Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin

[Flamingo]

OK...I know all of us have our comments about who should win and why. I think both pairs are strong but I question McCain's choice of Palin - while I think it is a strong statement (and risky) to bring in an somewhat inexperienced younger mom image into the mix (extremely controversial but what an impact!), I personally think it was the wrong move for him to make just due to her inexperience, and if something should happen to McCain while in office during the next 4 years, she would become President. I find that a scary situation and one that may turn away voters from the Republican ticket.

Thoughts?

[ThreadsSnapping]

I'm not making any decisions for a few weeks at least. Just want to see how she handles it all first. Being from Philly originally, I know enough about Biden to feel confident he would be ok in the White house if something should happpen to Obama but Palin is still unknown. Once the fuss and suprise over her wears off it will be easier to get a better take on her.

But from just taking to people around town in the past few weeks who where still undecided, Palin's name came up many times as someone they would like to see McCain choose. I don't think his choice of Palin will cost him the election, but I also don't think it will help him as much as he thinks it will. Biggest thing is I don't think she will pull as many of the Hillary supporters over as he thinks she will.

I've got to say, this just made the election a whole lot more interesting.

TS

[JRScott]

McCain needed someone from outside of Washington. He needed someone that was not afraid to buck the system now and then. Who could vote or perform according to their conscious. Now I was surprised by the pick of Palin, however she does fit that bill.

I posted in the Political Discussion thread before he announced his choice on why I felt the ones the media were throwing around were bad choices. I had suggested Alveda King.

Palin has done well as governor of Alaska in confronting corruption charges. Yes there is a family dispute were someone claims she wrongly got her ex brother in law fired but from what's been seen so far the evidence is flimsy she did so. (Gosh Mike Huckabee was accused of a dozen ethical violations, and found guilty of at least 5......)

What it ensures is that either ticket is Historic. The same is true if the Green party ticket were to somehow win. After all they have a woman for president and vice president. I believe McCain needed a minority or woman on his ticket to help make a transition and to show he himself was still the maverick.

Huckabee through his forces had stirred up such an Anti Mormon fervor that neither Huckabee could be on the ticket (for fear of losing the Western states) nor Romney could be on the ticket (for fear of the close Southern races).

I think Obama's choice was bad. He has run on the mantra of change, yet he picked a running mate who has been in the senate for 35 years. He himself in 3 years in the senate has shown up for work less than 200 days so far. He did not evoke change in Illinois and to date he has not shown any ability to work across party lines or to get anything done. Biden has run for President twice in primaries, he was not popular either time. He does have the foreign policy experience Obama needs but if the initial reactions to Russia's invasion of Georgia are any indication of the advice Biden gives he'd be better with someone else. The choice for Obama to pick Biden goes against everything Obama has told the people. Remember it is the VP who sits as president of Congress and it is he that will control to a certain extent what is accomplished. Biden's been there 35 years already and has accomplished nothing memorable.

McCain on the other hand chose someone who is a maverick herself. Who has confronted corruption, fought against bloated budgets, is for energy independence, and has been a strong critic of Washington DC even with AK delegation. She's ruffled a lot of feathers in Alaska and that's the real reason someone posted a bogus ethics violation investigation. If there was someone I'd rather have to break tie votes in the senate it would be her over Biden.

I will not vote for McCain-Palin or Obama-Biden though. I plan to vote for Barr-Root since Baldwin-Castle has failed to get write in status in North Carolina.

[Mi Bankruptcy]

Interesting thoughts from everyone. I wont make my final decisions until I watch some debates. However, Obama is appealing to me to me because of his struggles and what he's been able to accomplish. Yes, everyone has struggles and many over come setbacks. However, what makes obama appealing to me is his lack of time in congress. Meaning... he has not been their long enough to build "debt" based on comprimises to other senators or special interest groups to get his legislation or bills pushed through congress. Biden has years of debts and comprimises.. However, he may be able to provide Obama with a "beware" approach when obama trys to push though legislation if he gets elected.

John is not the maverick he used to be.. I would have preffered he picked Leiberman.

[HHM]

OK...I know all of us have our comments about who should win and why. I think both pairs are strong but I question McCain's choice of Palin - while I think it is a strong statement (and risky) to bring in an somewhat inexperienced younger mom image into the mix (extremely controversial but what an impact!), I personally think it was the wrong move for him to make just due to her inexperience, and if something should happen to McCain while in office during the next 4 years, she would become President. I find that a scary situation and one that may turn away voters from the Republican ticket.

Thoughts?

Ultimately, people do not vote based on the VP. They pick the President. Plus in this case, the experience argument is quite thin. Let's face it, Obama has only spent 4 years in the Senate, half which he spent running for President. I would rather have someone with executive experience as president than someone only with legislative experience. I agree with JR, McCain's pick was far better than Obama's.

This pick accomplished what it was supposed to, it extinguished the post convention fire of Obama. Instead of talking about his speech etc, we are talking about McCain's VP pick. Very Shrewed.

[JRScott]

Interesting thoughts from everyone. I wont make my final decisions until I watch some debates. However, Obama is appealing to me to me because of his struggles and what he's been able to accomplish. Yes, everyone has struggles and many over come setbacks. However, what makes obama appealing to me is his lack of time in congress. Meaning... he has not been their long enough to build "debt" based on comprimises to other senators or special interest groups to get his legislation or bills pushed through congress. Biden has years of debts and comprimises.. However, he may be able to provide Obama with a "beware" approach when obama trys to push though legislation if he gets elected.

John is not the maverick he used to be.. I would have preffered he picked Leiberman.

Obama is beholden to many special interest groups from his days in Illinois Senate (10 years...didn't do anything there either at least nothing noteworthy unless you count not voting a third of the time....).

John couldn't have picked Joe Lieberman. If he had done that then he would have lost what little base support he has for the R and ultimately lost the election. I would not be surprised though to see Lieberman get a cabinet post, I also wouldn't be surprised if McCain nominated Hillary Clinton to the Supreme court.

[fltoo]

OK...I know all of us have our comments about who should win and why. I think both pairs are strong but I question McCain's choice of Palin - while I think it is a strong statement (and risky) to bring in an somewhat inexperienced younger mom image into the mix (extremely controversial but what an impact!), I personally think it was the wrong move for him to make just due to her inexperience, and if something should happen to McCain while in office during the next 4 years, she would become President. I find that a scary situation and one that may turn away voters from the Republican ticket.

Thoughts?

You are right. This "younger mom", governor, leading expert on oil and gas problems, corruption fighter has NO experience at sitting in the senate for over 30 years, building up political connections, owing favors, collecting the very best in health and retirement benefits and pay raises, attending cocktail parties, and wasting tax payer money on so called foreign affair trips.

You want experience? Vote for Ted Kennedy, Byrd, Biden and yes, McCain.
I am voting for the bottom of the ticket hoping she will become President.

Just for the record, this has nothing to do with her being a woman. Nancy Pelosi is a train wreck.

[lrprn]

I thought that Obama's speech on Thursday night was extraordinary. I'm more sure now than ever that he has the ability to lead our country in a different direction away from big money corruption and big lobbyists back to the center and provide more support to the middle and lower classes where it has been sorely lacking. I support Obama/Biden 100%.

McCain/Palin are just more of the last eight years. The Republican machine and their very wealthy supporters who want to keep the status quo with the financial tables tilted incredibly in their favor won't allow anything different no matter who's on the ticket.

And I have to say, as a woman I cannot believe a mother of five, including an infant less than a year old with Downs syndrome, would take on the vice-presidency. To me she's putting her personal political ambitions above the well-being of her young family. Her time with them will be very limited during the coming four years if McCain wins. Is her full-time working husband going to quit his job to become mom and dad? I'm with Flamingo - I hate the thought of this inexperienced "hockey mom" with no international experience who believes in everything I oppose leading our country if something happens to McCain.

And as far as Hillary supporters voting for Palin, forget it. Palin is pro-life, pro-guns, pro everything Hillary is against. Hillary supporters wanted HILLARY to be president, not some unknown woman to be VP who doesn't agree with them on the important political causes they support. They aren't going to vote for Palin just because she's female. I think the McCain inner circle missed the boat big-time on this one if that was their hope.

[JRScott]

Considering the pay scale of a vice president and housing allowances then yes the father could afford to give up his job for 4 years.

I'm amazed that people think she should be disqualified because she has 5 children even if one is of special needs. She certainly has a much stronger record on change, fighting corruption, and fiscal responsibility than Obama, McCain or Biden. We can at least say she attended to her elected duties with all due diligence the last 2 years whereas Obama and McCain have squandered the votes of the people of Illinois and Arizona choosing instead of doing the job they were elected to do, to seek out greater political ambitions while on the government payroll.

Not one single working American who missed as many days of work in the last 2 years as either Obama or McCain have would have a job more less a promotion.

[fltoo]

Don't know. Is Obama putting his ambitions ahead of his family? Is Michelle Obama going to quit her job to be both mother and father to the children?

Excellent question there Iprn.

[fltoo]

Considering the pay scale of a vice president and housing allowances then yes the father could afford to give up his job for 4 years.

I'm amazed that people think she should be disqualified because she has 5 children even if one is of special needs. She certainly has a much stronger record on change, fighting corruption, and fiscal responsibility than Obama, McCain or Biden. We can at least say she attended to her elected duties with all due diligence the last 2 years whereas Obama and McCain have squandered the votes of the people of Illinois and Arizona choosing instead of doing the job they were elected to do, to seek out greater political ambitions while on the government payroll.

Not one single working American who missed as many days of work in the last 2 years as either Obama or McCain have would have a job more less a promotion.

You are amazed that people think this way JR? I am sickened. I gave my sons and daughters the skills to be whatever they wanted despite people that think like Iprn. Gladly, they bought into it.

Sad, here we are making history, a black man and a woman. Yet, there are people who negate BOTH just because of whom they are.

Making a judment that this woman is putting her political ambitions above her children is not only disgusting, but enforces the fact that we need better educated voters.

Vote for whom you please, of course, but please don't base your vote on inane thinking.

Damn, isn't it bad enough that there are still freaks in our nation that won't vote for Obama just because he is black? Now, we have a voter saying that Palin is not a good mother because she won't have time for her kids if she becomes Vice Pres.

[banca rotta]

OK...I know all of us have our comments about who should win and why. I think both pairs are strong but I question McCain's choice of Palin - while I think it is a strong statement (and risky) to bring in an somewhat inexperienced younger mom image into the mix (extremely controversial but what an impact!), I personally think it was the wrong move for him to make just due to her inexperience, and if something should happen to McCain while in office during the next 4 years, she would become President. I find that a scary situation and one that may turn away voters from the Republican ticket.

Thoughts?

She actually has more time and experience then Obama. Like HHM said not too many people will decide because of the VP.

My mind is made up already not by party like I used to vote. I am voting for "anyone but Obama" and wouldn't be upset if the dems still maintained control of the house.

After Bush's first 6 years and Clintons first 2 years we need a divided, partisan government to maintain checks and balances.

[banca rotta]

I thought that Obama's speech on Thursday night was extraordinary. I'm more sure now than ever that he has the ability to lead our country in a different direction away from big money corruption and big lobbyists back to the center and provide more support to the middle and lower classes where it has been sorely lacking. I support Obama/Biden 100%.

McCain/Palin are just more of the last eight years. The Republican machine and their very wealthy supporters who want to keep the status quo with the financial tables tilted incredibly in their favor won't allow anything different no matter who's on the ticket.

And I have to say, as a woman I cannot believe a mother of five, including an infant less than a year old with Downs syndrome, would take on the vice-presidency. To me she's putting her personal political ambitions above the well-being of her young family. Her time with them will be very limited during the coming four years if McCain wins. Is her full-time working husband going to quit his job to become mom and dad? I'm with Flamingo - I hate the thought of this inexperienced "hockey mom" with no international experience who believes in everything I oppose leading our country if something happens to McCain.

And as far as Hillary supporters voting for Palin, forget it. Palin is pro-life, pro-guns, pro everything Hillary is against. Hillary supporters wanted HILLARY to be president, not some unknown woman to be VP who doesn't agree with them on the important political causes they support. They aren't going to vote for Palin just because she's female. I think the McCain inner circle missed the boat big-time on this one if that was their hope.

You can't keep buying the "Repubs are for big money" and "Dems are for the little guy".

Obama has much, much more campaign money and larger doners then McCain. If Obama supposedly gave up a potentialy, successfull career to go into public service just for you and me which is more political BS, then where did he get his own wealth from? Who are his backers that's allowing him not to accept public campaign financing? Something is missing.

[lrprn]

You can't keep buying the "Repubs are for big money" and "Dems are for the little guy".

Why not? All I have to do is look at who has been driving Congress for the last seven years when the Republicans controlled the presidency and both houses.

Ironic that you are here on a bankruptcy website defending Republicans who allowed credit industry lobbyists to write the 2005 bankruptcy bill and then used the Republican leadership to force it through Congress by using outright lies and extreme exaggerations knowing ahead of time it wasn't going to produce the publicized effects promised for consumers but would tremendously benefit the big credit interests - http://www.consumerlaw.org/initiativ...cy/hr975.shtml

then where did he get his own wealth from? Who are his backers that's allowing him not to accept public campaign financing? Something is missing.

Obama is getting most of his money from millions of small donors who believe in his message of change. When their money is combined, it equals millions to more than match the traditional big donors. Yes, Obama does have some big donors, but not as many as McCain.

Instead of listening to the "spin doctors" on both sides, find out on your own who is contributing what to each candidate at independent websites like http://www.opensecrets.org/?gclid=CL...FRhhnAodfUctQQ and http://www.maplight.org/?gclid=CMHP1...FQEQnQod0jyoRg

[banca rotta]

I am putting down Obama. I am not defending the republicans. I certainly never defended the change in bk laws. I don't like the republicans because they support bigger government just like the dems support wealthy Americans. Corporate America was always in bed with the repubs. & the hollywood wealthy elites are always in bed with the dems.

I have stated that I no longer want an America controlled by either one party.