Presidential Debate CNN held on February 21, 2008 in Austin, Texas
These are my notes from the debate. I missed the first half and these are my impressions.
Obama keeps saying the phrase, "That's a debate I want to have." Come on man, you're in a debate right now, have it out!
Obama has said over and over that he wants to "Sit down with our enemies" and talk it out. But, looks like he is flip-flopping tonight. He just gave a one minute explanation that if you covered your TV screen would have sounded like a Republican Presidential candidate talking about his readiness to be the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. Too bad Obama never served in the military.
Obama just went off on Pakistan. Saying he would get in there and take care of business. What's he talking about? Getting the soldiers out of Iraq so he can send them to Pakistan? There goes his, I’ll talk it out with everyone stance.
Obama had 91 million in earmarks for Illinois. Illinois is 4% of the US population. I am not sure what the CNN moderators were talking about, but Obama told where those earmarks went back in June of 2007.
Clinton had 342 million in earmarks for New York. New York has 6.4% of the US population. Perhaps one is very effective or corrupt?
Clinton just said McCain supported the Bush tax cuts. Hilarious because most Republicans don’t think he does.
Question about leadership demonstrated in a time of crisis?
Obama – my life is one big crisis that I have been dealing with since I was a baby. The trajectory of my life tells me I’m headed right. Sorry about the drugs, I’m good at organizing people; I’ll give a government worthy of the decency of people.
Clinton – Everybody knows I’ve faced some crisis in life (she got a good laugh). She talked about the opening of the Intrepid Center and seeing the soldiers. Some walked in, some came in without limbs, and some came in on gurneys. (I was actually touched by her comments. I was drawn in and my respect for her grew a little bit. Great response – oh wow, she actually drew Obama and caused him to shake her hand. And now a standing ovation!!! Amazing.)
Concluding thoughts: Most of the questions went to Clinton first; this allowed Obama to position himself against her answers and allowed him to think about a response.
I think Clinton knocked this one out of the park. I am stunned.
Showing posts with label Clinton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clinton. Show all posts
Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama: Yeah, John Edwards had it right
The Wall Street Journal report an article titled "Democrats' Attacks on Business Heat Up". It was written by Laura Meckler and Kris Maher in the Weekend Edition.
"The candidates have made broad attacks on corporate wealth and tax cuts they say tilt toward the rich, along with more specific attacks against health insurers and oil companies, among other industries. On Friday, Mrs. Clinton began airing a TV spot in Wisconsin in which she says, "The oil companies, the drug companies, have had seven years of a president who stands up for them.... It's time we had a president who stands up for all of you."
"Both candidates increasingly sound like former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as they pursue his endorsement and the voters -- particularly union members -- who were drawn to the populist candidate before he dropped out last month. Illinois Sen. Obama got a boost toward that goal Friday with the backing of the Service Employees International Union, one of the most politically powerful labor organizations.
The democrats have done something that I had hoped not to see. They are attacking business with a vengeance. If we can just get rid of business we can solve all of our woes.
Clinton said, “We’re going to end every single tax break that still exists in the federal tax code that gives one penny of your money to anybody who exports a job. Those days are gone.” While Barak Obama has been denouncing NAFTA “for shipping jobs overseas and forcing ‘parents to compete with their teenagers to work for minimum wage at Wal-Mart. That’s why we need a president who will listen to Main Street, not just Wall Street.”
I don’t know what kind of town all of you live on, but my Main Street has all sorts of businesses along it? Any way it appears a major beef between the two candidates is NAFTA (I like to the trouble is more because the US has the second highest tax burden on business which makes us an unfavorable place to locate.)
Earlier I talked about who owes who favors on DAY 1 in the White House – looks like the tables have turned a little against Obama, who now owes the most favors to Unions.
Money raised by Unions for Democrats:
Obama $3.671 million
Clinton $3.418 million
On a different note, Peggy Noonan declares there has been some internal conflict in the Clinton campaign: campaign guru Mark Penn yelled, "Your ad doesn't work!" to ad maker Mandy Grunwald, who shouted back, "Oh, it's always the ad, never the message." Ouch!
"The candidates have made broad attacks on corporate wealth and tax cuts they say tilt toward the rich, along with more specific attacks against health insurers and oil companies, among other industries. On Friday, Mrs. Clinton began airing a TV spot in Wisconsin in which she says, "The oil companies, the drug companies, have had seven years of a president who stands up for them.... It's time we had a president who stands up for all of you.""Both candidates increasingly sound like former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as they pursue his endorsement and the voters -- particularly union members -- who were drawn to the populist candidate before he dropped out last month. Illinois Sen. Obama got a boost toward that goal Friday with the backing of the Service Employees International Union, one of the most politically powerful labor organizations.
The democrats have done something that I had hoped not to see. They are attacking business with a vengeance. If we can just get rid of business we can solve all of our woes.
Clinton said, “We’re going to end every single tax break that still exists in the federal tax code that gives one penny of your money to anybody who exports a job. Those days are gone.” While Barak Obama has been denouncing NAFTA “for shipping jobs overseas and forcing ‘parents to compete with their teenagers to work for minimum wage at Wal-Mart. That’s why we need a president who will listen to Main Street, not just Wall Street.”
I don’t know what kind of town all of you live on, but my Main Street has all sorts of businesses along it? Any way it appears a major beef between the two candidates is NAFTA (I like to the trouble is more because the US has the second highest tax burden on business which makes us an unfavorable place to locate.)
Earlier I talked about who owes who favors on DAY 1 in the White House – looks like the tables have turned a little against Obama, who now owes the most favors to Unions.
Money raised by Unions for Democrats:
Obama $3.671 million
Clinton $3.418 million
On a different note, Peggy Noonan declares there has been some internal conflict in the Clinton campaign: campaign guru Mark Penn yelled, "Your ad doesn't work!" to ad maker Mandy Grunwald, who shouted back, "Oh, it's always the ad, never the message." Ouch!
Sharing Some Similarities: Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama, and John McCain
I am still debating what I will do for the rest of this political season. It’s been nice to take a break from the constant blogging.
However, I wanted to comment on some of the similarities between Clinton, Obama, and McCain. The Wall Street Journal from February 14, 2008 ran an article titled “Change Seen on Key Issues as Presidential Candidates Agree”. The article listed the common ground between the Democrats and McCain – for conservatives, some of these are issues for which you should prep your form letters.
Common Ground – despite their many differences, John McCain and the two Democrats share similar views on several key issues
Barak Obama also released his economic plan at a cost of $140 billion per year; to be funded by ending the war in Iraq, closing corporate tax loopholes and allowing many of President Bush’s signature tax cuts expire in 2010. The WSJ said, “Mr. Obama’s plan revealed an economic worldview in which government must right the wrongs created by a system in which wealth begets access to power, and power, in turn, bestows more riches on the wealthy.”
Obama at the Top, so what?
I’ve always struggled with the idea that government’s purpose is to redistribute wealth. The nation would be a better place in my opinion if neighbors would turn off WOW and take a little kindness over to their neighbor. Nothing against WOW, but as a population we sure are stuck inside our houses.
However, I wanted to comment on some of the similarities between Clinton, Obama, and McCain. The Wall Street Journal from February 14, 2008 ran an article titled “Change Seen on Key Issues as Presidential Candidates Agree”. The article listed the common ground between the Democrats and McCain – for conservatives, some of these are issues for which you should prep your form letters.
Common Ground – despite their many differences, John McCain and the two Democrats share similar views on several key issues
- For global treaty on climate change
- For cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- For embryonic stem-cell research
- For giving illegal immigrants straightforward path to citizenship
- For closing Guantanamo Bay prison
- Against waterboarding (I heard a funny comment on NPR today, a lady was discussing the GOP and wondered if McCain had alienated the “pro-waterboarding voting block of the Republican party”)
- Against elimination of the estate tax
- For renewed focus on war in Afghanistan
- For expanded veterans’ health benefits
Barak Obama also released his economic plan at a cost of $140 billion per year; to be funded by ending the war in Iraq, closing corporate tax loopholes and allowing many of President Bush’s signature tax cuts expire in 2010. The WSJ said, “Mr. Obama’s plan revealed an economic worldview in which government must right the wrongs created by a system in which wealth begets access to power, and power, in turn, bestows more riches on the wealthy.”
Obama at the Top, so what?
I’ve always struggled with the idea that government’s purpose is to redistribute wealth. The nation would be a better place in my opinion if neighbors would turn off WOW and take a little kindness over to their neighbor. Nothing against WOW, but as a population we sure are stuck inside our houses.
Who is more electable? McCain, Clinton, Obama or Romney?
I just found this awesome website that compares John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama and Mitt Romney - the four main Presidential Candidates. This is incredible detail into who is most electable. Everyone keeps talking about which candidate can beat whom, and which one appeals the most to the American people. This objective analysis was fascinating to me.
There are two spreadsheets so look at both then post your thoughts about who is most electable. You'll need to visit Political Scene 2008 and click on the spreadsheets to see for yourself the data.
Review the Leadership and Electability Indices, then come back and let me know who you think is most electable?
There are two spreadsheets so look at both then post your thoughts about who is most electable. You'll need to visit Political Scene 2008 and click on the spreadsheets to see for yourself the data.
Review the Leadership and Electability Indices, then come back and let me know who you think is most electable?
The Mormon faces more prejudice than the Black Man
This Presidential race is a step forward in many respects. We have as candidates a woman, a black man, a Mormon, and a POW.
Now I want to state up front that I do not subscribe to labels per se, but the purpose of this post is to point out an interesting fact.
The players:
The woman Hillary Clinton
The black man Barak Obama
The Mormon Mitt Romney
The POW John McCain
The setting:
Present day the United States of America.
Background:
Women - Although women were allowed to vote in 1869 and 1870 in Wyoming and Utah respectively, Congress disenfranchised women in 1887. The national woman's suffrage movement has it's beginnings in 1850. After seventy years of parades, picketing, and demonstrations the 19th Amendment granted Women the right to vote in 1920.
Blacks - The terrible subjection of fellow humans to slavery began a long time ago. On the American continent, slavery has been a scar on the face of freedom since 1619. In the 1750's the abolitionist movement slowly began to take hold. In 1780 the Massachusetts Constitution declared all men born "free and equal" effectively abolishing slavery in the state. (I find it interesting that MA is also the state that elected Mitt Romney as Governor.) After hundreds of years and a civil war, black men were freed with the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865.
Mormons - The Mormons originally began in 1830 and were subsequently harried and harassed until they fled to the territory of Mexico (what is now Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, and Arizona). The term "Mormon" was originally used as a slur against Mormons but has over time been accepted as a label (although it should be noted that most adherents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prefer to be called Latter-day Saints not Mormons). No other religion has ever been persecuted in America so vehemently and violently, including an extermination order by Governor Lilburn Boggs of Missouri in 1838 (I just learned that Quakers and Baptists were violently persecuted in Virginia early in America's history). Freedom of religion was granted to Mormons in 1791 with the passage of the Bill of Rights Article the third. Freedom for a Mormon to run for President came with the ratification of Article VI of the Constitution of the United States in 1787. (Notice these two items pre-date the formation of the Mormon church.)
POWs - To be entitled to prisoner of war status, a captured service member must have conducted operations according to the laws and customs of war: be part of a chain of command and wear a uniform and bear arms openly. American POWs, sometimes mistreated by their captors, are usually viewed as heroes and are accorded hero status. I am unaware of American POWs being treated pejoratively upon their return to the US. Mr. McCain returned to the US in 1973 and has subsequently served 25 years in the Senate.
Discussion:
History has already been made with the distance each of these candidates have come (even the POW dodged the South Carolina elimination round of yester year). One item of interest, however, is that Mormons continue to receive a significant amount of prejudice in America. An American born religion is despised and hated by a vocal yet small group of people. In fact, in many circles it is OK to discuss Mormons in a way that would not be done to women, blacks, or POWs.
I admire America, I think the American people are our strongest advantage in the world. We are a people that because of, NOT in spite of, our diversity are able to tackle complex problems and reach solutions. Although three of the four groups above still receive pejorative treatment at the hands of fellow Americans, we have come a long way in tolerance.
The Reverend Cecil "Chip" Murray, a Senior Fellow in the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California and the Tanzy Chair in Christian Ethics, is the Senior Pastor of the Los Angeles First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME). Reverend Murray in an interview on November 6, 2007 was asked, "In 2008 whose candidacy will face the most opposition, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney? Who do you think will face the most opposition or the most prejudice today?"
The Reverend Murray replied, "The Mormon. Because America is still growing."
I recognize that everyone has their prejudices, but how sad for America, land of the free and home of the brave, when blindness covers their sight and prejudice beats their minds back into eighteen hundreds. Amy Sullivan in an article in the Washington Monthly pointed out that some of the anti-Mormon sentiment is based on rumors, unfamiliarity and "a vague feeling Mormons are kind of weird." She talks about being in fifth grade in the basement of her Baptist church and being instructed by her teacher that Mormons fall somewhere between "devil worshippers and Jim Jones." I find it repulsive that anyone is still teaching intolerance and hatred based on religion.
To quote Mitt Romney, "I just don't believe the people in this country are going to choose their candidate based on which church he or she goes to. I just don't believe that... my faith isn't terribly well known around this country. But I don't think for a minute the American people are going to say, "You know what, we're not going to vote for this guy on a secular position because of his church." I just don't believe that. I think when the constitution and the founders said no religious test shall ever be required for qualification for office or public trust in these United States, that the founders meant just that. And I don't believe for a minute that Republicans, or Americans for that matter, are going to impose a religious test, it's as un-American as anything you can think of... I believe that free American people are the source of America's greatness."
I agree with Mitt Romney. America is better than bigotry, and no matter how many distorted anti-Mormon mailers are sent, and no matter how many distorted anti-Mormon phone calls are made, and no matter how many distorted anti-Mormon people blog, the American people, true believers in freedom of religion, can rise above the storm of words and elect a President that John McCain called, "A man of honesty and integrity. A man prepared to serve... a man of unimpeachable integrity and honesty... he could do a lot of things, yet this man has willingly stepped forward... [he is] somebody the young can look up to and admire."
Place a historic vote for Mitt Romney in 2008.
The full interview of Reverend Murray.
Now I want to state up front that I do not subscribe to labels per se, but the purpose of this post is to point out an interesting fact.
The players:
The woman Hillary Clinton
The black man Barak Obama
The Mormon Mitt Romney
The POW John McCain
The setting:
Present day the United States of America.
Background:
Women - Although women were allowed to vote in 1869 and 1870 in Wyoming and Utah respectively, Congress disenfranchised women in 1887. The national woman's suffrage movement has it's beginnings in 1850. After seventy years of parades, picketing, and demonstrations the 19th Amendment granted Women the right to vote in 1920.
Blacks - The terrible subjection of fellow humans to slavery began a long time ago. On the American continent, slavery has been a scar on the face of freedom since 1619. In the 1750's the abolitionist movement slowly began to take hold. In 1780 the Massachusetts Constitution declared all men born "free and equal" effectively abolishing slavery in the state. (I find it interesting that MA is also the state that elected Mitt Romney as Governor.) After hundreds of years and a civil war, black men were freed with the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865.
Mormons - The Mormons originally began in 1830 and were subsequently harried and harassed until they fled to the territory of Mexico (what is now Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, and Arizona). The term "Mormon" was originally used as a slur against Mormons but has over time been accepted as a label (although it should be noted that most adherents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prefer to be called Latter-day Saints not Mormons). No other religion has ever been persecuted in America so vehemently and violently, including an extermination order by Governor Lilburn Boggs of Missouri in 1838 (I just learned that Quakers and Baptists were violently persecuted in Virginia early in America's history). Freedom of religion was granted to Mormons in 1791 with the passage of the Bill of Rights Article the third. Freedom for a Mormon to run for President came with the ratification of Article VI of the Constitution of the United States in 1787. (Notice these two items pre-date the formation of the Mormon church.)
POWs - To be entitled to prisoner of war status, a captured service member must have conducted operations according to the laws and customs of war: be part of a chain of command and wear a uniform and bear arms openly. American POWs, sometimes mistreated by their captors, are usually viewed as heroes and are accorded hero status. I am unaware of American POWs being treated pejoratively upon their return to the US. Mr. McCain returned to the US in 1973 and has subsequently served 25 years in the Senate.
Discussion:
History has already been made with the distance each of these candidates have come (even the POW dodged the South Carolina elimination round of yester year). One item of interest, however, is that Mormons continue to receive a significant amount of prejudice in America. An American born religion is despised and hated by a vocal yet small group of people. In fact, in many circles it is OK to discuss Mormons in a way that would not be done to women, blacks, or POWs.
I admire America, I think the American people are our strongest advantage in the world. We are a people that because of, NOT in spite of, our diversity are able to tackle complex problems and reach solutions. Although three of the four groups above still receive pejorative treatment at the hands of fellow Americans, we have come a long way in tolerance.
The Reverend Cecil "Chip" Murray, a Senior Fellow in the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California and the Tanzy Chair in Christian Ethics, is the Senior Pastor of the Los Angeles First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME). Reverend Murray in an interview on November 6, 2007 was asked, "In 2008 whose candidacy will face the most opposition, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney? Who do you think will face the most opposition or the most prejudice today?"
The Reverend Murray replied, "The Mormon. Because America is still growing."
I recognize that everyone has their prejudices, but how sad for America, land of the free and home of the brave, when blindness covers their sight and prejudice beats their minds back into eighteen hundreds. Amy Sullivan in an article in the Washington Monthly pointed out that some of the anti-Mormon sentiment is based on rumors, unfamiliarity and "a vague feeling Mormons are kind of weird." She talks about being in fifth grade in the basement of her Baptist church and being instructed by her teacher that Mormons fall somewhere between "devil worshippers and Jim Jones." I find it repulsive that anyone is still teaching intolerance and hatred based on religion.
To quote Mitt Romney, "I just don't believe the people in this country are going to choose their candidate based on which church he or she goes to. I just don't believe that... my faith isn't terribly well known around this country. But I don't think for a minute the American people are going to say, "You know what, we're not going to vote for this guy on a secular position because of his church." I just don't believe that. I think when the constitution and the founders said no religious test shall ever be required for qualification for office or public trust in these United States, that the founders meant just that. And I don't believe for a minute that Republicans, or Americans for that matter, are going to impose a religious test, it's as un-American as anything you can think of... I believe that free American people are the source of America's greatness."
I agree with Mitt Romney. America is better than bigotry, and no matter how many distorted anti-Mormon mailers are sent, and no matter how many distorted anti-Mormon phone calls are made, and no matter how many distorted anti-Mormon people blog, the American people, true believers in freedom of religion, can rise above the storm of words and elect a President that John McCain called, "A man of honesty and integrity. A man prepared to serve... a man of unimpeachable integrity and honesty... he could do a lot of things, yet this man has willingly stepped forward... [he is] somebody the young can look up to and admire."
Place a historic vote for Mitt Romney in 2008.
The full interview of Reverend Murray.
John McCain and Hillary Clinton Share a Special Bond
What do Hillary Clinton and John McCain have in common?
I am not sure, but I hear they are "very close".
John McCain is not the conservative Romney, Huckabee, and Paul supporters would have hoped for. Even Michael Reagan son of Ronald Reagan says, "John McCain Hates Me." Ann Coulter claims she will vote for Clinton if McCain wins.
"Nobody does it* better."
Special thanks to my spouse for taking three hours of her time for this gem.
*it = being a flip flopping politician
Update: New ad comparing John McCain's record with Hilary Clinton.
I am not sure, but I hear they are "very close".
John McCain is not the conservative Romney, Huckabee, and Paul supporters would have hoped for. Even Michael Reagan son of Ronald Reagan says, "John McCain Hates Me." Ann Coulter claims she will vote for Clinton if McCain wins.
"Nobody does it* better."
Special thanks to my spouse for taking three hours of her time for this gem.
*it = being a flip flopping politician
Update: New ad comparing John McCain's record with Hilary Clinton.
McCain gets Endorsement from the New York Times
The New York Times editorial board just endorsed John McCain for the Republican candidate. Now one would usually suppose this to be a great honor. However, in this cause it is a slap in the face to McCain and to anyone who considers McCain a conservative. Why do I say this?The New York Times editorial board uses words like "enthusiastically", "strongly", and "exhilarating" to describe the Democrats. Because the New York Times is "hugely impressed" by Hillary Clinton, they have endorsed her as the Democratic nominee. The New York Times is a liberal publication, you can tell just by reading the Democratic and Republican endorsements.
Looking over the Republican candidates the New York Times states in the first sentence, "We have strong disagreements with all the Republicans running for president." Yet the choice is "easy", John McCain because of his liberal appeal.
No wonder McCain hasn't been winning with the Republicans in any state thus far, he's closer to the Democrats than his own party.
I liked this take on the subject, click here.
What do Clinton and McCain have in common?
They are the two candidates who have accepted the most money from lobbyists. The Wall Street Journal reported, "Mr. McCain and Mrs. Clinton led all others with donations from lobbyists. Mrs. Clinton collected $568,000 from lobbyists, while Mr. McCain has $340,000."
Kind of ironic that McCain's third largest contributor is Greenberg Traurig LLP, the company McCain took the lead in investigating for which Jack Abramoff the convicted lobbyist worked.
McCain owes too many favors to people in Washington!
Kind of ironic that McCain's third largest contributor is Greenberg Traurig LLP, the company McCain took the lead in investigating for which Jack Abramoff the convicted lobbyist worked.
McCain owes too many favors to people in Washington!
Friday Night before South Carolina Primary and Nevada Caucus
Well, it's already late but I've been watching the news. Most stations seem to be carrying the Nevada Democratic race. South Carolina looks like a good contest between McCain and Huckabee. Now is the time to place your guesses, recognizing, of course, that I can just edit this post should I prove to be incorrect. Notwithstanding, here are my guesses.
McCain wins South Carolina, Clinton wins Nevada.
This is a funny video about Obama's wife mispronouncing Nevada. She went a little overboard after she realized her mistake. Let's count them up, Nevahda, and then 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1. Wow 10 more times; I think she gets it now. Watch the video by clicking here.
This video talks about the correct pronunciation of Nevada, can you believe there are even blogs tracking those mispronouncing Nevada? Looks like Mrs. Obama made the list.
McCain wins South Carolina, Clinton wins Nevada.
This is a funny video about Obama's wife mispronouncing Nevada. She went a little overboard after she realized her mistake. Let's count them up, Nevahda, and then 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1. Wow 10 more times; I think she gets it now. Watch the video by clicking here.
This video talks about the correct pronunciation of Nevada, can you believe there are even blogs tracking those mispronouncing Nevada? Looks like Mrs. Obama made the list.
Where were the four democrats on Iraq vote day? ABSENT
So where were Clinton, Dodd, Obama, and Biden? Aren't they all still Senators, paid by the people of the United States of America? I noticed John McCain made it to debate about the funding for the Iraq War, but neither one of the four Democratic Senators bothered to show and stop the funding. I thought that was one of their main points - get out of Iraq.I can't believe the American people pay these Senators to campaign instead of vote on important bills. They should be representing their constituency and stop blathering about getting troops out of Iraq and finally vote to make it happen. I guess the issue isn't that important, or they would have been in the Senate to debate and vote on the bill instead of selfishly trying to gain votes.
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