Here are some of my thoughts from the 2nd and 3rd Presidential Debates:
Debate #2, Belmont University
- Question #1 - Solutions for the down economy
Obama: "It means help for homeowners so that they can stay in their homes. It means that we are helping state and local governments set up road projects and bridge projects that keep people in their jobs."
Obama has forgotten, yet again, about the role of the Federal government. First, homeownership is not a Federal issue - no how, no way. Second, it is NOT within the purview of the Federal government to step in and "help" state and local governments unless (a) that help is specifically requested and (b) it is for an issue that the Federal government should address. And jobs are not a Federal issue! And furthermore, where is the money going to come from to create these jobs? This idiot proposes more and more and more spending but swears taxes will go down instead of up. He needs a basic lesson in (a) the Constitution (power to the states/people) and (b) math.
McCain: "We obviously have to stop this spending spree that's going on in Washington. Do you know that we've laid a $10 trillion debt on these young Americans who are here with us tonight, $500 billion of it we owe to China?"
Thank you. NO MORE WASHINGTON SPENDING. We need to CUT, not ADD. - Question #2 - How does bailout package help ordinary citizens
McCain: "...one of the real catalysts, really the match that lit this fire was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. ... But you know, they're the ones that, with the encouragement of Sen. Obama and his cronies and his friends in Washington, that went out and made all these risky loans, gave them to people that could never afford to pay back."
Again, thank you. Thank you for acknowledging that the fault in bulky home loans lies between the lenders and the buyers, NOT The Federal government.
Obama: "Right now, the credit markets are frozen up and what that means, as a practical matter, is that small businesses and some large businesses just can't get loans. If they can't get a loan, that means that they can't make payroll. If they can't make payroll, then they may end up having to shut their doors and lay people off."
Talk about ALARMIST! How many businesses actually need loans to make payroll? Certainly not the millions of businesses that Obama predicts. This is a stupid thought in the first place, because it would seem to suggest that they'd need a loan every payday. Come on now. - Question #3 - How can either be trusted with money
Obama: I'm not even going to quote him, here. His answer was completely scattered, he had no plan or solution to offer, and simply sounded like an idiot.
McCain: Again, I'm not going to quote. However, I like how McCain pointed to his record versus Obama's, clearly showing that he better understands the economy. - Question #4 - What sacrifices will Americans need to make to get out of the economic mess
McCain: "I first proposed a long time ago that we would have to examine every agency and every bureaucracy of government. And we're going to have to eliminate those that aren't working. ... I believe that we have to eliminate the earmarks. And sometimes those projects, not -- not the overhead projector that Sen. Obama asked for, but some of them that are really good projects, will have -- will have to be eliminated, as well. And they'll have to undergo the same scrutiny that all projects should in competition with others."
This is a fabulous response. A politician suggesting less money be spent - it's the obvious solution, but not one that many would acknowledge.
Obama: Nothing worthy of quoting. Apparently, he thinks we should save energy. And that'll fix the economy. I know...I'm laughing, too. - Question #5 - What about unfunded obligations to Social Security and Medicare
Obama: This idiot alludes to taking on entitlements during his first term as President. Let's not get cocky, here. Don't allude to your first term as if that's a guarantee, let alone a second term. In his response, he outlines his tax plan - with the moving target of income limits to get a break. Never alludes to Social Security or Medicare.
McCain: He didn't give specifics of what to be done, but he did one better - suggested putting together a commission to address instead of assuming that he has all the right answers himself. Bravo! - Question #6 - Congress and Environmental issues
McCain: His response was to advocate nuclear power. And how he and Sen. Lieberman went around looking at greenhouse gas emissions. Um, not a response, per se.
Obama: He didn't really respond directly, either, looking only at energy issues. Null point. - Question #7 - Healthcare as a commodity
Obama AND McCain: Ok, folks. You already know how I feel about healthcare - and let me remind you that I've worked in healthcare. Obama is suggesting socialized medicine. Period. And I'm opposed to that 100%. McCain is suggested supplementation through income tax credits. I'm not really thrilled with that either. My opinion is to let it alone. Know what? I've had major medical issues myself. I've gone into debt to pay for them. But I'd rather that be the case than have to follow government mandates over managing my own health. - Question #8 - Economic stress vs. America's position as a peacemaker
McCain: "I am convinced that my record, going back to my opposition from sending the Marines to Lebanon, to supporting our efforts in Kosovo and Bosnia and the first Gulf War, and my judgment, I think, is something that I'm -- a record that I'm willing to stand on. Sen. Obama was wrong about Iraq and the surge. He was wrong about Russia when they committed aggression against Georgia. And in his short career, he does not understand our national security challenges. We don't have time for on-the-job training, my friends."
All I can say is: AMEN!
Obama: "Now, Sen. McCain and I do agree, this is the greatest nation on earth. We are a force of good in the world. But there has never been a nation in the history of the world that saw its economy decline and maintained its military superiority."
Really, Obama? Isn't it your wife who said she was finally proud to be an American? And next, I've already addressed that your little remark here is wrong. During the Great Depression, we proved our military superiority by kicking ass in World War 2. Get your facts straight. Oh, wait. You can't. That would mean not making up stuff to suit your own agenda. - Annnnd...this is where I lost interest, quite honestly. There were still a few questions left, but I drifted off.
Debate #3, Hofstra University
Selected quotes and my responses:
- It's funny to me that right off the bat, when asked about finances, both McCain and Obama repeated exact phrases from the prior debate.
- It's funnier that Obama can't seem to keep his own numbers straight. Is it $250k or $200k that makes someone right, you dumb fool? He uses both numbers in subsequent responses. Get it straight!
- Oh, my gosh. Joe the Plumber. Hasn't this man already had more than his 15 minutes of fame? Let's move on, people!
- It's not hard for a small business to make MORE than $250k.
- For the record, Mr. "I don't mind paying a little more" Obama, spreading the wealth around is a SOCIALIST or COMMUNIST concept.
- When asked what each man would cut in spending, Obama gave vague answers and McCain pointed to how he's saved taxpayer money in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Yay, McCain!
- McCain: "Senator Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago. I'm going to give a new direction to this economy in this country."
BRAVO! Well stated! Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Obama! - Obama: "If I'm interested in figuring out my foreign policy."
A sphincter says what? - McCain: "You don't tell countries you're going to unilaterally renegotiate agreements with them."
Yes, but Obama thinks he's above the rules of fair play. - Obama: "I exempt small businesses from having to pay into a kitty."
Do ya, now? Ain't that special. Considering that if you become President, you'll be an EXECUTIVE, not a LEGISLATOR. - Obama: "I think it's going to be critically important for us to recruit a generation of new teachers, an army of new teachers, especially in math and science, give them higher pay, give them more professional development and support in exchange for higher standards and accountability."
So...instead of improving current resources, you'd swap them out for next gen. Pay more? You idiot. With what money? This is NOT a FEderal issue. - McCain: "So choice and competition amongst schools is one of the key elements that's already been proven in places in like New Orleans and New York City and other places, where we have charter schools, where we take good teachers and we reward them and promote them."
I agree with this wholeheartedly. Because my child will not step one foot in the public schools that my neighborhood feeds into. A charter school or enrolling in the neighboring school district - that'd be fine. Otherwise, it's private school or homeschooling for us.
And...that's that. Again, I don't support every idea from McCain...but they're, by and large, far more rational than anything I've heard uttered by Obama.
Happy voting!
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