Final poll

[TJ Detweiler]

LeBron James endorses Obama.

 

[crazedcav333]

Everyone may think we're a joke, but the minute Ireland starts to invade France, they'll immediately surrender, then they'll be begging us for help as usual. The minute Iran starts shooting missiles at everyone in their reach, the world will be hitting speed dial to the good old USA.

PREACH MOTHER F***** PREACH!!!

If you said that on damn Arlington Road in Akron I'd probably follow you to war.

By the way from 1984-2000 almost every poll leading up to just before the election had the democratic party winning, when in fact the actual election was like a 10 point turnaround actually pretty consistantly. I'm sure some people will find some small pool to prove that wrong, but in the meantime I'll have to find the article where I read that.

And for the record...I am neither a Dem or a Rep.

 

[BlueSeats626]

The Democrats bank on young voters and minorities to have high turnouts. In 2004, this turnout was much smaller than predicted, and arguably, a big reason why Kerry lost.

 

[Erbium]

Good luck everyone...you are going to need it.

or, a unified house, senate, and presidency could actually produce real results turn things around, and essentially send the entire Republican party into a tailspin and rebuilding mode.....which I would hope you hard core Reps are in favor of....these geriatrics are killing your appeal to the younger middle class.....sad thing is, that most Reps will be rooting for Obama's failure so their party can capitalize and win the next election, much the same way the economic meltdown has helped Obama win this one......what a country....

 

[Karma]

Nothing personal, but I could really care less what someone in Australia or the entire country of France thinks about America...you don't live here, you don't own a business here, you don't pay taxes here. Other nations hate Bush because of the war, I get that. Both candidates want to get out of Iraq...just two different approaches. Everyone may think we're a joke, but the minute Ireland starts to invade France, they'll immediately surrender, then they'll be begging us for help as usual. The minute Iran starts shooting missiles at everyone in their reach, the world will be hitting speed dial to the good old USA.

Keep flexing your muscles. I wonder whether that attitude has something to do with you guys been terririst targets.

Thankfully our country got rid of its Bush licking government. That association contributed to destroy our relationship in Asia and what followed were attacks on an Australian embassy and Aussie holiday hot spots.

So you can try and squash my opinion all you want. I dont get a say anyway so there is no reason to stress. But for me and the big majority worldwide know that this will be a safer place without the current goovernment.

 

[Mandingo]

Karma, The joke is that republicans are quick to tell someone from another country that they have no say in or opinion of American elections, but they are just as quick to invade or support regime change of democratically elected leaders around the world. Even though others see Bush as vile a person as they see Chavez its only allowed by them. AMERICA F*CK YEAH!:chuckles:

 

[Maximus]

or, a unified house, senate, and presidency could actually produce real results turn things around, and essentially send the entire Republican party into a tailspin and rebuilding mode.....which I would hope you hard core Reps are in favor of....these geriatrics are killing your appeal to the younger middle class.....sad thing is, that most Reps will be rooting for Obama's failure so their party can capitalize and win the next election, much the same way the economic meltdown has helped Obama win this one......what a country....

Root against Obama? You mean the way every Dem has said "**** Bush" on this site for the past few years? I will never root against the leader of my country. I know a lot of people do, but that only hurts the country in my opinion. I won't be happy about paying higher income taxes, corporate taxes, capital gains taxes...or God forbid death taxes. I won't be happy about abandoning my expasion plan in southern Ohio that would have happened under McCain...I would've hired 15 new employees. I won't be happy about laying off at least two employees right after the holidays. That said, he will still have my support. I'll give him 4 years to prove that HE is somehow smarter at spending all the business leaders and citizens of America's money than we are. I'll give him 4 years to spend his trilion dollars of programs and somehow not ask for money than he already has....I just don't see it happening. Bush had this country at full employment until the housing and credit crisis reared its ugly head, I hope Obama can keep us at full employment for most of his tenure too...I just don't see how when you raise corporate taxes and double the minimum wage.

Personally I wish they would do away with the whole party system it's dated and broken.

 

[Damage]

Root against Obama? You mean the way every Dem has said "**** Bush" on this site for the past few years? I will never root against the leader of my country. I know a lot of people do, but that only hurts the country in my opinion. I won't be happy about paying higher income taxes, corporate taxes, capital gains taxes...or God forbid death taxes. I won't be happy about abandoning my expasion plan in southern Ohio that would have happened under McCain...I would've hired 15 new employees. I won't be happy about laying off at least two employees right after the holidays. That said, he will still have my support. I'll give him 4 years to prove that HE is somehow smarter at spending all the business leaders and citizens of America's money than we are. I'll give him 4 years to spend his trilion dollars of programs and somehow not ask for money than he already has....I just don't see it happening. Bush had this country at full employment until the housing and credit crisis reared its ugly head, I hope Obama can keep us at full employment for most of his tenure too...I just don't see how when you raise corporate taxes and double the minimum wage.

Personally I wish they would do away with the whole party system it's dated and broken.

And you don't think the **** bush sentiments haven't been warranted? I'm surprised Bush hasn't attempted to reinstall the riot act.

McCain, back in 2000, was a symbolism of anti-establishment. That man no longer exists. His selection of Palin personifies his ineptness. To quote Taibbi again:

"Sarah Palin is a symbol of everything that is wrong with the modern United States. As a representative of our political system, she's a new low in reptilian villainy, the ultimate cynical masterwork of puppeteers like Karl Rove. But more than that, she is a horrifying symbol of how little we ask for in return for the total surrender of our political power.

Not only is Sarah Palin a fraud, she's the tawdriest, most half-assed fraud imaginable, 20 floors below the lowest common denominator, a character too dumb even for daytime TV -and this country is going to eat her up, cheering her every step of the way."

She's an idiot, a bafoon, who desperately attempts to divide the country, stating that the "Pro-america" countries vote republican. To any republican on here, doesn't that piss you off? I love Bill Maher. But on his show last week, he had on a guy who said he was a former republican who is now an independent. The audience clapped profusely and it pissed me off. Not all republicans are bad. There are 2 forms of republicans: The lesser government republicans and the Palins. How anyone can support her or anything she stands for makes me mental.

 

[RonG]

I voted in this poll, that holds no value, with so many youngsters voting and people not even from our country voting on political polls here it just a comfort system for people who are voteing however they are voteing.

I do not care any more who wins, I do think who ever wins will not be elected for a second term, and I would be willing to bet on that.

 

[Maximus]

And you don't think the **** bush sentiments haven't been warranted? I'm surprised Bush hasn't attempted to reinstall the riot act.

McCain, back in 2000, was a symbolism of anti-establishment. That man no longer exists. His selection of Palin personifies his ineptness. To quote Taibbi again:

"Sarah Palin is a symbol of everything that is wrong with the modern United States. As a representative of our political system, she's a new low in reptilian villainy, the ultimate cynical masterwork of puppeteers like Karl Rove. But more than that, she is a horrifying symbol of how little we ask for in return for the total surrender of our political power.

Not only is Sarah Palin a fraud, she's the tawdriest, most half-assed fraud imaginable, 20 floors below the lowest common denominator, a character too dumb even for daytime TV -and this country is going to eat her up, cheering her every step of the way."

She's an idiot, a bafoon, who desperately attempts to divide the country, stating that the "Pro-america" countries vote republican. To any republican on here, doesn't that piss you off? I love Bill Maher. But on his show last week, he had on a guy who said he was a former republican who is now an independent. The audience clapped profusely and it pissed me off. Not all republicans are bad. There are 2 forms of republicans: The lesser government republicans and the Palins. How anyone can support her or anything she stands for makes me mental.

Bush had to deal with some unprecedented ordeals during his 8 years and managed to keep our country going. 9/11 dealt a huge blow to our economy and he got it back on track pretty quickly. He has also kept the US safe since 9/11. I get that people hate him for the war...it's a touchy subject so I'm going to leave it alone. I will say that the value of the Iraq war may pay huge benefits in the long run in the Middle East...as long as we don't cut bait and run. And again, Bush's policies didn't cause the housing or credit crisis we are battling now.

Palin is no more a buffoon than Biden. Who the hello is Tabbi? A writer in the Rolling Stone? Why do those words apply to her more than Biden who is a proven serial liar, bigot, and plagiarist who has been hidden from the media for fears that he will lose the election with one of his legendary gaffes.

Why is she more of a fraud than Obama? He's promising change and unification.....do you honestly believe that? He will tax and spend like he aways has, there will be no unification and no positive change whatsoever. CNN goes bonkers about Palin's wardrobe yet almost nothing is said about convicted felon Tony Rezko and arms dealer Nadhmi Auchi helping fund the purchase of Obama's home. Olberman is having a cathartic over Palin wearing a Buchanan button welcoming him to a rally(like she did all candidates when she was Mayor), yet he gives Obama a pass when he says he thought Ayers was reformed and barely knew him....despite the fact tapes of Ayers from two years ago have him still claiming to be an anarchist and marxist.

Lastly, I don't really care about the Veeps, I care about the administration, its platform and their cabinet. I don't see either Veep causing any problems even if they were to be forced into the Presidency. They have enough people guiding them that they would both be fine. Palin had the highest approval rating of any state in the union. You can make fun of Alaska all you want, but she had to be doing something right.

 

[Deezus]

Nothing personal, but I could really care less what someone in Australia or the entire country of France thinks about America...you don't live here, you don't own a business here, you don't pay taxes here. Other nations hate Bush because of the war, I get that.

Wrong. This is shortsighted and simplistic. While we shouldn't base our choice of a leader on it, the support of other countries is vital to our interests domestically and internationally. To say other nations hate Bush because of Iraq is like saying "I don't like Larry Hughes because he's bad." ...doesn't say anything really about WHY. People around the world dislike Bush because of his aggressive, arrogant, shortsighted "You're either with us or against us" policies. Not to mention the rampant cronyism that has existed throughout his tenure in the White House. When other countries (correctly) objected to engaging Iraq, Bush essentially said "I don't care" and did whatever he pleased. It is imperative in the future that we have (more) support of our allies if/when we are involved in a military conflict. I don't even need to state why this is the case. My problem with John McCain is what I see as a much, much more aggressive foreign policy that is more likely to enter a military engagement than his opponent. With our military spread thin already, and our economy on the decline (remember, wars cost $$!) we need to embrace diplomacy, not aggression

I won't be happy about paying higher income taxes, corporate taxes, capital gains taxes...or God forbid death taxes. I won't be happy about abandoning my expasion plan in southern Ohio that would have happened under McCain...I would've hired 15 new employees. I won't be happy about laying off at least two employees right after the holidays.

While I understand that it is completely normal to base your vote on what a political candidate is going to do for you (hell, I do it too!), that doesn't mean they are the best candidate for the majority of the country. For me, I'd have to think that the kind of radical change the direction our country would take under Obama is not going to help out every single person or business owner in the country. However, I do strongly believe that Obama's tax changes are going to help the vast, vast majority of us... 95% of us, as I remember.

For every person/company that has worked their ass off in order to make more than $250k a year, I'd be willing to bet that there are a far greater number of lower class and middle class people who have worked their asses off just as hard and don't have much to show for it. For me it is simple: I'd gladly take some of that $ away from those who can afford to have $ taken away in order to prop up those lower/middle class people who are/were devastated by their tanking 401Ks, declining home values, or home forclosures. I suppose it is just a fundamental difference of opinion between myself and many McCain supporters.
I don't know you, what kind of business you own/run, or what your financial situation is, so please don't take this as me making assumptions about your personal situation. That being said, I wish you well and hope the "doom and gloom" scenario you predict under Obama doesn't happen if, in fact, he wins.

I won't be happy about paying higher income taxes, corporate taxes, capital gains taxes...or God forbid death taxes.

Once again, way too simplistic here... its like a regurgitation of a bad GOP commercial... "TAXES ARE BADDDD!" (in your best Frankenstein voice.) Yes, taxes suck. Yes, you would think that an overall tax increase would be the worst thing to do during a time like this, but think about it a bit differently.... What about our slumping education system? What about all those kids in other countries surpassing ours in mathematics and science? What about the jobs they'll be inevitably taking from our kids in the future? What about our deteriorating transportation infrastructure? What about the lack of proper planning for programs like FEMA? What about our energy situation? Drilling for more oil just prolongs the problem and takes the pressure off of us, as everyday people and as a country to conserve and pursue alternate technologies. My point? In order to invest in our future, it costs money. To get money, we have to tax. (Not to mention get away from unnecessary, costly wars) It is plain and simple, we invest in our future today, we reap the benefits tomorrow.

Personally I wish they would do away with the whole party system it's dated and broken.

Amen! Add the Electoral College to that list as well.

 

[Lee]

I voted in this poll, that holds no value, with so many youngsters voting and people not even from our country voting on political polls here it just a comfort system for people who are voteing however they are voteing.

I do not care any more who wins, I do think who ever wins will not be elected for a second term, and I would be willing to bet on that.

I agree. Its going to be like the Carter administration again. We will have a financial meltdown no matter who is president. The chances of prosperity in 4 years is slim, so it is likely the next president will get blamed, even if its not their fault. I hate Bush, but he is not directly responsible for alot of the financial problems. But dont kid yourself max, the doctorine that fannie give more home loans to lower income housing isnt responsible either. Those expanded level approval loans preformed well, subprime has not. Subprime is private so was not governed by the doctorine. Fannie and Freddie always had to report to congress and the goverment. Subprime was private banks that made up 30-40% of the market. With sub-prime gone, 30-40% of the people no longer qualify. Its economics 101. Housing was in demand, now their is a huge inventory since not as many people qualify. Prices drop dramatically, and everything else in inevitable. Bush, Clinton, congress both dems and reps did not control the sub prime industry. So everyone is to blame for this mess.

I do blame Bush for the mess in Iraq. I from day one knew this would be a huge mess. But more than Bush, I blame Rumsfield and Chainey. Its no suprise this happened. What do expect when we have Bush and Dick leading the country.

 

[Maximus]

Once again, way too simplistic here... its like a regurgitation of a bad GOP commercial... "TAXES ARE BADDDD!" (in your best Frankenstein voice.) Yes, taxes suck. Yes, you would think that an overall tax increase would be the worst thing to do during a time like this, but think about it a bit differently.... What about our slumping education system? What about all those kids in other countries surpassing ours in mathematics and science? What about the jobs they'll be inevitably taking from our kids in the future? What about our deteriorating transportation infrastructure? What about the lack of proper planning for programs like FEMA? What about our energy situation? Drilling for more oil just prolongs the problem and takes the pressure off of us, as everyday people and as a country to conserve and pursue alternate technologies. My point? In order to invest in our future, it costs money. To get money, we have to tax. (Not to mention get away from unnecessary, costly wars) It is plain and simple, we invest in our future today, we reap the benefits tomorrow.

WRONG, WRONG, WRONG...

The governement has all the money it needs in my(and John McCain's) opinion. It just needs to use it correctly. Eliminate all of the wasteful, redundant, dated, EXPENSIVE programs. Instead of asking for it from companies that are hiring workers and citizens who invest and purchase things, why not look in the mirror and ask if we really need to give Hillary a $1M earmark to build a Woodstock Museum along with all the other billions we give for ridiculous projects???

It is plain and simple, we invest in our future today, we reap the benefits tomorrow.

I agree with this, I just prefer the business minds of America do the investing and not Pelosi, Franks, and Reid. Lower spending, lower taxes and we will reap the rewards faster and longer.

 

[RonG]

Wrong. This is shortsighted and simplistic. While we shouldn't base our choice of a leader on it, the support of other countries is vital to our interests domestically and internationally. To say other nations hate Bush because of Iraq is like saying "I don't like Larry Hughes because he's bad." ...doesn't say anything really about WHY. People around the world dislike Bush because of his aggressive, arrogant, shortsighted "You're either with us or against us" policies. Not to mention the rampant cronyism that has existed throughout his tenure in the White House. When other countries (correctly) objected to engaging Iraq, Bush essentially said "I don't care" and did whatever he pleased. It is imperative in the future that we have (more) support of our allies if/when we are involved in a military conflict. I don't even need to state why this is the case. My problem with John McCain is what I see as a much, much more aggressive foreign policy that is more likely to enter a military engagement than his opponent. With our military spread thin already, and our economy on the decline (remember, wars cost $$!) we need to embrace diplomacy, not aggression

Nice emotional response now back it up with some facts. There were only a handlful of countries that were against going into Iraq the biggest being France, who just happened to have been violating the "Sanctions" in place and were buying ALOT of oil under the table. Secondly we had tried diplomatic solutions for 6 years prior to us going back, again do some research and stop posting what is convient.

While I understand that it is completely normal to base your vote on what a political candidate is going to do for you (hell, I do it too!), that doesn't mean they are the best candidate for the majority of the country. For me, I'd have to think that the kind of radical change the direction our country would take under Obama is not going to help out every single person or business owner in the country. However, I do strongly believe that Obama's tax changes are going to help the vast, vast majority of us... 95% of us, as I remember.

Yea and that is why Ohio is falling off the map, they have taxed and waged' industry out of Ohio and forced countries over sea's and to Mexico for its labor. Again do some research.

For every person/company that has worked their ass off in order to make more than $250k a year, I'd be willing to bet that there are a far greater number of lower class and middle class people who have worked their asses off just as hard and don't have much to show for it.

Your kidding us right? I guess I could pull some outlandish statement out of my ass too but that wouldn't help any more than yours.

For me it is simple: I'd gladly take some of that $ away from those who can afford to have $ taken away in order to prop up those lower/middle class people who are/were devastated by their tanking 401Ks, declining home values, or home forclosures. I suppose it is just a fundamental difference of opinion between myself and many McCain supporters.

I don't understand why don't you just say it, your not for a democratic goverment your for a Socialist goverment.

I don't know you, what kind of business you own/run, or what your financial situation is, so please don't take this as me making assumptions about your personal situation. That being said, I wish you well and hope the "doom and gloom" scenario you predict under Obama doesn't happen if, in fact, he wins.

The fact is the economy is going to be crappy for a few years and neither McCain or Obama will have much effect either way, but taking more money away from the people who have it to spend isn't the answer. It would be simple if you tax companies more and they kept their spending the same on new jobs, new employees and what not, but the fact is those companies will maintain their profits by cutting out new jobs and new employees, they will cut until they maintain as close as possible the same profit margins they had pre-tax. Why is that so hard for people to grasp?

Once again, way too simplistic here... its like a regurgitation of a bad GOP commercial... "TAXES ARE BADDDD!" (in your best Frankenstein voice.) Yes, taxes suck. Yes, you would think that an overall tax increase would be the worst thing to do during a time like this, but think about it a bit differently.... What about our slumping education system? What about all those kids in other countries surpassing ours in mathematics and science? What about the jobs they'll be inevitably taking from our kids in the future?

This will improve when parents are held accountable again, and really isn't much of a federal goverment issue. On top of that it is more of a state issue than anything.

What about our deteriorating transportation infrastructure? What about the lack of proper planning for programs like FEMA?

Both of these aren't issue or problems that are really handled by the president at best they are congress and senate, so lets get them on the ball?

What about our energy situation? Drilling for more oil just prolongs the problem and takes the pressure off of us, as everyday people and as a country to conserve and pursue alternate technologies. My point? In order to invest in our future, it costs money. To get money, we have to tax. (Not to mention get away from unnecessary, costly wars) It is plain and simple, we invest in our future today, we reap the benefits tomorrow.

There is money, stop spending it through riders and earmarks on bow's and arrows and research that doesn't hit the issue that are a priority.

 

[Kavdawg]

I don't think it is has as much to do with the merit of his ideas as you think. Listen to him talk, he is a fantastic orator. He could say "As president, I will making running a stop sign punishable by death", and people will eat it up.

I think many people see rhetoric like "Hope" and "Change" on a poster with his smiling face on it and think, "Hey, my life sucks, I could sure use some hope and change right about now" and don't really look at the full picture. "Hey, my life sucks under this party, let's try the other one," etc.

If you actually listened to any of his post convention speeches then you would quickly notice that his speeches had far more substance than empty rhetoric which has characterized his rise to fame from the 2004 convention up to his nomination. His policies on his website are more laid out and clear than McCain's. Just because you see some happy Barack faces with "change" written on the top doesn't mean that other people see that and just decide to vote for him. Maybe from your perspective because you are in an undergrad setting in a major university, you see irrational voting behavior. I can tell you from being on a major medical campus and campaigning in the heart of suburbia, people here think about issues and they vote with their brains.

I see what you're saying though with regards to getting the young guns and the poor to the polls..feeding on emotions vs. reasoning. You know what, though...it works both ways. There are so many dumbass single issue voters on the republican side. Iraq...Abortion...RACE (oh no he's a Muslim!). So don't tell me that one side is playing on the electorate's emotions.

Speaking of the central nervous system, anyone with a brain could look at McCain's proposals on the internet and see that they are pretty much an extension of Bush with serious exceptions regarding climate change, energy and wasteful government spending. Climate change is great--it's about time we set up a cap and trade system. Energy has been a hot topic since gas prices have shot up. These are two issues where America has been lagging behind the rest of the developed world, and I am happy to know that regardless of who is elected, these issues will be tackled.

All McCain supporters orgasm over the thought of cutting earmarks. Cutting earmakrs is great, but it's not going to fix health-care, it's not going to fix our economy and it sure as hell isn't going to win us any respect with our allies. Earmarks account for 18 billion dollars in government spending. The federal spending annually is at 2.6 trillion dollars. Let's do the math....18 billion over 2.6 trillion....thats .6%.

You want to cut wasteful spending? I agree. Let's not give these senators their pet project money for useless things. By the way, Sarah Palin recently stated that funds were given to some scientist to study fruitfly DNA...I guess no no one gave her the memo that fruit fly genes are used to study genetic disorders like the one her son has (trisomy 21).

Do you REALLY want to cut wasteful spending (and yes, I mean worthless absolutely unnecessary spending)? Iraq anyone? 10 billion dollars a month! More money spent in 2 months in Iraq than random money for stupid pet projects each year.

Finally, I know a lot has been said regarding our standing in the world. I know some have the attitude that this is our country, and that we shouldn't care how others think. That's fair, but being in a global economy with rapid development, I think it is critical that we do care how others perceive us. We need our allies by our side and we need to make mends with the world. Maybe you haven't spent much time abroad, but in many ways there are some things such as climate change and energy where we are just in the gutter. Having this insensitive rogue us vs. the world attitude will not benefit this country. Luckily for us, either McCain or Obama can get us back on track. I just think Obama has a leg up with regards to engaging in diplomacy.