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Re: Your issues with the candidates
I figured we should try a more non partisan thread where we list our problems with the candidates, or if there's anything one of these guys can do to make you lean in their direction.
Obama
Instead of "change, change, change", I want "specifics, specifics, specifics". Your website doesn't cut the mustard. Its just more generalizations. I want to know exactly why you raising taxes and increasing spending is going to help this country instead of just add more to the deficit(and a bigger loss of jobs). We know you are going to increase spending. Be a man, admit it, and tell us what programs you are going to add, and which current ones you plan to increase. IF you say you're going to decrease spending, I want a list of what's being cut.
You ran as an "outsider" sick of "Washington" and "politics as usual". So what made you pick a guy who has spent his whole life in Washington to be your vice president?
Your energy plan is a joke, although I'm not laughing. I want to know where the money comes from when your "windfall" tax doesn't bring in the pipe dream revenue you're banking on. I know it comes out of thin air and gets added to the deficit, but I want you to admit that yourself.
IF you are elected, this nation is taking a huge gamble with you as commander in chief. We're currently in two wars, and you've hinted at the possibility of two more(Pakistan and Iran). I'd like to know where you plan on getting the troops for these potential endeavors, and I'd also like to see you admit the dangers of an early exit from Iraq. Russia has once again walked on to the global stage, and looks to be trying to possibly assemble the former Soviet bloc. What are your views on this, and which country is the "trip wire"? Are you for or against a draft?
If most of these questions aren't answered in the next two months, you will not be getting my vote.
McCain
You've admitted that you know nothing about the economy. Who do you plan on adding to your staff who does know something about it? While I don't necessarily have an issue with extending the tax cuts, doing so means you must do massive spending cuts to stop the bottom dropping out from under us. What do you plan on cutting?
If we're going to be in Iraq "100 years", and a potential conflict with Iran on the horizon, what will your response be if Russia makes a move into Ukraine, Poland,etc. or China takes advantage of our situation by invading Taiwan? Where do the troops come from to fight so many conflicts? Are you for or against a draft?
While I admire the bold pick you made for vice president, her looks, class, integrity, and certain positions do not guarantee my vote. Since this was obviously an unconventional choice(although one I predicted 
), do you have a specific role in mind for Palin in a McCain presidency?
If we're going to "drill drill drill", will this have any short term effect on oil prices? What will your response be if OPEC raises prices when they see the US taking these measures?
If most of these questions aren't answered, you wont be getting my vote.
Re: Your issues with the candidates
For me, one difference in D's vs R's is the taxing structure. I feel since Obama plans on giving tax breaks to those making less than $250k it will help improve the economy, since those people will have a little more (myb even unnoticable, bu tthere's strentgh in numbers, if 50 million people get $10, that adds up) amount to spend, it will likely be spent, and therefore put back into the economy. I also feel environmental jobs are going to be huge in the next 10 years (environmental engineering, solar & wind companies etc), not only creating jobs, but other jobs like web design & marketing jobs for these companies. Possibly it can be similar to the dot com boom of the 90's. Even though Bill Clinton didn't "create" it, he did keep his hands off of it & allow it to come to fruition. Besides, if America doesn't get into this industry, countries like China, Germany & Sweeden etc will excel in them, leaving America far behind.
With the war, I know Obama will have advisors in charge, as do most Presidents. W surrounded himself with the wrong people, I don't think Obama will (Wesley Clarke?). He'll likely keep Petreaus on anyway, unless it becomes obvious they cannot work together. (Myb replace him with Powell??). I also see Obama surrounding himself with better advisors overall. While exiting Iraq will be tedious, I don't think Obama would have made the mistake of going in anyway. They've been trying to go into Iraq since the late 90's.
McCain
First off, he's changed his views on alot of things 'coincidentally' as the campaign has been going on. First he didn't want Bush's tax breaks to be permanant, now he does (Pandering to the conservative right??). Second he's been doing alot of bragging about 'reaching across party lines' and being 'bipartisan'?? I don't really see how that's valid. I see that more like Bush taking authority into his own hands, ignoring those in the Senate. So much for majority rules. I also am starting to think it's a sly way of saying "Even though the Dems have the majority in the Senate, I'll still overide their bills & do things our way"
I see hardly any economic view from McCain. He's made real generic statements like "Create more American jobs." And as for war, I'd rather have a President be cautious when it comes to foreign affair conflicts.
That's just me. I'm not here to change anyone's opinion.
Re: Your issues with the candidates
Those are solid points. We're not really that far apart on the issues even though the Palin pick created some heated discussion.
Obama has to be VERY careful with increasing taxes on the rich. The economy cannot bear that. When you start taxing the shit out of them, they send their money elsewhere. If you think unemployment is bad now, wait until he increases taxes(or that living wage thing he talks about).
IF he is gonna increase taxes, he better do it slowly over the course of his first term.
We haven't even touched health care, which is a potential nightmare.
Re: Your issues with the candidates
My main issue with Obama is that we haven't heard specific plans. Everyone knows he wants to change things in Washington- goal one accomplished. Now, it should be onto the next goal, and that is educating the public on what specifically he wants to change.
His foreign experience is definently a problem as well. Hinting at the possibility of two more wars doesn't make me any more willing to vote for him as well. Does he know how hard pressed we are now? Does he honestly think we can afford two more fronts, and then how ever many ensue from seriously losing control of our international power. Palin wants to reform the Soviet Union, and if America is stretched to the breaking point, that is a huge opportunity for them to strike out against other nations.
Re: Your issues with the candidates
Yeah I never was knocking your suggestion of Palin, heck I remember you mentioning her a few times loooong before McCain was tooting her horn. However you didn't have access to reseach her past & all. The biggest thing being the daughters pregnancy, I would have expected that would fall flat on it's face once the news came out & avoided her at all costs. Not that it matters, but lets' face it, in politics just about everything comes out.
IIRC I liked Hilary's healthcare proposal better than Baracks (I'll have to reseach them again). I think Hilary wanted to "offer" it to everyone at an affordable cost, whereas Barack wants to "mandate" it that everyone get it and I beleive penalize them if they don't. I think Massachusettes has this currently implemented, and while some are against it, it hasn't fully been a complete disaster either. Then again, it's only a small state, but it does have a metro area like Boston where for as many people are insured, there are probably alot who are uninsured also.
I do think something should be done as far as emergency room visits. I don't want it to be a plan people can take advantage of and have people who are uninsured running around taking Zoloft for a $2/bottle co-pay, or seeing a shrink for $15 while our taxes reimburse the rest. However if someone breaks their arm, or is in a car accident, or a carpenter falls off the ladder, I don't think it's right they are in $10,000+ debt because the insurance companies are willing to spend $1,000 a night for a bed or $3000 or whatever for some stitches. I think there should be a pooled plan where the uninsured can pay (if they chose) a low rate ($50 month or whatever it can be done for), and have a maximum to pay of something like $500 or $1,000. Maybe take it from their taxes or tax return upfront. Then if the amount of their hospital bill is over the money gets taken from the pooled account.
We're not really that far apart on the issues even though the Palin pick created some heated discussion.
Yeah, good thing you're not a Cowboy fan. 
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