USA Presidential Politics - 2008

[tmc]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

Well I guess y'all don't have to worry about me voting green. They exhibit poor cash control.

Green Party Official Caught Embezzling Campaign Funds For Dime Bag | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

I was unaware of these factoids about Fox News.

Fox News Racism: Intentional? | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

You do realize that that site is a goof?

[Just Lucky]

Originally Posted by tmc

You do realize that that site is a goof?

Who me?

[Just Lucky]

Originally Posted by horizon200

There is no doubt we misdirected our military efforts when this conflict was not finished. But, I think what we are seeing now is expected. This is the "fighting season" (for lack of a better term) in Afghanistan. The harsh winters for the most part drive the militants to ground. Spring and summer the attacks rise. They have however shown new tactics this season, such as an overwhelming force attacking the outpost in Northeastern Afghanistan. Which then begs the question...are they receiving help from advisors or just adapting?

Perhaps someone with a history of comradeship with fundamentalists? As I recall, in the mid-sixties had the largest intelligence service in Asia. I'm not sure of the ISIs size now.

Declan Walsh on the fundamentalist fury sweeping Pakistan | World news | The Guardian

PAKISTAN'S LINKS WITH FUNDAMENTALISM AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

[Rissask]

The decline of America's religious right
Why Obama may be poised to lure churchgoers away from the Republicans

[melliedee]

If a really important presidental event happens while I'm on vacation for the next two weeks, the correct response is: "Let's wait to discuss till Melliedee gets back."



If you must debate the war, please take it to the Viagra thread where it belongs. No loud parties. Don't forget to give Scott his tequila twice a day. I'll be checking on you all from the internet cafe, try to get along?

[Just Lucky]

Originally Posted by melliedee

If a really important presidental event happens while I'm on vacation for the next two weeks, the correct response is: "Let's wait to discuss till Melliedee gets back."



If you must debate the war, please take it to the Viagra thread where it belongs. No loud parties. Don't forget to give Scott his tequila twice a day. I'll be checking on you all from the internet cafe, try to get along?

Here's to hoping you have the most wonderful vacation ever!

[diogeron]

I was not very happy with the expansion of Bush's faith-based program and wrote the campaign to that effect. I still think, net-net, it's a questionable initiative. I thought I'd post the response I received today so people can judge for themselves from a primary source.

Dear Friend,
Thank you for contacting Senator Obama about his plan to engage faith-based and community organizations as government partners in providing social services to those in need.
Senator Obama firmly believes in the separation between church and state, and he will abide by a set of principles that will ensure this new initiative honors that constitutional mandate. For example, organizations that apply for new funding from Obama programs will not be able to discriminate on the basis of religion in hiring. In these programs, government funds may only be used for secular programs and initiatives, not for proselytizing or teaching religion.
Senator Obama believes that we need all hands on deck to help people in need, regardless of their backgrounds or where they live, and that government should work with both secular and faith-based partners to this end. Secular and faith-based organizations each bring unique expertise in providing critical human services, whether that’s keeping veterans off the street, feeding the hungry, or rehabilitating ex-offenders.
We should not discriminate against successful service providers just because they are affiliated with a faith community. As long as they follow some basic rules and are effective in delivery of services, faith-based organizations should be able to partner with the government, as they have done for decades. Most faith-based groups hire religiously diverse staffs and have long operated within anti-discrimination laws, and Barack believes that these programs can provide good models for helping people in need while upholding the core constitutional principle of separation of church and state.
Senator Obama has been clear that faith-based initiatives in his administration will be markedly different from President Bush’s program. Barack is committed to a full review of Bush Administration policy and its effects, and to reversing any regulations that were politically motivated or sought to legalize discrimination.
To learn more about Senator Obama’s views on faith and politics, please click here:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/faith/
Thank you again for contacting us.

Sincerely,
Obama for America

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

The FISA issue is only one thing he's done lately I disagree with. Did you notice he gave in to subsidizing particular church groups with our tax dollars? These fundamentalist groups that the "faith based initiatives" benefit are not likely to ever vote for a Democratic candidate. That's aside from the very important issue of the Constitutional separation of Church and State.

How do you market a Republican lite candidate, which Obama seems to be becoming, to the American voter as a candidate for change? McCain has the record for being Republican lite. How do you feel we will diffentiate the two candidates. Or are we to have yet another Clintoesque President who exemplifies the idea that the Democratic party doesn't care about Constitutional limits or the working poor?

I knew he was centrist when I voted for him. He appeared, at the time, to be the more liberal of the two. I may have been wrong to think that. Too bad we have politicians who seem to stand for absolutely nothing. Compromise of Constitutional rights is no compromise at all, it is surrender.

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by diogeron

I was not very happy with the expansion of Bush's faith-based program and wrote the campaign to that effect. I still think, net-net, it's a questionable initiative. I thought I'd post the response I received today so people can judge for themselves from a primary source.

Dear Friend,
Thank you for contacting Senator Obama about his plan to engage faith-based and community organizations as government partners in providing social services to those in need.
Senator Obama firmly believes in the separation between church and state, and he will abide by a set of principles that will ensure this new initiative honors that constitutional mandate. For example, organizations that apply for new funding from Obama programs will not be able to discriminate on the basis of religion in hiring. In these programs, government funds may only be used for secular programs and initiatives, not for proselytizing or teaching religion.
Senator Obama believes that we need all hands on deck to help people in need, regardless of their backgrounds or where they live, and that government should work with both secular and faith-based partners to this end. Secular and faith-based organizations each bring unique expertise in providing critical human services, whether that’s keeping veterans off the street, feeding the hungry, or rehabilitating ex-offenders.
We should not discriminate against successful service providers just because they are affiliated with a faith community. As long as they follow some basic rules and are effective in delivery of services, faith-based organizations should be able to partner with the government, as they have done for decades. Most faith-based groups hire religiously diverse staffs and have long operated within anti-discrimination laws, and Barack believes that these programs can provide good models for helping people in need while upholding the core constitutional principle of separation of church and state.
Senator Obama has been clear that faith-based initiatives in his administration will be markedly different from President Bush’s program. Barack is committed to a full review of Bush Administration policy and its effects, and to reversing any regulations that were politically motivated or sought to legalize discrimination.
To learn more about Senator Obama’s views on faith and politics, please click here:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/faith/
Thank you again for contacting us.

Sincerely,
Obama for America

Well, that all makes sense to me...but then again, that is why I like Obama..he just makes so much more sense to me more than the other....

[STOGEY]

I just hope that while visiting the troops in Iraq that Obama doesn't get a nasty head wound and survive. However if he does get a nasty head wound and survives you know what that means don't ya.

[sctx]

Originally Posted by Jacko

Well, that all makes sense to me...but then again, that is why I like Obama..he just makes so much more sense to me more than the other....

than the other old and senile candidate???......... not sure if that's much of a compliment

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by sctx

than the other old and senile candidate???......... not sure if that's much of a compliment

I don't think that McCain is senile at all....he has just gone too far to the right to make any sense to me any more...it happens sometimes...

[Playa del Soul]

Originally Posted by Jacko

Well, that all makes sense to me...but then again, that is why I like Obama..he just makes so much more sense to me more than the other....

Uh, what he is saying is that he agrees with Bush that faith based programs work. Of course, his handlers throw in the requisite "markedly different from President Bush’s program" language, but that is just window dressing (like he tried to convince us that the FISA bill he voted on was somehow different than the one Bush asked for, and all of the other Senators voted on). Faith based (or any private) charities do a better job of addressing real needs, at a micro level, than do the Government with its one-size-fits-all, macro, approach.

In essence, what conservatives have been saying for years.

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by Welshly Squirt

Uh, what he is saying is that he agrees with Bush that faith based programs work. Of course, his handlers throw in the requisite "markedly different from President Bush’s program" language, but that is just window dressing (like he tried to convince us that the FISA bill he voted on was somehow different than the one Bush asked for, and all of the other Senators voted on). Faith based (or any private) charities do a better job of addressing real needs, at a micro level, than do the Government with its one-size-fits-all, macro, approach.

In essence, what conservatives have been saying for years.

<shrug> whatever works. My problem is that not much has worked right in the last 8 years of conservative leadership.

[beerbreath]

Obama has always said we should talk to Iran,McCain says no.What did Bush just do?Sent someone to Iran to talk to them.

Obama says we should get out of Iraq in about 16 months after he takes office,McCain says no time tables.Now Military leaders say we should be out in 1-2 years and the Bush people agree.

Thank God people are already listening to Obama.

[Playa del Soul]

Originally Posted by beerbreath

Obama has always said we should talk to Iran,McCain says no.What did Bush just do?Sent someone to Iran to talk to them.

Obama says we should get out of Iraq in about 16 months after he takes office,McCain says no time tables.Now Military leaders say we should be out in 1-2 years and the Bush people agree.

Thank God people are already listening to Obama.

"About 16 months" is not a timetable. It is a number to feed to the public, which holds no weight. Obama and McCain are exactly the same as Bush on withdrawal from Iraq. They will all withdraw combat troops, as soon as the situation warrants (which it is starting to do, now).

What does Bush's sending an undersecretary to listen in on a meeting have to do with McCain? I suppose if someone actually believed the McBush deception, they might be confused. Obama said he would meet with the leader of Iran, unconditionally. Hardly the same thing, is it?