This is the Presidential Campaign Thread.

Barack Obama Vs. John McCain.

Edited November 6, 200817 yr by Toups

WHAT?

OK, I just watched Soledad talk to the uncommitted in Ohio. First, I think it must be terrible to be this far into this election season and still not know what you are going to do. I can't imagine what these people are waiting on to decide. The people with Ms. O'Brien say that they need more specifics. How specific do they think it's going to get? Any promise made right now is mere conjecture, and if you call out specifics now and you have to compromise on them once you get elected, then you look like you're "breaking promises" or "wishy-washy."

But speaking of wishy-washy, I think it's almost hilarious, if not sad, that 12 of the 25 felt like obama won the debate and yet at the end 14 said they would vote for McCain if the election were held today? Plus all the ticker lines at the top when Obama spoke.

Tell me now this isn't about race.

There maybe times that I don't know who I am going to vote for a few days out from an election and even times the day before. But I do know who I won't be voting for.

95% of the time we have more than 2 candidates. In my electorate alone there can be 5 or 6 people.

On CNN's poll obama won 80% to JM's 16% and 4% thought there was no clear winner. This is out of 147,000 people polled(and I rounded that number up).

Edited October 8, 200817 yr by EricaKane70

I just had to post this.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,2...5012974,00.html

MADONNA has banned US Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin from attending her concerts, joining stars past and present in dissing the Alaskan contender.

During the US start of her Sticky and Sweet tour in New Jersey on Saturday night, she shouted: "Sarah Palin can't come to my party. Sarah Palin can't come to my show. It's nothing personal".

She also told the crowd, "Here's the sound of Sarah Palin's husband's snowmobile when it won't start," followed by a loud screeching noise.

Madonna has banned US Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin from attending her concerts.

In pictures: Sarah Palin's picture gallery

The singer's rant comes after French film star-turned-activist Brigitte Bardot took a swipe at Palin today, saying the US vice presidential candidate was a disgrace to women.

It also comes after bitter personal attacks on Palin from Matt Damon and Pamela Anderson who spoke out against Palin saying:"I can't stand her. She can suck it!"

I watched until Soledad O'Brien questioned the first lady who she said was 71. As soon as the woman said that it was about what they didn't say and she wanted to hear about their plans for withdrawing the troops, I changed the channel. Only someone who hasn't been paying any attention would be stuck on that and if she is indicative of the rest of the people in that room then that's too bad.

You mean Mrs. Costanza? Yeah, if she were truly interested, I think both candidates have quite the detailed plan on their websites.

I wish these stars would cool it about SP, I don't think having star power helps with a presidential election, look at what happened to Gore and Kerry.

WHAT?

OK, I just watched Soledad talk to the uncommitted in Ohio. First, I think it must be terrible to be this far into this election season and still not know what you are going to do. I can't imagine what these people are waiting on to decide. The people with Ms. O'Brien say that they need more specifics. How specific do they think it's going to get? Any promise made right now is mere conjecture, and if you call out specifics now and you have to compromise on them once you get elected, then you look like you're "breaking promises" or "wishy-washy."

But speaking of wishy-washy, I think it's almost hilarious, if not sad, that 12 of the 25 felt like obama won the debate and yet at the end 14 said they would vote for McCain if the election were held today? Plus all the ticker lines at the top when Obama spoke.

Tell me now this isn't about race.

I think there were some in that room who didn't want to admit that they will vote for a black man as POTUS. So they lied. The same thing that will happen on election day.

Although what John King said was VERY interesting, when he said that a county in white, rural Ohio was thinking about voting for Obama because they are worried about keeping jobs and houses.

I wish these stars would cool it about SP, I don't think having star power helps with a presidential election, look at what happened to Gore and Kerry.

The way I look at it, if they are American citizens they have the right to express their views. I would hate for someone to tell me I should shut up just because I have money or make movies or work on tv. I am just as much an american as the rest.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,2...349-661,00.html

JOHN McCain appears to have been unable to land any killer blows on White House frontrunner Barack Obama in their second presidential debate.

The candidates clashed on the economy, taxes and how to combat terrorism but agreed middle-class workers are fearful about their economic future and need quick and lasting help.

The debate, at Belmont University in Nashville, was seen as an opportunity for Senator McCain to close the three-point gap he trails Senator Obama by in opnion polls.

But two quick polls taken immediately after the debate, by CBS News and CNN, both judged Senator Obama the winner.

A snap poll of 400 uncommitted voters conducted by CBS News found 39 per cent thought Barack Obama was the winner; 27 per cent saw it going to John McCain, and 35 per cent said it was a draw.

The Democrats and Republicans have both declared victory, with the Washington Post's Eugene Robinson calling for a split decision.

"I genuinely think both camps will be pleased, McCain’s because he performed much better than in the last debate, Obama’s because he matched McCain, groan, blow-for-blow in a format that was supposed to favour McCain," Robinson wrote.

With US financial institutions reeling under what Senator Obama called the worst crisis since the Great Depression, the presidential rivals differed on their approach to healing the economy.

"Americans are angry, they're upset and they're a little fearful," McCain said in the debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, four weeks ahead of the November 4 election.

"We don't have trust and confidence in our institutions."

Senator McCain proposed a new government program, to be run by the Treasury Department, which would buy mortgages from homeowners facing financial problems and replace those mortgages with new, fixed-rate mortgages.

The McCain campaign said the program would cost roughly $US300 billion ($425 billion).

Democrats in Congress for months have been calling for legislation to help families facing home foreclosures.

Senator Obama said middle-class workers, not just Wall Street, needed a rescue package that would include tax cuts.

He said the US Government should ensure Wall Street executives do not benefit from bonus payments from failing companies.

"We are in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and a lot of you I think are worried about your jobs, your pensions, your retirement accounts," he said.

Senator McCain portrayed Senator Obama as an eager supporter of higher taxes who was unwilling to buck his own party, while Senator Obama said Senator McCain's policies would help the wealthy and strand workers at the bottom of the economic ladder.

"Nailing down Senator Obama's various tax proposals is like nailing Jello to the wall," Senator McCain said.

Senator Obama responded with a crack about Senator McCain's campaign bus.

"The Straight Talk Express lost a wheel on that one," he said. He said his plan would only tax those making more than $250,000 a year, and most small businesses would not be affected.

He also has a proposal for a tax cut that he said would cover 95 percent of Americans.

When it came to a question on who should be Treasury Secretary Senator Obama said he liked investment guru Warren Buffett, while former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman was preferred by Senator McCain.

The candidates also clashed on combating terrorism on the Afghan-Pakistan border.

Democrat Senator Obama, replying to a question from an audience member, said: "If we have Osama bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out, then I think that we have to act and we will take them out."

"We will kill bin Laden.

"We will crush al-Qaeda, that has to be our biggest national security priority."

In response, his Senator McCain said his rival had "announced that he will attack Pakistan".

Quoting early 20th century US president Theodore Roosevelt, Senator McCain said the commander-in-chief should "talk softly, but carry a big stick".

"Senator Obama likes to talk aloud," said Senator McCain, arguing Obama's strategy would gain no allies in Pakistan.

A cross border attack would instead rally Pakistani public opinion against the United States, he said.

The candidates sat on chairs on a red carpet with a blue backdrop in the centre of an "in the round" stage in a set-up meant to resemble a town hall meeting, rather than a formal debate.

The questioners, undecided voters, sat in three elevated rows around two thirds of the circle either side of the candidates, with the debate moderated by journalist Tom Brokaw at Belmont University in Nashville.

- with Reuters and AFP

Me thinks that McCain needs an hearing aid.

Obama never said that he was going to attack Pakistan. Obama said that if Pakistan wasn't going to do anything about Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda then the US would.

I am sure that Bin Laden wouldn't be in the heart of the capital city of Pakistan, he would be under some rock hiding, and it will be that rock that is attacked.

When I grow up, I want to be in charge of the Magic Map. Screw the Presidency; I'm running to replace King on the Map.

That's all I'm waiting for now, so I can get to bed.

Lol, but you'd only get to play with it every four years.

Wait.

McCain wants to spend $300 billion on buying up and renegotiating morgages? After we just spent $700 billion to bail out WS?!

WTF is he talking about?! And Republicans are not for Big Government........that bullshit.

I know Republicans aren't about big government, but I think he would've helped himself out if he would've expanded on that plan.

The way I look at it, if they are American citizens they have the right to express their views. I would hate for someone to tell me I should shut up just because I have money or make movies or work on tv. I am just as much an american as the rest.

I didn't say they should shut up, I said they should cool it. Anyone is free to express their opinion, but they don't have to be so vocal about it and these outright attacks by some stars don't help obama. Sarah Palin probably doesn't even like Madonna's music.

I didn't say they should shut up, I said they should cool it. Anyone is free to express their opinion, but they don't have to be so vocal about it and these outright attacks by some stars don't help obama. Sarah Palin probably doesn't even like Madonna's music.

Erica, I see your point, but if some idiot really won't vote for Obama because of what Madonna said........he wasn't getting those votes anyway.

Erica, I see your point, but if some idiot really won't vote for Obama because of what Madonna said........he wasn't getting those votes anyway.

I'm thinking more about her words firing up the republican base, I feel in a small way that the celeb power did contribute to Kerry/Gores losses.imo

Edited October 8, 200817 yr by EricaKane70

I'm thinking more about her words firing up the republican base, I feel in a small way that did contribute to Kerry/Gores loses.imo

The base votes for their candidate.

McCain needs to worry about paying for these buyouts instead of BS.

The base votes for their candidate.

but not everyone comes out to vote, and those are the votes that can make the difference.

but not everyone comes out to vote, and those are the votes that can make the difference.

That is why Democratic registration is through the roof in many of the battleground states.