Run to the White House: 2008

[Henrietta]

You know, I am willing to listen to a good argument on health care. I have thought to myself...perhaps I should vote for Obama because health care really is ridiculous here. Even people who work extremely hard and aren't entitled, can barely afford health care. It is definitely broken. Almost anything is better than what we have now. My problem is that when we start giving the government permission to run things for us they turn to crap! Look what they just did with the mortgage industry. Holy cow. They just can't be trusted with anything whatsoever. That being said, that is the ONLY thing I'd even consider being nationalized.

[xjsb125]

Whoever commented on the midway point on the last page, I like that idea. It would be hard to blanket what would be considered basic, preventative health care. Too much gray area, but, it would be a nice compromise. I think some costs on medication need to be driven down as well, which Walmart, Walgreens, Krogers, and some other retailers have done utilizing $4 generic drug programs.

[Henrietta]

Another issue I know many, myself included, are concerned about is the motivation to go into the health care. Yes, of course you should have the desire to help people. But if you're going to go to 10+ years of school, you HAVE to be looking at a really good income to make it worth it. To even make it feasible. That's another reassurance I'd like to hear.

[nikki4982]

Gotta say, really liking how everyone's talking about this in here. Granted, I missed what I'm guessing was an ugly religion debate, but what remains is good stuff.

Obama's healthcare plan is pretty middle-groundish.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

[Henrietta]

This whole bail out/recovery package makes me sick. When it's 4 pages long and has ONE purpose, to save our failing economy, it fails. But as soon as it's 400+ pages full of fluff about Nascar tracks and mental health issues...well THEN it passes.I just want to start completely anew a vote NORMAL people into office. Maybe this will wake Americans up to actually voting for people they believe in instead of letting everyone else vote for them.

[Kicker774]

I know it's become full of dangling carrots for senators and representatives to chase after, but is there truley stuff for Nascar in there?

I'll have to check into it further.

[Neil]

Decrease some key costs which will in turn increase some key spending. I know there is more logistics to it, but seriously.....

For instance, anybody else shouting coincidence that the price per barrel of oil, today, fell to below 94 bucks??? Its been a while since we've seen it that low. And they claim its due to lack of demand. C'mon now.

[Kicker774]

Gas always comes back down after labor day with less road trips happening out there.

Now more than ever take into the consideration of more people driving fuel-efficient vehicles.

Aside from the chaos happening at the pump in Atlanta I wouldn't be surprised that there's a drop in demand.

[Henrietta]

Plus now we're all used to taking the bus. I'm taking the bus and public transportation now more than ever and I don't plan to switch back to driving my car in every day. When I get married I'm living next to work so I plan to walk. The price of gas has made everyone change their habits.

And yes, there really are tax cuts for race tracks. And money to research wool. I'm not joking.

[Neil]

I understand that people are going to start driving less, but I still think there's some type of connection there. I like to believe many things in our economic and goverment system have conspiracy written all over them.

[Henrietta]

Anyone watch the debate last night? I love how democrats are claiming victory and so are republicans. Too bad main stream media is democrat, because there was obviously no winner. It all evened out to me. There were moments when I thought that Biden had some good points and there were other where I thought Palin had him. In fact I counted and thought Palin had him more times than he had her. The problem with Biden is that he is so smug. Like, "oh, this poor woman." So arrogant, what a jerk. I watched some of the SNL skits making fun of Sarah Palin. They were funny, BUT she is not really like that. She was well spoken, doesn't have a ridiculous accent that I swear they're making all republicans out to have, and does not come across as stupid. She comes across as real. In fact I think they try to make real people appear stupid all of the time.

I'm just so frustrated with government right now I could go on and on and on. And then cry. Our founding fathers did not envision this. Professional politicians. They wanted real people, with jobs and lives, leading us! Not billionaires.

[xjsb125]

I believe it was over on yahoo news that I read a long list of false claims made by each candidate during last nights debate. Both of them still suck.

[Kicker774]

Palin came out on top simply becuase she didn't fall on her face like everyone was anticipating.

But it basically played out like this:
Palin: Barack Obama has voted party line 94.7%
Biden: John McCain has voted party line 98.5%

Barack voted to raise your taxes 40 times
McCain voted against the troosp 87 times

They didn't say too much about themselves.

What really annoyed me was they didn't answer the questions given them. I noticed this more so with Palin then Biden.

Moderator: Ms. Palin what is your plan for fixing this economy?

Palin: Well if I could back to the remarks on the war ....


It turned into more of a bunch of talking points and campaign pledges than an actual question and answer debate session.

[Henrietta]

Eiffel has a book coming out that support Obama. Clearly biased. Neither of them answered any of the questions directly. It's a fallacy of debates. Neither did Obama and McCain. In fact, I thought the VP nominees did a better job of answering the questions than the presidential candidates.

And as for Palin succeeding simply because she didn't fall on her face: lame. Biden is a jerk, plain and simple. Have you heard some of the things he says when he thinks no one is listening? Indredible.

[Henrietta]

So I mean is: everyone should be glad that Biden didn't put his foot in his mouth.

[Kicker774]

Have you heard some of the things he says when he thinks no one is listening? Indredible.

You mean:

Deleware could kick Ohio State's ass in football

I don't have a problem with that

I agree though his smile does come off as smug.
On the flip side I'm going to make a drinking game out of everytime the word Maverick is used.

[Henrietta]

No. His incredible arrogance in what he says. Like.... only Indians work in Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks. And claiming he has higher IQ than others.

[Kicker774]

The best part came 22 seconds before the debate started:

[Random Name]

Eiffel has a book coming out that support Obama. Clearly biased. Neither of them answered any of the questions directly. It's a fallacy of debates. Neither did Obama and McCain. In fact, I thought the VP nominees did a better job of answering the questions than the presidential candidates.

Gwen Ifill did a fantastic job and was impartial. She called out both candidates several times for not directly answering the questions. Her book is entitled "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama" and really seems to be a critical examination of race in modern American politics, based on the title. I don't believe someone who is on the board of the Harvard Institute of Politics is really going to be a biased moderator, anyways.

She comes across as real. In fact I think they try to make real people appear stupid all of the time.

I didn't watch the whole debate but there were several times when I just cringed at her lack of professionalism.
"I will tell America straight up..."
"Oh, man, it’s so obvious that I’m a Washington outsider and someone just not used to the way you guys operate..."

That's not the way I think the second most important person in the country should present themselves. But hey, I'm Canadian.

[nikki4982]

The best part came 22 seconds before the debate started:

So you're a Farker, eh?

I didn't watch the VP debate (and I missed the first presidential one, too, cos I was at Weezer), so I can't really weigh in on it. Really, they're pointless to watch anyway because, like you all have already pointed out, nobody ever answers the questions they're asked. I know it's strategic, but I always wonder if politicians realize how stupid that makes them look.