McCain or Obama? What's your take and why?

[nicellis0325]

Originally Posted by blueroses Obama is a socialist and McCain is a fascist, neither are any good. One thing is certain, the American people will be the biggest losers this election. I am a Christian and I don't believe in voting as I see it being a worldly activity. If I did vote, it would be for Ron Paul.

I am a Christian too..Didn't God institute government? I feel that He would want us to take a stand for what is right...

[elizabethm]

I would prefer Ron Paul but that's not going to happen. Of Obama and McCain, I'd vote for McCain. I'm not going to spout any of the talking points I see over and over from both sides.

On McCain, the man truly has a political career where he's reached across the aisle. He thought there were problems and tried to fix them (e.g. McCain Feingold). His female staffers are paid better than his male staffers :) He called for Rumsfeld's ouster way before any other Republican did. He doesn't tow the party line all the time. I have respect for that. Is he perfect? Heck no.

In McCain's speech, he mentioned he is interested in giving the structurally employed financial assistance while they were being retrained. He understands (although it took a while) that lower corporate tax rates make businesses want to stay here. He's looking to give some tax credits for health insurance so we can maintain a private health insurance system and encourage more people to get into that system rather than rack up medical debt when something comes up.

As an aside - if you truly think that government run health care is what we all should be under in the US, please really think about it. Do you like the Patriot Act? Well, what are the chances of the government listening into your telephone calls, really? Conversely, with government run health care, what are the chances of the government looking at your health records? 100%. And since when does the government do anything efficiently? I'm not saying [fill insurance company in here] is the best thing since sliced bread. But I'd rather deal with someone from an insurance company than some govie who can't get fired if I have a problem. I'd also be paying for private health insurance on top of my ridiculous tax rate to pay for any care I want because the national care would be rationed, as it is in Canada, the UK, etc. I live in a state where my health insurance premiums are high because we have to pay for expensive, elective procedures including in-vitro fertilization. What's that going to look like across the country? How many more elective procedures are going to have to be covered by universal health insurance? How much is that going to cost?

I guess I have feelings about universal health care. And I just don't want the government in my life any more than it is - in fact, I'd like a lot less of it. But there's no chance of that, no matter which one we elect.

As for McCain voting 90% of the time with Bush, some years it was in the 70's, some years mid 90's. I'd be interested to see what percentage of Obama's votes were "with Bush". Although, since Obama has a very short record, Biden might be a better question - but the VP isn't running for the P spot. I honestly am curious about that one.

Yes, McCain is 72. And Obama's a heavy smoker at 47 (he admits he was still smoking this year). My father was dead at 56 from smoking and a local radio DJ, who'd quit smoking at 30, was dead of lung cancer at 52 a few years ago. Who dies first is a crapshoot.

So, of the two, McCain. Not with relish but I'm not throwing up about it either.

[derketchup]

Originally Posted by nicellis0325 Nice spin on that, but you knew exactly what I was talking about. We can have this mute argument all day about race. You knew what I meant, which has been proven many times--with Obamas "oops gun-clinging message to his elitist buddies in San Francisco." My pet peeves are people who skim messages without fully reading them, and using the race card as if playing a hand of poker.

Actually, I have no idea to what you are referring to with the "oops gun-clinging message...." Could you provide a source?

[debranator]

Wow! I just received a negative Rep from Derketchup, Forum moderator, for having an opinion...thats nice...thanks HCW

I think it's sophomoric that we can't even discuss issues on here without being attacked personally...
I agree with you,
as I had the same thoughts.
Guess censure is back in style.

[wendypsaves]

Originally Posted by Andra And even if McCain does not have clear objectives laid out, Palin has a record of increasing funding for special needs kids:

Here are some points originally by Michael T. Bailey - Faculty, University of Arizona, reprinted on Blogging Down Syndrome

Governor Palin is running for vice-president. She will follow the McCain platform on all issues.

1. Senator McCain has voted no on every proposal before Congress to increase SSI
basic payments to people with disabilities. Right now my 20-year-old daughter gets
$471/month. That’s fine while she lives with us. She will get the same amount when she’s 70.
He receives a well deserved $60,000/year disability from the navy but has opposed increased
benefits to anyone with a disability.
2. Senator McCain supported the reauthorization of IDEA, which is the first ever that cuts back
on the rights of families and kids.
3. I realize that for most people on this list The Community Choice Act seems remote. But for
adults with disabilities it is the most significant thing to come before Congress in decades.
In short it allows us to access Medicare funds to support people to live in their own homes
with their own staff and not be forced into communal group homes or nursing homes. Sen. McCain
strongly opposes this and has made it clear he will not sign if he becomes President. As I posted
before he had dozens of chair users recently arrested when they came to his office to talk about this.
4. Senator McCain has opposed all effort to expand health care. If he is elected there is no chance
of anything remotely resembling universal coverage or even affordable coverage. This is a huge
issue for adults with disabilities living on their paltry SSI payment.
5. Senator McCain refused to co-sponsor the ADA restoration act pending in Congress. The act passed the House overwhelmingly in June and is now stalled in the Senate.
6. I was at Walter Reed Hospital in March one week before the Washington Post broke the story
of abuse and neglect of veterans. McCain has consistently voted no on increased appropriation for
veterans and voted no on increasing educational opportunity.
7. Senator McCain has voted no on all attempts to increase the federal contribution to special education funding.

Having listed those, I still hope that if it's a McCain/Palin administration, she's able and willing to influence change and support for people with disabilities.

[debranator]

Senator McCain has opposed all effort to expand health care. If he is elected there is no chance
of anything remotely resembling universal coverage or even affordable coverage. This is a huge
issue for adults with disabilities living on their paltry SSI payment.

I thought that if you get SSI, you automatically get Medicaid.
I know that my DH did.
It is very hard to get on Medicaid as it is the only government program that will pay for a nursing home,
but once he got SSI
he was automatically enrolled.

[mama22qts]

Originally Posted by derketchup Actually, I have no idea to what you are referring to with the "oops gun-clinging message...." Could you provide a source?

Has to be the one about people being bitter and clinging to their guns.

[austinmomto2]

Originally Posted by nicellis0325 I like that McCain wants to drill for oil instead of pander to the environmentalists AND I LOVE the fact that he isn't a European Socialist.

For me, oil drilling is an archaic source of energy. Researching and using more efficient, renewable energy resources that have minimal effect on our future generations is most important to me.

Because I have 2 children, I want a clean and healthy environment for them to prosper. I stated this in the other threads, but without a healthy/clean environment, our future generations will not exist. If they do not exist, neither will the issues of government control, pro-choice/pro-life, universal health care, increased taxes, etc etc.

So "pandering to the environmentalists" IS something I look for in candidate!

I also am very intrigued by his European socialism! It is important for me that ALL people have health care, not just the ones who can afford to pay for insurance coverage and outrageous co-pays. While I may not be an avid church-goer, I believe in taking care of our fellow citizens. If this makes me a socialist, then so be it. But, I feel it is the ethical/moral thing to do. I do not define my existence in terms of being a Socialist, Communist, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, etc-these are all just identities/labels not an authentic self.

[collectorofbells]

is there a none of the above option? LOL

or how bout Mickey Mouse?

since there's now way in hello I could possibly vote for McCain....I guess it's Obama