama's got to get more and more surrogates out their on these news stations to offer some tough but relevant criticism of McBush.

Fine! So he should call it out as McCain trying to hide his Republican ties by putting lipstick on the elephant!!!!

Fred-474623 said
"wasn't it the Republicans that ran Washington these past 8 years?"
Nope...The Dems have had control of the senate and the house tha last few...

Nice quick shot there. If you had done more than parroting the same uneducated bile it may have actually appeared intelligent, well close to intelligent anyway. You had your BBQ administration and now it is time to send the party-goers home to wash the spit-up off their jackets.

Can you say filibuster.

Fred...don't do the (true) Republicans the disservice of calling Bush one of us.

But the American public pays too much attention to the lipstick and votes emotionally, not with their heads. Republicans know how to manipulate and distract the emotions much more effectively than they know how to run the country. Dems haven't picked up on that yet and stubbornly stick to harping on the the issues. Unfortunately voters are too distracted to notice they are making poor choices. *sigh*

It never ceases to amaze me that American philosophers, scholars, and writers in droves write about the current fleecing of our constitution our nation, and the American middle class all the while conservatives continue to flock to right wing evangelists, tabloid pundits and GOP theology all this after
7 and a half years of GOP subversion. What does tha nation have to show? An economy in shambles unfinished wars more on the horizon and debt so enormous China and other foreign countries now own much of our nations remaining equity!

Conservatism is a dismal failure, all the proof is in your house equity, your bank accounts, your paycheck, it's on Wallstreet, its on the shelves of your supermarket, its on the corner gas station, its in job and house loss, its in record federal debt, its
on the streets and in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan.

And what do conservatives recant with? The dems have been in control for one year and a halve? What they don't say is, Bush vetoed the democratic legislation in record amounts during this time! And what you dont hear is that the low approval rating for the senate is peepered by the fact that the dems didn't impeach the crooks that currently take up space in the Whitehouse!

And if you really do the math Bush and the GOP have been in power near 80% on the past two terms. So all conservatives are in denial- its 80% the fault of the GOP and your self for voting for such corrupt and inept group of individuals! 80% of our nations failure lies with conservative policies! By the laws of deduction this also means that 80% of the success belongs to the dems!

Hear, hear!

I must agree! We are a democracy and as it is our DUTY to vote we must bring "Democrat" back into the equation!!

Rube R, you hit the nail on the head!!!!!!
Come on, people! McCain is not going to change things just because he has a token female on his arm! He's not going to change things because he says he will, only in order to deceive the american people! Get a grip!!!!
I don't know about you guys, but I need to see some change in my bank account, my 401K, by tax bill!!!
Go Obama!

ED you need to learn how things work in DC for 6 years the republicans had total control the last 2 they lost the house of rep's no one has control of the senate and the repblicans have the white house hmmmmmmmmm let me see the only vetos bush has done has been sense the dems got the house back until then he passed everything spend spend spend so dont tell me the dem havnt done anything its still your party in control the only good thing is now the house can atleast stop the stupid things bush was doing! so you and others need to learn washington and the facts on how it works and you wouldnt make the comment about the dems putting this country in the awful mess its in it was like that before they took over the house face it the republicans failed over and over and we the people cant afford 4 more years of stupid policys

Obama Is The Puppet!! NewYorker2000 is so right!

Obama is being propped up by the hard lefters in order to push their agenda and get them in the White House so that they can turn this country into some left wing nightmare! He's just somebody that can read a teleprompter well and deliver a powerful speech that he unfortunately never wrote and probably doesn't even understand, and based on this fact alone, he's gotten all of this attention and support from the left, without ever being properly vetted!!

The media never gives him the tough questions, and he usually makes himself unavailable to them, because without his puppeteers, he wouldn't know what to say. Then the Obama camp tries to spend their time saying things like "he's a hard working father of two", as though many people in America aren't! How does that make him ready to be in the highest office?

Then the left nuts try to attack those on the right, the conservatives, and it's own liberal media for simply mentioning that his experience is lackluster. It's like if you say anything about him, you're suddenly a bigot! The left always tries to play this card when they've got nothing else.

Look, Obama obviously knows nothing about the economy because he said Freddie Mac was "too big for the taxpayers", he didn't even know that it operates as a privately funded company!! Although now, it will become a burden for the taxpayers now that the gov took over... But in my opinion, seeing as how he is only a two term (3 year term) mayor of a very small town that elected him by about 900+ votes, plus he hasn't even spent two complete years as a governor, I think his lack of experience is evident and relevant. It's so sad, he's such a Puppet, his entire party is just using him to get those votes, and hoping the American people won't catch on to the puppet show until sometime after election day.

WAKE UP AMERICA!!

Nope...The Dems have had control of the senate and the house tha last few...

Sadly that is untrue. They've had a non-controlling majority and been hamstrung by partisan Republican's afraid to lose power in the ace that they've lost their identity.

That's what comes with marrying yourself to special interest groups.

NewYorker2000/ deliziosa

Puppets ???

Our current president, most Republicans and McBush has been lead around by Big Oil companies and Wall street to lead this country to where we are now. And you come up this nonsense to call Obama a puppet. Who's really the puppet: you two following the GOP or Obama wanting to change all this!!

Ian1169 I completely understand your (!!!) but you might wanna read mine again... Hint: (It was sarcasm) LOL

Excerpt:
*Look, Obama obviously knows nothing about the economy because he said Freddie Mac was "too big for the taxpayers", he didn't even know that it operates as a privately funded company!! Although now, it will become a burden for the taxpayers now that the gov took over... But in my opinion, seeing as how he is only a two term (3 year term) mayor of a very small town that elected him by about 900+ votes, plus he hasn't even spent two complete years as a governor, I think his lack of experience is evident and relevant. It's so sad, he's such a Puppet, his entire party is just using him to get those votes, and hoping the American people won't catch on to the puppet show until sometime after election day. *

Even with sarcasm, be careful who you associate yourself with. They (GOP followers) might bring you down.

You said it very well and the best comment "check Obama's website". People who say they don't know what he stands for just need to read -- his website, other internet sites, books, articles, his record in the U.S. Senate and Illinois Senate, etc. etc. We can't take another 4 years of Republican government and their policies!!

Amen to both of those comments. I'm getting sick of people saying either candidate has no plans. They may not being spelling them out for you on national TV or in a commercial, but both have plans and you can read them on their respective websites.

Quit being lazy and go take a look. Regardless of your party loyalty you should read both plans so you understand them and so that you are making an informed decision when you cast your ballot in November.

Obama/Biden 08

People don't want to take the time to read on Obama's site. They would rather complain and listen to the lies for McSAME!!! All I have to say is people better wake up before it is too late. Rediculous not to vote for a candidate because of his color and that is why many people are voting for McCain. It is racial and I see it everyday. Think about this. Is race more important to vote against than your money, home, children and grandchildrens' lives. Haven't you had enough of this crap from the Bush adm and do you really want 4 more years of the same. McSAME is not going to change a thing, he only wants the title of President because he has tried so many times and failed. Even hired a woman to try to get votes, he doesn't know this woman from Adam. She is also a corrupt person and I literaly can't stand to look at her. She is a fake and has no knowledge to be put on the Hill. Her hill is seeing Russia on her back porch which is also a lie.

Sure FDR got us out of the depression, but look at the crap hole he left us in. A bunch of worthless government funded (tax funded) programs. Thats what we need another New Deal to tax the hell out of everyone and give assistance to people to lazy to help themselves...NO WAY!

First of all it was not so much Roosevelt that got us out of the depression as it was for World War II. Our goods and services were in demand. Great Britain, France and China all needed our assistance. Roosevelt got into office because he was backed by some of if not the Richest men at the time; Joseph P. Kennedy and William Randolph Hearst both of whom all but bought FDR the election. Like now, Bankers and Financier's not Republicans are the ones who were responsible for the money problems. Our own greed and I need the easy way mentality also factor in. FDR was responsible for Executive Order 6102 which required all persons to sell all gold coin, gold bullion, and gold certificates owned by them to the Federal Reserve. Violation of the order was punishable by fine up to $10,000 (1933 dollars) or up to ten years in prison, or both. The Federal Reserve bought the gold at a set price of $20.67 per ounce. The price of gold from the treasury for international transactions was then raised to $35 an ounce devaluing the U.S. dollar by 41%. FDR also drafted and wanted to enact a bill, which was not passed due to the threat of veto, that would have cut veterans benefits by 40%. His administration is responsible for the Social Security Tax and Pay Roll tax(already increased by states) which lead to Withholding taxes in 1943. Finally government spending increased, not decreased as promissed under his administration. Because of FDR the government is now responsible for our nation being dependent on the government for everything, including bailouts. Did you forget this?

If change is what is needed then we as a nation need to start taking responiblities for ourselves and our actions. This crisis with the banks was caused by them feeding us a line for easy loans and we fell for it. Buying a house used to be something that through hard work and saving we were then able to achieve. This time, and having an over inflated housing market did not help, we allowed the "I need it now" syndrome to effect our tinking processes; many did not read the fine clauses that stating their loan payments could and would increase. Remember "if is sounds to good to be true" it probabely is. This is what caused the economic situation we are in now. GREED by all those that took out the loans an the lender are at fault not the government.

Mike, it is difficult to understand how conservatives can love god and the bible but not use the resources available to help the rest of the citizens of this country as the god (per the bible) would like you to do. This is not a statement for a theocratic society. It is a belief that even the lazy Americans need to be helped to maintain stability and keep this country progressing.

if you think new deal was waste of money and all the programs under fdr were worthless, then you wouldn't mind me having your social security check when you retire. just reply this post with your social security number and your legal name and i will totally agree with you.

It is the governments job and duty to make sure that "bilking and fleecing" of the American public does not occur! You and I are paying taxes for ineptitude! You may feel fine with it I am not!

You are obviously a conservative because you are in denial of this simple fact. It is obvious that the GOP and conservatives like McCain, Palin and yourself will never grasp such needed and beneficial legislature because you are beholden to the plutocratic beliefs of the elites!

Such political believes are lock step with the out of date policies of John McCain, Bush and the GOP! You would rather sink then admit the truth of their 8 year record!

Independent tom, I agree totally with you. and.... most of the people who need help aren't lazy, most of the people are hardworking American's down on their luck, who lost their jobs when their company closed their doors and went overseas. It is only a small percentage that take advantage, most need the help for a short time and we would have the money to help them, if Bush didn't give it to the wealthiest 1% and send the rest to Iraq. The Dems are the moral party in my book, and in many other's books too!

Independent tom Mike can't help him self he just doesnt understand he must have been one of the students that got left behind. and you are right if Mike would read GODs word he would know its our job to help every brother and sister in need

God fearing as some of are, we can't wait for GOD to help us out of this economy. God help those who help themselves. The GOP needs a boot to help them out of the White House. My Boot (vote) is ready to kick some ass; is yours??

You're all idiots. You can have my social security check when I retire...I don't need the government to support me...I can take care of that myself. I do feel sorry for you though, that kind of dependence must make you feel pretty worthless. I also don't need you to tell me that we should help one another. I give to charity constantly...at least 15% of my salary goes directly to charity. I just don't need the government deciding where my hard earned money is best spent...I can do that myself. Yes, there are plenty of people out there conservatives included that don't give...and that's a shame, but that doesn't mean that they should be forced to give through the government middle man...they can answer to God for that in His time. I am a very faithful man, I do believe that we have a responsibility to one another, but do you really think that you will be given any credit in God's eyes for giving what you were required to give...or do you think that its better to give on your own accord?

And as far as the child left behind: As a child< I was member of the lower class. Then I grew up. My parents didn't have any money, so I went to college on student loans. Then, when I graduated, I got a decent job...on my own. And now, I pay back my student loans and live full of thanks for the opportunity that I had (and that we all have) to make my life better...a proud member of the middle class, a position which I earned through hard work...not laziness. I am not a democrat, and I am not a republican, I am a conservative who believes that it is up to each of us to do what is right...not the government. And just as an FYI, God is not democrat, nor is He a republican. Religion has nothing to do with politics. If you are a Catholic, a Lutheran, a Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, or of any other faith, you have obligations to your God and to your faith to live YOUR life according to that set of beliefs. You do not have an obligation to force everyone around you to do the same.

"Quit being lazy and go take a look. Regardless of your party loyalty you should read both plans so you understand them and so that you are making an informed decision when you cast your ballot in November
Obama/Biden 08 " Exactly! Promises and frilly speeches mean nothing, party lines mean nothing (can't associate myself solidly to any one party since I'm pro-choice, pro-gay rights, and a strong atheist - atheism being something that isn't allowed among politicians of EITHER party, but a Republican with regards to the economy and ways to boost the poor and middle class along with business growth, something Bush has ignored while pushing policies which strongly go against Republican economic ideals). The only thing that matters is policy. Regardless of who people vote for, it should always be based on policy. Not state issues outside of the job you're voting on, but policies actually related to the position, policies that either boost or hurt business profit lines and thus job growth and opportunities, policies that either increase or decrease technological advancement, policies that either increase or decrease subsidy payouts (sometimes necessary and sometimes not, some policies timing it correctly while others provide free profits, see ethanol corporations and the $10 billion a year free we pay for), policies that either focus on short term or concentrate on more sustainable long term results. We all have our own opinions, obviously, but to vote based on one of any number of bogus stereotypes against EITHER party or any candidate is simply a wasted vote. These speeches filled with all sorts of promises from both sides are nothing more than wastes of money that don't provide any real insight into the candidate, showing nothing more than whatever emotion a team of speechwriters decided was important for that day and crowd. We aren't even hearing from the actual candidates, reading from a teleprompter is NOT showing yourself to the public. All the fanfare should be ignored in favor of nothing more than policy. There's pros and cons to Obama, as there are pros and cons to McCain, with regards to policy while ignoring all of the unimportant dribble. We simply need to take the most important policies and vote based on what those policies will do to EVERY financial class, using common sense to see how they are tied together and how influencing each will influence the others. If Obama wins, I can only hope it is based on policy and not his overblown promises, and if McCain wins, I can only hope it isn't based on stereotypes and some foolish belief that he will regulate moral issues not within his authority to control (he has always shown the opinion that state issues should remain state issues). McCain/Palin '08

"Mike, it is difficult to understand how conservatives can love god and the bible but not use the resources available to help the rest of the citizens of this country as the god (per the bible) would like you to do."

Ummm, I'm a Republican and don't even BELIEVE in a god. That said, using the resources available is NOT the same as taking from business. We should use the resources we have available to help the citizens of this country, but to do that most efectively requires a stronger support of business growth, not enacting policy that hurts them. I'll give an example with regards to Obama's tax policy. First, our current corporate tax rate is 35%. This is the single highest in the entire world, at more than double the second highest. There is no higher contributor to our outsourcing problem than this corporate tax rate. Now, to help the poor and middle class, you are, I assume, suggesting taxing the rich more to provide for everyone else, as Obama has promised. Have you thought at all about what this actually leads to? Maintaining a corporate tax rate that creates our outsourcing problem, while taxing the income of the executives of those businesses even more? The ONLY possible response to this is an immediate consumer cost increase to compensate for lost income while maintaining profit margins (don't forget that this is the worst time for tax increases that affect businesses as they are already seeing slower than average growth). Now, even as a few measly bucks are being thrown the those in need, everyone else (the vast majority) is seeing huge costs increases in response, and not only are those who received assistance being hurt more than helped, but everyone else suffers as well. Less is purchased, jobs are lost, costs increase, and outsourcing is even more encouraged, and even a requirement for sustainability among many companies. Using the resources available to help everyone can ONLY be done when using those resources will not hurt the very people you claim to be helping. You can't just take from the rich to give to the poor. There are long term consequences for every action, all financial classes are tied together.
Here's the basic point, big business is 100% dependent on the poor and middle class doing well, as they are the ones buying the consumer goods and services to keep businesses going. The poor and middle class are 100% dependent on the wealthy and businesses doing well in order to see affordable costs. So to take from one is NOT using an available resource, it is hurting one financial class to provide temporary assistance to another, leading to long term harm to ALL. We can only afford to take above certain profit margins, in order to maintain steady costs and not hurt the poor and middle class. Resources are not simply free to take from one group to hand to another. Greater funds from the rich, but greater costs as well. All of that needs to be factored in. The single most unintelligent act we can push in this country would be to simply start taking from the rich because they have more, the ones who will suffer the most from such rash action is the poor and middle class.
We should not use resources available unless those resources will not negatively influence others, only by lowering the corporate tax rate and NOT increasing taxes on the executive incomes can we see less outsourcing and thus more jobs at home, bringing more to the poor and middle class and thus higher consumer spending and thus lower costs and, yep, greater resources to be taken and used for those in need. Boost business and THEN use the additional resources this creates to help the needy, do NOT hurt business and then take needed resources, as this only hurts everyone else in the process.

Yeah, I read that UCLA study to...here's another studies results: According to a study by Ned Davis Research covering 1901 through the first half of 2008, the U.S. stock market's real return after inflation during Republican presidencies was not radically different than under Democratic ones. The nominal returns under Democratic presidents were 7.2 percent, vs. 3.6 percent under Republican presidents. But inflation was about twice as high under Democratic presidents, and the end result was a real return of 2.5 percent under Democrats and 1.69 percent under Republicans.

Historically the best combination has been a Democratic president and a Republican Congress. That produced nominal returns of 9.6 percent and real returns of 5.6 percent, according to this study.

Obama may fall prey to what ailed Bush through most of his term with a Republican congress: Nobody to say "no". Dems stand in line to lick his boots, so he'll have lots of rope to hang himself with. I look forward to seeing what he does with it.

Those percentage points that you call "nominal" actually amount to billions of dollars, Christopher. Even 1% can be $1 billion+. The cold hard fact is that Dems tend to have better economic policies and we have more financial prosperity in this country when there is a Democratic Pres.

McElree - based on your analysis, if you invested $10,000 in 1901, that would be worth $140,428 today under the 2.5% "Dem" rate of return. Under the "Repub" return of only 1.69%, your initial investment would only be worth $60,086. Less than half. That's not "radically" different?

Obama is the worst possible choice for this Country. He represents the "good old boy" club of let's get our hands in the Taxpayers Pockets and steal taxpayer's hard earned money. SAME OLD TAX AND SPEND POLICY!!!

Obama does not follow through on what he says he will do and he is still arrogant and disconnected from "regular" main stream Americans. Obama sometimes makes good speeches but the speeches sound like he is giving a classroom lecture rather then speaking sincerely to regular folks.

Most Americans are not fooled by Obama and Biden because Obama/Biden are truly MORE OF THE SAME "old boys club;" but this time it is SERVED UP Chicago style.

McCain/Palin will REFORM our government and they have the best VISION for the future of the US; REFORM, PEACE AND PROSPERITY!! Now that's CHANGE I can believe in and I gladly vote for the best Team, McCain/Palin08.

I am so sick of hearing people say that Obama is "the worst possible choice" for president. What are you basing that statement on? You certainly can't compare him to Bush or McCain, who are responsible for the policies that have caused our economy to tank. You also can't believe a word McCain or Palin say. I am sick and tired of having a President who will look us in the eyes and lie. Obama is the only choice for real change. I truly believe he is doing this to leave a better world to his and ultimately our children. It took a democrat to get us out of the depression and it will take another democrat to get us out of this mess. Obama is the only candidate that doesn't have his campaign run by lobbyist. If McCain was truly going to "clean up" America, don't ya think he should start with his own campaign. Wake up and start thinking for yourself. This is an important election and I personally have had enough of Bush/McCain/Palin. Enough is Enough!!! Obama/Biden '08

Its based on the fact that he wants to turn jobs that people get payed for into volunteerism. All the while the government pockets the tax money and raises taxes. Then the great Obama gets up speaks about how wonderful he is for the community when he has done nothing nor the government to help. Once again the government is the actual profiteers. I read his book on hope and change and all it details is socialism and volunteerism where is the bread how is everyone going to feed themselves. Oh, that's right the bread line from the great Obama!

Like it or not christine it isn't Bush who caused 9/11

Yeah…just what I want, a Hockey Mom who doesn't believe in man made global warming, has zilch economic expertise or experience in Washington. All this blather about an "outsider" fixing it all is a total and utter crock.

We need someone who can put together a team of qualified people who will be able to put in reasonable regulation that will prevent runaway greed from hijacking our economy. All the Republicans talk about is deregulation..that's great if you practice responsible capitalism but unfortunately that seems beyond the pale of people…across the board. And for all those homeowners who thought that their adjustable rate mortgage was a mirage off in the distance…well, enough said about that.

The government's budget is NOT immune from disaster either…it was McCain's party, the Republicans and George Bush who has run up the deficit . Tell your grandchildren to have their checkbooks ready!

At least I have heard Obama talk about sacrifice which very few people want to hear about. There is no such thing as a free lunch except for George Bush (remember he ran on the I'M AN OUTSIDER WHO'S GOING TO REFORM WASHINGTON ticket???). It's like saying that the world's people can continue to dump carbon into a closed loop system (aka the earth) and not have any serious consequences..RIGHT, SARAH "MAN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GLOBAL WARMING" PALIN.

As I saw a headline yesterday, GOODBYE LIPSTICK, HELLO ECONOMY.

GOOD BYE BUSH/MCCAIN

HELLO OBAMA/BIDEN

I am an Independent and a recent college graduate with my degree in finance/economics, so I'm just letting you guys know I'm not biased and I'm not blowing smoke here. Here's the real situation, BOTH MCCAIN AND OBAMA say they are going to reform governmental regulation of the financial sector, and THEY ARE BOTH CORRECT! WITH OUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, WE ARE IN THIS CRISIS BECAUSE OF GAMBLING BETS IN SUB-PRIME, THE FACT THAT OUR GOV'T (CONGRESS) SPENDS WAY TO DANG MUCH, AND RISING ENERGY COSTS AS WORLD-WIDE DEMAND GREW AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING OUR PART! This country does need updated governmental regulation of the financial sector, but here's where McCain's and Obama's beliefs change and where the situation gets even more serious. Reform of governmental regulation of the financial sector would be an absolutely fantastic move, and is much needed, but that reform only prevents our current situation from happening in the future and doesn't fix the economic problems we have now. Gas is still too high, with no concrete solutions in the near future, and the price of energy affects ALL SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY. Gas is only going down because the world economy is slowing because it can't handle it being that high. When gas is too high, we can't help but go into a recession as everything from the price of a banana to heating your home, to your favorite jeans goes up. So what we need is both reform of the markets to prevent future problems and energy solutions to fix the present ones. That's where I believe AS AN INDEPENDENT SO NO ONE GETS OFFENDED that John McCain is the best choice. He believes that we need to drill now, which is a great idea because that's our most immediate and quickest option. In addition, he believes all options (nuclear, solar, wind, hydrogen, biofuels, electric, and all combinations and anything else that could come up as an option) should be put on the table if it's safe and moved forward quickly. Now I know Obama supporters are saying he's for all that too but here's where typical democrat and republican differences come into play. Democrats and Obama are for more regulation (which in some cases can be a good thing), but when it comes to fixing the problem with energy which will fix this economy (I'll explain why in one sec), their (and Obama's) regulation move things way to slow. Nuclear is safe. Drilling is safe. So lets shut up and do it. If China is drilling 50 miles off the coast of Key West, FL, why aren't we? Now is the time for less regulation regarding energy and more regulation for financials, which is exactly what John McCain wants to do and what Obama does not (he likes regulation of both; we only need one). Now before I forget, adding ALL energy options on the table (including drilling NOW and nuclear NOW) will lower energy prices because options ALWAYS make prices cheaper. We need to include drilling and nuclear (which Obama is unfortunately supportive of) to achieve the best prices. In doing so, this will fix the entire economy because as energy prices decrease, the price of EVERYTHING THAT COSTS MONEY will decrease meaning you will be spending less money on energy which means you will have more money for other things including your mortgage payment and/or a new house which means you are less likely to default on it, which will improve housing prices, the banks' foreclosure situations, and the banks' confidence that they can lend out new loans with increased likelihood that they will be paid back, which will clean up their balance sheets and get us out of this financial crisis. And don't forget, we all (businesses, banks, and ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS) benefit from lower energy prices that come from more energy options under McCain as businesses will start to see more revenues, which means they can expand, which means they will need workers as well as capital, which YOU will be hired/re-hired and the bank will be able to make more loans to expanding businesses increasing (again) their chances of being paid back which would clean up their balance sheets even more. You see, AS AN INDEPENDENT and a recent college graduate who has been preparing to take over my family's business for the past four years, and is not happy (OBVIOUSLY) about our economic situation, I understand that McCain is the best choice to get us out of this intertwined energy/economic crisis. By the way, the concept of "trickle down" economics is simply an attack by the democrats toward the republicans in hopes that those who don't understand the full ideologies behind the republicans view of less government involvement (and what that actually means) will vote democratic. Republicans are for less taxes for EVERYONE, and what are taxes....revenues for the government...which makes sense because republicans are for less government which means government doesn't need as much money, yet they still feel the need to spend so much. Also, the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac issue started in the CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, so BOTH PARTIES ARE TO BLAME AS NO ONE HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT YET. So, lets move on, start with a clean slate and realize that the best choice (COMING FROM AN INDEPENDENT SO YOU KNOW I'M NOT BIASED) is John McCain.

In that whole giant book of a comment i just wrote i made one error......2/3 of the way down, I wrote (which Obama is unfortunately for) referring to drilling now and nuclear and I left out the word NOT. Obama is NOT FOR DRILLING NOW AND NUCLEAR FAST. He's too hesitant with this issue and that's not good. Sorry about that.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/toles_main.html?name=Toles&date=09152008&type=c

Republicans say they are pro life yet will commit your sons and daughters to war quicker than you can blink your eye.
I am proudly PRO CHOICE!

JnC1234. You sure don't sound like and INDEPENDENT. Here is the bottom line. Republicans use the method of telling you things are bad and blame everone else but themselves, yet don't offer any solutions. You as an INDEPENDENT should really go off and look and get informed on what Drill now means. If you do that you WILL NOT SEE ANY OIL PRODUCTION GO UP FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS. McCain will say what everyone wants to hear and that by drilling now will lower Oil costs. Not true. The problem is the Republicans are in with big business and as long as tehy allow them tax breaks for shipping jobs offshore and allowing OIL compamies to reap huge profits, voting in McCain will push us more into the brink of disaster. If you chooose McCain then you give up your right to bash him when you don't agree with what he is doing. You make your bed you lie in it.

To sugar walls 78

These are 2 totally different topics. First, no one WANTS war. Second, you must also try to rationalize killing of babies by labeling it choice. Third, the Catholic church is STERNLY against abortion, and yet Biden (a Catholic) is pro-choice. Being against abortion and birth control are 2 of the bedrock foundations of the church. Fourth - let me get this straight. You are for the killing of babies (which is what it is), but against war? I would think that since you are for killing little humans, you would also be against killing full grown versions. Spread your hate mongering elsewhere.

To WOW, This is where I think you are wrong. Bush DID want war and did everything to promote that thinking using the excuse of WMD. Also how about the separation of Church and State. The church is against birth control so lets everyone have 15 to 20 kids!!! Who is going to take care of them. You and you alone are responsible for your acts based on you beliefs, NOT WHAT OTHERS SAY. Who in GOVERNMENT has the RIGHT to dictate to me what I can do or cannot do. You have to take responsibility for yourself and the consequences of your actions.

Yes, my point exactly.

Your first point "everyone have 15 to 20 kids".
Your seconde point "you have to take responsibility for yourself"

I think you did a really good job of contradicting yourself.

In addition, when you get an abortion, it is NOT YOURSELF!!!!!!! Why can you not understand that? When you make the decision to remove the human inside of you, you are affecting that human in condemming it to death.

The government is there to PROTECT US. When you make the decision to kill someone, the government stepping in to protect that human is a duty that it should do.

So, how is our government protecting us from illegal immigrants? They don't uphold THOSE laws. What makes you think they will care about unborn babies?

It is a woman's choice to do what she want to with her body. It isn't up to the government, to tell a woman what do with her body. Women have fought to hard to go back 100 years, just because some old rotten fashion people believe so. If I were raped, yes..I would have a abortion.

I must disagree, as it is NOT a human until it can live and breath ON ITS OWN. How dare you suggest that one must suffer and have their lives taken from them because people like you pass judgment onto others. IT IS A PERSONAL CHOICE, AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE and WHATEVER GOD OR HIGHER BEING WE BELIEVE IN, GAVE US THIS CHOICE!!

This is not a 6 month study. We need action, like new tax policies, new banking poliices, new job generation programs.

McCain is so out of touch, he needs to have other people give him ideas through a comission. What a joke.

kjacks08,

My wife is currently pregnant with our second child. Last Thursday, I saw a sonogram of it moving, the heart beating, head, arms and legs moving. That child is a child of god, and it has a soul. That is truly sad that your definiition of an individual with a soul is that it can breath on it's own.

The hate you must have.......

The government doesn't create jobs sugarwalls you moron. Unless you want to live in a socialistic country, get off your duff, and improve your own life. The private sector creates jobs. The only jobs the government creates are government jobs and we have to many of them right now anyway. I am all for cutting 10% of ALL government jobs and budgets right now. We have to many worthless, lazy people depending on the government to "make my life better". Get rid of welfare, create workfare. Cut unemployment benefits to 90 days max. Can't find a job in 90 days, tough, starve.

WOW good for you and I have been raped twice, and I do not appreciate people pushing their unintelligible christian based opinions off onto me or anyone else. I am highly spiritual and a high priestess and shaman and in my religion the soul does not enter into the child until right BEFORE birth. That is sad you believe church and clergy who teach hypocracy. And for the record, I am a single mom of 4, it still does not give you or anyone else a right to shove YOUR PERSONAL OPINIONS down anyone else's throat per YOUR BELIEFS. They are personal and a GOD GIVEN CHOICE NO MATTER THE CREED!

THE SELFISHNESS AND ARROGANCE YOU MUST HAVE, MAY YOU BE FORGIVEN!!

I am a Democrat and I have to agree with you WOW. I think that is a bit extreme.

kjacks08 it is different in the case of rape, but to have a blanket view that life begins only when a baby leaves the womb is over the top. I don't condone rape, but does a baby? I think a morning after pill or early term abortion is within the realm of possibility, but your talking about making it ok to abort an eight month old fetus or something thats over the top.

WOW-

I agree... and so does the bible. Congrats on the new baby... my wife and I just had our second 2 weeks ago and he is truly a blessing from God, and has been since conception (maybe not always convenient, but always a blessing :-).

Over the top or not, who are you or anyone else to pass such judgment? And no I am NOT, I am fine with the laws the way they are, the issue I have is that people continue to push their religious views off onto others as if they are better than them, which is wrong. And did you ask a baby? Did it answer? Give me a break, as long as it is attached to the female to survive, it cannot survive on its own and is a PART of the female until the cord is cut. Whether it is a bit extreme is okay because that is MY personal belief and choice as I HAVE actually EXPERIENCED them and do not just talk about such issues to fill personal idle time.

Truthful-514715

You say I don't sound like an independent simply because I've already made my choice. And that's the problem with our current bipartisan form of government. The person becomes the party. But that's another debate for another day.

You're missing my point and my rule of thumb stands. Options always make prices cheaper. ALL options is the point I'm trying to make. Gov't (the democrats right now) need to move out of the way and let the private sector in America do what it does best.... fix the problems the gov't creates.

JnC12134,

Options if they are available right now which is not the case. As for the prvate sector in America that is a joke. What they care about is PROFITS not about America or its people, just WHAT THEY PUT INTO THIER POCKET.

JNC1234...you make a thorough assessment. However, even if we were to drill now (including in ANWR) we would not reap the benefits until about 2020 or beyond. Also with nuclear power while nuclear energy is competitive and cost-effective, the time that it takes to find an area to build one, licensing, construction and building/maintaining storage and transfer facilities is listed at 15-20 years currently. This time would be better served to focus on alternate energies and seeking ways to curb our current energy crisis. While I believe that drilling should be a small part of the energy plan. It is not the end-all-solve all that Republicans have led many Americans to believe with their chants of drill baby drill.

I think we all understand why the issue of abortion comes up every election. It's a political tool used by the Republicans and nothing else. Personally, I would NOT have an abortion, but that's my choice. The choice GOD himself gave me.

Rk davis amen . well one thing I keep hearing is the republicans want the world economy what I don't understand is what made us a great country is being destroyed by the world economy why would I want to live like Mexico and other 3rd world countries meaning those countries will never let their people have the standard of living we have so that means McCain and the republicans want us on their standards living in huts working for pennies!

Carmin... I'd like to think that no one wants for us to live in huts and work for pennies. Talk like that just divides us more. It's just time for a change because conservative economics run amok isn't working. I'm willing to give the dems four years to do something good. But they need to be alot stronger than they've been in the house and senate over the past two years. Waffling i.e. extending the offensive and unAmerican "patriot act" won't cut it for me. I think most Americans would agree with me. Obama=change in '08!

maybe obama will build you one like his brother lives in in africa

hanna-####

Clever comeback. I guess that's a new conservative punch aimed at Obama b/c through no fault of his own he was unfortunate enough to have been born to an absentee father. A man who he met maybe twice in his lifetime.

It's somehow reflects on him that this absentee father had many wives and many children. One child who the media and the "right" (who supposedly believe families are off limits) have tracked down, to find living in poverty abroad, thus it shows the evil ways of Obama, who has likewise met this half-brothre once or twice in his adulthood. He should feel obligated to provide financial help to one of his estranged father's many children...

You guys are warped!!

@Hanna,
Obama doesn't owe his brother in African anything. His father left him when he was a little boy, so any family that is in African isn't really Obama's responsibility. And his brother said in a interview that he was a Kenyan and he likes his life the way that it is. Now ask Cindy McCain does she acknowledge the half sister that she has... The sister say NO!

"It is a woman's choice to do what she want to with her body. It isn't up to the government, to tell a woman what do with her body."

Agreed. I'm still a Republican more than anything else though, even though I'm pro-choice, pro-gay rights, and an atheist. Political party is a business and economic model more than anything, moral issues are not dependent on political party and have only been made as such through the spreading of stereotypes that the parties themselves have taken over. I'm not independent, I'm a registered Republican, but in reality a Democrat on moral issues while a Republican on economic and business growth models (not Bush policy models but actual Republican models that use business growth to support the poor and middle class while boosting the wealthy, that boost being a requirement to actually sustain any improvements for the poor and middle class in the long run)

"I think a morning after pill or early term abortion is within the realm of possibility,"

And therein we see the problem among many pro-choice/pro-life debates. Many are under the assumption that you can't be both at the same time. Someone here posted something about seeing a sonagram of their child, and relating that to abortion. Well, this isn't the way it works.
Early term abortions are a perfect example. I am very pro-choice on early term abortions. There is NO beating heart, no organs or moving limbs, as described by that previous poster. Then we hit late term abortions, where that HAS formed. There is a heart and a brain, the mind is already thinking for itself. At that point, when a brain is formed and free thought exists, in my opinion there is life and I am pro-life. Before that moment, during MOST abortions (early term abortions are the vast majority), when there is a flap of skin and no thought being capable, I am pro-choice. I saw a ridiculous ad sent out by a pro-life group showing a stillbirth picture, and they claimed that this was what an abortion looked like. They lied to bring people over to their opinion, even though any opinions swayed would have been based off of a complete fabrication. Early term abortions and late term abortions are entirely separate matters, and much more intelligent debate could be had if they were approached as two separate issues. You can't argue against abortion by describing a baby brain and heart, while people are having abortions when these things don't exist, same as you can't argue against anti-abortion by saying no life exists until the baby is born, even though later into a pregnancy, there is free thought and movement. Personal opinion, I'm pro-choice in early terms and pro-life in later-term (medical necessity being a separate matter, the mother should be saved over the child in my opinion, but that's a separate issue entirely from the other two).

Pro choice does NOT mean the same as pro abortion.

I am pro choice and pro-life...I am pro ALL life.

Abortions were happening before Roe vs. Wade. It was done underground and killing lots of women as well.

The problem is when people presume to know everyone's personal circumstances and proclaim themselves judge and jury. I chose to have my two babies, but I cannot condemn those who have abortions due to incest or rape. It would be false to believe that those who are pro-choice advocate that women run around helter-skelter getting pregnant and then aborting their babies.
Their are families out there being faced with unbearable decisions to make. But they have to be made by them with no fear of retribution from others.

I totally agree, trickle down economics does not work.

It's also time to relieve the middle class of some of the burden we bare. Why do the people making the least amount of money pay the biggest percentage of their incomes to the government.

Two years ago Bush/Cheney/McCain tried to convince the American people to allow them to privatize SOCIAL SECURITY and let them invest our "HARD EARNED" money into the STOCK MARKET.

Can you imagine how many people would have been taking the Bridge yesterday? McCain said yesterday, in spite of the the LEHMAN BROTHERS buy out and the MERRILL LYNCH bankruptcy that all was well with the economy!!!

Hey folks, if this non-sense isn't taking off your blinders, and your still can see the McCain/Palin ticket for who they are; I guess you people as well as your children's future will suffer. I am still hoping the MAJORITY of AMERICANS will come to their senses, and not vote the MUMMY/MOMMY into the White House to "screw us more!"

Thanks Slotl

Obama's plan to subsidize alternative energy is a form of 'trickle-down' economics. Call it investing in progress, but it is what it is. It is a viable option depending on the state of the economy. So is giving tax breaks to the lower and lower middle classes; they spend every dime. (I'm a registered Replican, and I was left scratching my head when Bush changed the overtime laws. You don't help the economy by taking money from the poorest sections of the country.)

You are right, the middle class will always foot the bill. That will never change. If you think taxing corporations will work, you're wrong. They will move their corporate offices offshore, or take away emplyee benefits, or cut wages, or raise prices... you get the picture.

From where we are standing in Europe - also in financial turmoil because everything that happens in/ to the US has repercussions for us - anyone working remotely close to Bush's economic policy will mean more misery for the working/ middle classes and more £/ $ for the rich.

We in Europe are finding it so immensely fraustrating that America has the greatest politician in decades on one hand, with the hope, change and much needed inspiration, not to mention the immediate ability to restore America's reputation abroad, and on the other, an ill 72 year old veteran who has to base his 'policy' on issues like gay marriage/ abortion rights/ the church etc, which haven't been issues for Europeans in decades. To us, there is only one choice and we cannot understand how the race could possibly be this close.

A BBC poll of 22 other nations had Obama ahead by 80%. Please, for ALL our sakes, understand that you are not just electing a president for your country. Everything that happens in the US has repercussions in Europe and many other countries of the world. There is only one choice.

OBAMA/ BIDEN 08

Supply side- trickle down doesn't work
Reagan, Bush I now Bush II...
they deregulate and the middle class gets hammered!

Let the financial wolves run free and the nation is victim to greed, corruption and inefficiency!
I am a middle class American! Im voting for my pocketbook, my family and other middle class American folk!

I ask if any of you have felt the economic sting as my family has while elitists enjoy record tax breaks of the past eight years to join me and vote Democratic!

Enough!

I DO NOT see: less people driving or more car pooling, fewer people with cell phones, eating out, or even at football games - high school, college, or pro. Just maybe, we aren't in that 'depression' we've been hearing about. Just a thought. Could it get worse? Absolutely.

Shutter Bunny

Remember McCain wanted to go along with the Bush Administration and PRIVATIZE SOCIAL SECURITY, giving even more of our hard earn money to the failed STOCK MARKET.

Remember McCain agreed with him. Yes you are right he knows nothing about economics nor does he want too. He has the corporate lobbyist working for his campaign and that is all he cares about.

The poor sound bites from OBAMA, on the other hand are the medias fault. The MEDIA is very BIAS towards McMummy and the MOMMY because they do not want to see OBAMA win.
Even, if it means screwing the NATION and the CITIZENS!

Remember how they approved practically every thing Bush said and did too! WMD'S, IRAQIS and 9/11, SADDAM and 9/11, the list goes on.

cmfoley,

History has proved time and time again over and over again that liberal economics work for all in society not just the rich or the poor.

Conservative economics, historically, have failed virtually every time.

Furthermore, those that you follow so blindly that make "Liberal" a bad word happen to be Fascist.

Show me a fascists governed country over the last 200 years that has prevailed. You won't find it because it doesn't exist.

When I said "I agree regarding trickle down theory", I meant - I agree it doesn't work.