Expertinent: Will 'Obama vs. McCain' Change the Map?

re: Expertinent: Will 'Obama vs. McCain' Change the Map?

Truesdell — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 02:41:35 GMT

If Sam Nunn is on the ticket, how might that affect Georgia and Virginia?

re: Expertinent: Will 'Obama vs. McCain' Change the Map?

Cruise Carter — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:22:06 GMT

A Declaration of Withdrawal from the Republican Party

My reasons for leaving the Party that I’ve felt at home in since I became politically aware are numerous. I will start with quoting countless conservatives who feel as I do - I didn’t so much leave the Republican Party, it was the Party that left me. The elected Republican officials failed to implement a conservative agenda, despite having the Presidency and both houses of congress. No Child Left Behind, Prescription Drug Entitlements; they even tried to force Amnesty for illegal aliens upon us. They have given us a government that would make even LBJ blush. Our businesses and land have more regulatory red tape to deal with than ever.

Where is the Republican Party that stood for limited government, personal responsibility, a strong national defense, and against being the world’s policeman? As recently as the 90’s Republicans railed against a foreign policy of “making the world safe for democracy”, (which is historically the Democrats foreign policy, ala Woodrow Wilson) when Bill Clinton was President and he took us to war in Bosnia and Kosovo, without U.N. approval I might add. Which reminds me, the United Nations is something the GOP used to believe we needed to get out of, not an institution to be defended when a rogue nation violates U.N. resolutions.

I am also reminded of former Senator Robert Taft, who was known in his day as Mr. Republican, when he said “I do not believe any policy which has behind it the threat of military force is justified as part of the basic foreign policy of the United States except to defend the liberty of our own people” and my favorite President - Thomas Jefferson, who said “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, and entangling alliances with none.”

From its inception, the Republican Party advocated a humble foreign policy in line with our founding fathers recommendations, now, with John McCain as the leader and voice of the GOP, we are told to get behind his idea for a “League of Democracies” which sounds terrifyingly similar to Wilson and his Progressive Democrats “League of Nations” almost 100 years ago.

We are also being told by McCain that we will have to Cap and Trade our liberty and our pursuit of happiness in the fight against global warming, essentially that if we don’t give government more money and power, utopia will never be reached.

Some have told me that I should support him because he will appoint conservative judges, but I ask these questions - 1. Who’s definition of conservative are we talking about? And 2. Why would I trust the man on this issue when he is one of the “Gang of 14” who was blocking President Bush’s conservative lower federal court and Circuit Courts of Appeal judicial nominees? I would also remind you of his historical propensity to appease those even more liberal than himself. His version of “reaching across the aisle” looks more like a group hug when he crafts legislation like the McCain / Kennedy and McCain / Feingold bills. McCain / Feingold happens to be the reason McCain should not get the NRA’s endorsement, the NRA spent years fighting this trampling of our 1st amendment rights. McCain has not been the solid 2nd amendment supporter he would like you to believe he is - he had a barely passing “C” grade from the NRA in his last senate run in 04’ , and in 2000 worked with Americans for Gun Safety, an anti-gun group with a deceiving name.

The differences between McCain and Obama are minimal, when you consider that both believe big government can save you from yourself, and that we can save other nations from themselves as well. Given McCain’s track record of conciliatory dealings with Democrats, I fear what this man would do with a Democratic House and Senate. I will not play along with the game of lesser of two evils, as I believe that is part of what has plunged this nation into the mess we find ourselves today.

Once upon a time the Republican Party stood against special interests, corruption and abuse of power. Today their candidates campaign is “ of the lobbyist, by the lobbyist, for the lobbyist.” A man who admits Washington’s corruption has tainted him. Google Keating 5 and read all about it.

The Republican Party today would be unrecognizable to my favorite Republicans of yesterday, such as Barry Goldwater, who said “ A government that is big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take it all away.” President Eisenhower, who warned us of the Military Industrial Complex, and one whose party membership is a surprise to many today but shouldn’t be, Martin Luther King Jr. “ Violence is a poor chisel for carving out peaceful tomorrows.” The party is just as unrecognizable to myself and others of my generation.

I had to draw a line in the sand, and the Republican Party wasted no time in crossing it, when they and the President pushed for “economic stimulus checks.” The only problem is this, the money isn’t money that we have, its money we are borrowing, and our excessive borrowing becomes a tax on future generations, as we wont be paying it off any time soon. Want to try to sell this as economically conservative? Excessive borrowing and spending has the added affect of devaluing our currency, so it acts as a hidden tax on us today. As I heard one of the presidential candidates say in regards to these stimulus checks, “ Whose economy are we stimulating here? Ours or Chinas? We are borrowing more money from China so everyone can go buy more stuff made in China.” I get it, others in the GOP get it, so why doesn’t the party leadership?

I can’t take anymore disrespect for conservative values, and unless the Republican Party wakes up and gets it’s head on straight real soon, I will be taking my vote, my time, energy, money, and passion from the GOP and taking it to the Libertarian Party to send a message to the Republican leadership that I will not be taken for granted. I believe that it is solid conservatism that wins the day and elections - limited government, individual responsibility, and a strong national DEFENSE (secure the borders!), not conciliation and surrender to Democrats to the point that our differences become blurry.

The Libertarian Party seems to be a perfect temporary home, the GOP has its work cut out if its sincere about winning me back, even President Reagan said “Libertarianism is the very heart and soul of conservatism.” I will be doing everything I can to sway like minded conservatives to join me in this exodus and vote for Bob Barr for President and Wayne Root for Vice President on the Libertarian ticket. Both of them were recently Republicans, and are among those countless conservatives I‘ve heard myself say “ It wasn’t that I left the Republican Party, it was the Party that left me.”

Please visit bobbarr2008.com and give conservatism a voice in the Presidential debates and beyond.

Thanks and God Bless, from Zak Carter

re: Expertinent: Will 'Obama vs. McCain' Change the Map?

Jack999 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:23:32 GMT

Obama supporters should ask Pentagon to Probe and setup Commission Committee about discrepancy Entry of John McCain into Annapolis Academy as Naval Officer Pilot,he's only HIGH SCHOOL graduate,yet being Commissioned as Naval Officer let alone as Pilot,Does this have anything to do his Father position as Admiral?should he be only Qualified to be Private or Cpl with his HIGH SCHOOL qualification?As a Pilot he was shoot -down twice,This shouldn't be a surprise to many,as his IQ level is Low to be Qualified as Pilot.?

Check his TRUE education level,when he entered Miliatary arms with HIGH SCHOOL certificate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain#Formative_years_and_education

re: Expertinent: Will 'Obama vs. McCain' Change the Map?

Jack999 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:24:51 GMT

Check his TRUE education level,when he entered Miliatary arms with HIGH SCHOOL certificate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain#Formative_years_and_education

re: Expertinent: Will 'Obama vs. McCain' Change the Map?

AZ Gramps — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:11:09 GMT

Jack999, like all other idiots who wish to discredit any public official, needs to get his facts straight before asking for a "Pentagon Probe". The US Naval Academy, just like all service academies (and all other 4-year schools), admit high school graduates to their ranks as freshmen. Sen McCain was admitted after graduating high school in 1954. He graduated from Annapolis in 1958 and was then commissioned as a Naval Officer and pilot. I’m not backing McCain here, I just get tired of listening to idiots BS about facts that they don’t understand.

re: Expertinent: Will 'Obama vs. McCain' Change the Map?

vakosh — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:34:49 GMT

Join the new movement - DEMOCRATS FOR MCCAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

re: Expertinent: Will 'Obama vs. McCain' Change the Map?

ray4600 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:50:26 GMT

Being a president of the US is the most powerful and stressful job in the world. I don't believe someone in his 70's and with McCain health condition is capable of handling the stress that comes with the job.

re: Expertinent: Will 'Obama vs. McCain' Change the Map?

mvymvy — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:40:37 GMT

The real issue is not how well Obama or McCain might do in the closely divided battleground states, but that we shouldn't have battleground states and spectator states in the first place. Every vote in every state should be politically relevant in a presidential election. And, every vote should be equal. We should have a national popular vote for President in which the White House goes to the candidate who gets the most popular votes in all 50 states.

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral vote -- that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).

The major shortcoming of the current system of electing the President is that presidential candidates have no reason to poll, visit, advertise, organize, campaign, or worry about the voter concerns in states where they are safely ahead or hopelessly behind. The reason for this is the winner-take-all rule which awards all of a state's electoral votes to the candidate who gets the most votes in each separate state. Because of this rule, candidates concentrate their attention on a handful of closely divided "battleground" states. Two-thirds of the visits and money are focused in just six states; 88% on 9 states, and 99% of the money goes to just 16 states. Two-thirds of the states and people are merely spectators to the presidential election.

Another shortcoming of the current system is that a candidate can win the Presidency without winning the most popular votes nationwide.

The National Popular Vote bill has been approved by 18 legislative chambers (one house in Colorado, Arkansas, Maine, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Washington, and two houses in Maryland, Illinois, Hawaii, California, and Vermont). It has been enacted into law in Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland. These states have 50 (19%) of the 270 electoral votes needed to bring this legislation into effect.

See http://www.NationalPopularVote.com

re: Expertinent: Will 'Obama vs. McCain' Change the Map?

titlemikebotws — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:33:40 GMT

There will be a big movement for the libertarian party. The online poker players, the pot smokers, the people against the I.R.S., the home school parents and the libertarians will support Barr. Mootsa Gootsa predicts Barr/Root in 2008 wins by a landslide. One out of 3 Democrats and one out of three Republicans will vote for libertarian candidates Barr and Root. Goodbye Nanny state, hello freedom. The media can't keep the news hidden. When the time comes the informed people will vote for the right person, it's a shame if that the uninformed may be responsible for electing our next president.

re: Expertinent: Will 'Obama vs. McCain' Change the Map?

titlemikebotws — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:44:50 GMT

There are thousands reading this right now, many of which may not have decided who they are going to vote for. What could you say to encourage them to give you their vote?

Mr. Root: "Barack Obama (my college classmate Columbia University Class of '83) talks nonstop about change. So do Hillary and McCain. None of them are agents of change. They are longtime politicians (and lawyers). They are the problem- not the solution. Barack was just named as the single most liberal member of the entire U.S. Senate. That's based on facts- his voting record. Is that the change we want? That's not change- that's the same old “soak the rich,” “redistribute the wealth,” “spend like a drunken sailor,” and “spend trillions on a failing war on poverty” philosophy of big government, out-of-touch, bleeding heart liberals like Ted Kennedy, George McGovern, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis. Is this what America calls change? While China and Russia turn unabashedly capitalistic, do we want to move towards Socialism?

McCain is another big government conservative. He's been collecting government checks in D.C. for 25 years. Hillary wants Universal Healthcare- so we can bankrupt America and throw Americans in jail for trying to choose the doctor of their choice. Scary. That's what happens in UK and Canada- if you're sick you wait in line for weeks or months to see a doctor- who is forced upon you by the government. You don't like that doctor-too bad. He's an incompetent doctor- too bad. You're out of luck. You need a hip replaced right away? Too bad- you'll have to sit in a wheelchair for 18 months until it's your turn. Anyone want that system?

Who wants to vote for “the same old, same old.” The D.C. insiders are the ones who have ruined things. Our country is in trouble. It's time for a dramatic change; a non-violent revolution. Who better to lead that revolution than a son of a butcher. I say “THROW THE BUMS OUT.” A perfect example is found in the final 3 contenders for the major party Presidential nominations- Clinton, Obama, and McCain are people that have been agents of big government their whole lives. Always collecting government checks. Always voting against tax cuts (even though it's our money in the first place). Always feeding off taxpayers. Always bribing the voters to stay in office- thereby increasing government spending and running up a huge deficit. But here's the worst thing of all- all 3 are sitting U.S. Senators. They collect a 6-figure income from the taxpayers. Being a Senator is a full-time job, isn't it? But these 3 are spending every waking hour campaigning for President. How are they earning their $175,000 U.S. Senate salaries? They're not even present to vote on important bills. They are cheating the citizens of New York, Illinois and Arizona. It's, in my opinion, fraud to run for higher office while collecting a check for another political office. The rules should be changed- if you want to run for President, you have to step down from your present office. Why should taxpayers pay the cost for absent politicians who ignore the job for which they are being paid?

If what I'm saying strikes a chord- it's time to vote for a complete outsider. A rebel with a pitchfork and musket. A citizen legislator. A small businessman, S.O.B. (son of a butcher) and Las Vegas oddsmaker. I am the perfect “OUT OF THE BOX” candidate. Some people are scared of Vegas. Religious people think it has a negative connotation. You know what the difference is between Las Vegas and Washington D.C.? In Vegas the drunks gamble with their own money! It's time to shake things up in Washington. Put the rebel and maverick small businessman from Las Vegas in charge. I could certainly do a better job than the fools, hypocrites and greedy thieves that have run this country for the past 50 years. "