" I can't believe it is only October. I am getting tired of people saying "vote for _________". I think that everyone that is able to to vote has the ability to free thinking. It shouldn't be someone else's job to sway a persons vote to one candidate or the other. There is more constructive ways of supporting your candidate. I get tired of the phone calls, the pestering at the grocery store, the nonstop commercials on television. It is so up front and in your face! By the time November rolls around, I will be so sick of both candidates that I wouldn't like to vote for either. The other part of my my dismay is the nonstop name calling. I am sure that when the constitution was drafted, the writers never envisioned politics to be like this. Yes, we have a plunging economy. Yes, we have the war in Iraq. The entire blame can not be on the President. In my mind, the President does as his advisors tell him to do. If you want to judge someone, judge congressmen and senators. This is not a dictatorship people. There has to be approval of all things before action to happen. If you are upset at how Bush is handling the war, tell your senator/congressmen to vote against plans. 2/3 majority vote trumps anything that the President can do even vetoes. We do not live in a dictatorship! After reading many people's comments, those people sound like that is what we are living it. Do you think a new face in the White House means that everything is going to be great? Wrong! People need to look at their state's senators and congressman. Are they voting for your best interests? If not, VOTE THEM OUT!!!! I love it when people get upset at some situation and instead of doing something, they decide to blame someone else. Well, enough with the name calling! Enough with the slander. If you don't like what is going on, change it! A new face in the White House might be a start, but your senators and congressmen are equally to blame for everything that is happening! They had the same opportunity to solve the economic crisis. They had the opportunity to override the President when deciding to go into Iraq. They sat back and let it happen. Bush has some "strange" ideas, but he is getting ridiculed for ideas that he was TOLD to present. Those ideas, however "strange" they may be, could have been left on the floor of the house and senate, but instead the elected officials allowed it to go through. I don't care who McCain's friends are, or who's church Obama attends. I care about what John Tester and Max Baucus are voting for in DC. Are they for your best interest? If the answer is no, you better vote for someone else come November. Don't cast your vote for Baucus and then spend until the next election belly aching about what is happening! Quite calling names and making excuses, make changes. Changes not only in the President, but in your other elected officials if they are not looking out for your interests. The head can not survive without the body. "

" Here are some of "my friends"

REVEREND JOHN HAGEE
RICK DAVIS
KEATING 5
TERRY NELSON
KARL ROVE
GEORGE W BUSH
DICK CHENEY
ENRON
AQUILES SUAREZ
ARTHER CULVAHOUSE
CHARLIE BLACK
G. GORDON LIDDY
JIM HENSLEY
MR. URIBE
TODD PALIN
CHARLIE BLACK
DAVIS MANAFORT

Vote for McCain...I don't think so! "

" patriot-

What a misinformed post (Oct 6, 2:56pm). I wonder what your reaction to this article is?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/opinion/08friedman.html?em "

" Gun;
Interesting description of yourself and your views. I must say that your views are much closer to conservative than liberal in the description below. I know you have some issues to which you lean left but clearly you are a fiscal conservative and social liberal. Much closer to the center than I would have thought from reading some of your posts. WELCOME TO THE MIDDLE! :) "

" Heh, wouldn't it be ideal to find someone who actually tries to balance both sides of the spectrum rather than commit to one side wholly? It should not be a question of right or left, nor ever of bipartisanship. It should be a question of right and wrong, and always of the American people.

Okay, obviously the Republicans have not done the best job in the world...and lets face it, Dick Chaney's got Bush. You have them screaming patriotism and policing the world, when in all reality, I don't recall the invading several countries to reform them as the responsibility of the States. Every country has the right, as our own did, do have their own revolution. Not one forced upon them. I'm not bashing the soldiers or anything, just stating the simple fact that the United States has no business beginning to run any other country, when it is failing to run itself.

As for the "maniacal liberal socialism," you may want to rethink that statement. Everyone knows that Obama can't keep all of the promises he makes. No politician can. Especially when it comes to fiscal matters, as the President really has little control of it, beyond asking Congress or vetoing a bill. Thinking they can is naivet that I would hope voting citizens would not express.


I think it would be nice for a politician to balance political issues a little more. Make a plan for the economy, break away from the Bush regime, yet maybe realize gun control is probably not the best idea. Possibly bail out Wall Street, but punish those responsible, as has happened in the past. Maybe even, oh my word, raise taxes for those who make more, because the divide between the rich and poor grows every day, but use the increased taxes for the purpose of boosting the economy, like providing better college assistance, instead of waging war.

No matter how you look at it, extremism, in any form, is not good for this country, nor the people in it. The course it is on now is not acceptable, and change must occur. People will continue to bicker and fight, just as everyone is, about the "left" and the "right." The problem with this nation is that no one is in the middle anymore. And the middle is a lot bigger than a line. It's a space, a compromise, the ability to work together towards a common goal and a better future. It is not a place for the undecided; it is a place for the logical, the realistic, and the truly patriotic that believe this country needs to work in the best interest of ALL of her people. Not the rich, not the poor, but a balance.

"All of us who are concerned for peace and triumph of reason and justice must be keenly aware how small an influence reason and honest good will exert upon events in the political field." ~Albert Einstein

"Midas, they say, possessed the art of old
Of turning whatsoe'er he touch'd to gold;
This modern statesmen can reverse with ease -
Touch them with gold, they'll turn to what you please."
~John Wolcot

"Mankind will never see an end of trouble until... lovers of wisdom come to hold political power, or the holders of power... become lovers of wisdom." ~Plato, The Republic "

" Patriot....now you write a lot of wacko stuff, but am I reading wrong or are actually suggesting that all liberals are denying personal responsibility for their actions? WTF?? I am liberal....I am 33....I am college graduate....I have a home (of which I put down nearly 1/3 when I purchased....I have no other loans other than my mortgage and college loans....so in other words...I worked hard, made smart choices....saved my money for things I wanted to buy. However I still think people believe in a hand up...NOT A HAND OUT for those who did not make wise choices! If it were not for children I would be hard pressed to feel sorry for most of these dead beat adults. But for you to suggest that all liberals deny personal responsibility for their actions is UTTERLY RIDICULOUS and further shows how radical you really are. Get some new material!! "

" patriot - there wasn't anything in my comment that could have suggested that I am left. Indeed I am not, and generally agree with what you said. I don't agree with socialism on any level. People by and large create their own reality, and need to own up to that fact and quit looking for someone else to give out handouts.

I also agree with your position on Bush. I laugh when I see so many people talking about how worthless he is. He had about a 75% approval rating heading into his second term, so 3 out of 4 people that whine about it do it just to be in vogue. Ironically, they then criticize politicians that flip flop on issues. True he could have handled a few things differently in hind sight, but that's a luxury we have now, when we weren't the ones running the country and needing to make the call. The problem goes back to the responsibility you were talking about: no one wants to take any blame, so they need a scapegoat.

I still stand by my original post, it was pretty non-partisan. Obama doesn't have the ability to change anything he is talking about. And McCain won't do anything noticeable to help either. Sure, I'd really like to keep Obama out simply because many of his ideas are socialistic, no two ways about it. Even Obama's supporters can see that. It's just a difference in beliefs I suppose. I don't personally understand the concept of "I don't have what I want, and you have more than I think you should, so you need to give some to me." I was raised with "if you want it, work for it." Apparently not all agree. "

" Oh please, patriot. Are you going to tell me that you right-wingers didn't spend eight years absolutely excoriating Clinton with white-hot hatred? And for what - presiding over the most prosperous era in decades? Oh yeah, and having an affair, much like John McCain was doing around that time.

Liberals deny "personal responsibility for their actions"? Look, I take responsibility for my actions every day: in my profession, in raising my children, in paying my mortgage and my taxes, etc., just like every other liberal I know.

It's the economic elite that get to escape personal responsibility. Maybe you haven't heard yet about all the Wall Street welfare muthas with their golden parachutes whom we working people are now expected to clean up after, to the tune of $700 billion and rising? And yes, the melding of corporate interests with the state is the definition of fascism, whether you like to hear it or not. A true patriot knows this is a profoundly anti-American place that Bush is taking us.

I defy you to document even one of your little cartoon fantasies ("world free of taxes while maintainig free healthcare,free college education, lower gas prices, and eliminating all distinctions between social groups") as something Barak Obama has ever promised? Please,patriot, turn off the Limbaugh long enough to get your facts straight before you start on one of your screeds. "

" Oh man, here we go again. Maniacal liberal socializm, wow, that is a mouth full. Oh and managing the Iraq war? I like the idea of a "managed war". Do they have coffee breaks and how about pier diem? John McCain has flaws?, where do we start? Palin is the worst flaw he has right now. He was looking pretty good until he gave Sarahzar a podium and a microphone. He would have been better off having her run campaign adds about being the six-pack a day soccer mom with big lips or whatever banter she is slinging out there is. Certainly letting her speak out formally has been a disaster. "

" in reply to diazo, scooter,skosena and thinkplease. Why is that the liberal left continue to deny personal responsibility for their actions. Wallowing in self-pity while denigrating ones-self are common to the democratic mantra. Liberals cry for big government to step in and help run their lives,press for increased entitlements, social programs to maintain a higher social status. Liberal politicians promise the world free of taxes while maintainig free healthcare,free college education, lower gas prices, and eliminating all distinctions between social groups. Barak Obama is promising all that and more and he is the hero in this fairytale. The liberal politician does not produce any of these benefits by his own efforts, but he will take from those disproportionately who can produce. What happens when liberal constituents realize that his liberal hero can't make their dreams come true, their financial obligations are not excused and they actually must work to improve their standard of living. diazo comparing Mussolini to conservative values is a step to far in name calling.
The hatred for president Bush and republicans is beyond comprehension. If Obama is elected should all those who vote the other party have the same hatred for him. As an American and a patriot I will still respect him as the President and commander in chief, not call him names or refer to him with non-flattering terms. We are all entitled to our opinion and the freedom of choice in elections, I will not be able to sway the die-hard liberal bent on some demented idea of vengence against conservative values. "

" Well said, skooter. Republicans have proven they're quite fond of socialism - so long as the profits are privatized and the costs are socialized to us lowly taxpayers. This particular brand of socialism has a name that none dare mention. Let's just say that Mussolini shared the "patriotic values" of today's Republican party. "

" "Republican policies have sustained us in past economic crises and their patriotic values are needed in rebuilding America."

I think we have the right to voice our opinions and ideas in any public forum...but to say that others are not "patriotic" because they don't agree with your point of view...well frankly I find that kind of attitude unpatriotic. "

" Al is right. There will be no appreciable change to the country regardless of who takes office. It doesn't matter too much who is filling a spot if the people/businesses/motives that influence that position don't change.

An awful lot of people throw around things they "know" on here. The sad truth is, not one of us knows anything more than what we are wanted to know. Research is spun, numbers twisted, outright lies told daily. Voting records don't mean much because of collaboration before a vote takes place.

To claim that you know something or to form solid convictions based on misinformation is only fooling yourself. So sit back and enjoy the high school popularity contest, er, the election for the President of the United States. "

" You go skooter, you are on the money. There is no leadership in the Republican party anymore. They have split into 3 factions: The Bushmen, The Old Hardliners and then the Macalins, the later have no clue what they have done in the past, what they are doing now or what they are going to do in the future. The Republicans should all do a write in, Vote for Saturday Night's Tina Fey. At least she can mime correctly. "

" This is one of those totally inane letters that appears to have a single root in reality. Here we go:
"Republican policies have sustained us in past economic crises"...WHAT??! REALLY? How about those policies led us into this morass? & you want 4 more years of the same?
"Their patriotic values are needed in rebuilding America" YES, because only Republicans are truly patriots. Purple & patriot tell us that all of the time.
"What kind of change will [Obama's] maniacal, liberal socialism bring? Who knows, you might ask yourself the same question about the CURRENT maniacal, conservative socialism that has us buying banks, mortgage holders and bailing out wall-street.
"a transparent tyro like Barack Obama" You can't have it both ways - is he inexperienced or a tyrannt (which would seem to mean he's lead something in a tyrannical manner - darn community organizers!!!)? Frankly, Palin seems more akin to someone who has run a public office (or two) in a tyrannical manner if everything we hear is true.

You can repeat all of the radio smears you hear, and even type them into a letter to the town's newspaper...but that doesn't make it any truer than when Palin or McCain or one of their campaign surrogates floated the crap in the first place. I know one thing, at least Obama/Biden is telling me what they'd like to do. MCCain/Palin can't talk about what they want to do because its more of the same, so they have to resort to constant attacks against Obama rather than talking about their plans. "

" Mr. Lumma, Democrats and Republicans are two sides of the same coin, and ordinary, honest Americans lose no matter which side comes up in a toss. People should not have to live with the burdens of unnecessary wars, malevolently manipulated economies and a steady stream of lies. Those who founded our country knew what to do; I only hope a spark of that true spirit of America still burns. "

" The change I am voting it for is simple. Obama gives me hope that perhaps we can make a difference. He gives me hope that maybe politicians will start listening to the youth; after all we are the ones that are paying for your retirements. He gives me hope that we will actually play in the world field, instead of this elitist Bush Doctrine. We have the bombs, the guns, and the technology, but what we dont always have is the right to dictate how the world is run. In all actuality I would vote Republican if you actually walked the talk. It's great to say self reliance and self responsibility but what policy do you propose? I don't hear anything about cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, and other various social welfare programs. Expect a person to take care of themselves thats the Repub way. All the Republicans do is talk. At least with the Dems they tell me they will keep these programs and the rich will be taxed. Which ultimately means Ill be taxed on the goods I buy, but its better then having my parents live with me. I like to know the girl I take home. (Not to rip on "gosh darnit, keep me under the sheets" Palin.) "

" very well said, I could not agree with you more "