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| Moms and Politics |
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Please share your top three reasons for choosing the candidate you support. I would like to see if people are choosing their candidate for their platform or just b/c they aren't the other party.
PLEASE LET'S DO THIS WITH RESPECT & INTEGRITY - NO NAMING CALLING, RUDENESS OR NEGATIVITY! |
| Posted by Pamela on 09/14/2008 09:32 AM
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I am not voting for Barak Obama for the following reasons:
1. Anyone who says that he will bring change to Washington DC and that the political system will be different because of his presence is either a fool, or believes that American voter is one. The three legislative branches, our whole way of doing business in politics, the culture of political systems, is impossible to change with any level of immediacy. Look how long its taken for America to embrace a black political candidate for the presidency. The civil war was over when? The emancipation proclamation was signed when? MLK died when? Brown vs Board of Education? Change takes time, lawsuits, even war and martyrdom. Please don't patronize me. Barak Obama is changing nothing.
2. As a teacher, I know how much the federal gov't has over local school districts -- almost none. I also know how federal money is distributed towards schools -- in earmarked grants. Federal money for education does not mean more books and teachers, supplies, busses, field trips or anything for the kids. It usually means new offices for new administrators, new wings for the art, music, and athletic departments, electronic signs, new furniture for the secretarial staff every five years -- all nice for the people that get the benefit of them -- but the core classes never get any new furniture, any additional staff, any budget for new texts, workbooks, classroom supplies, travel money, or anything. Its very frustrating. If a politician tells me he's going to dump money into schools because he thinks it will improve the education kids get in school, once again, he's an idiot or he thinks I am one.
3. I believe in helping our poor and underprivileged. I believe in supporting the old and the sick. But I believe that many so called charitable organizations do little or nothing to help the populations that they exist to serve. I believe in the separation of church and state and I want noone to tell me what belief system I should have. I know my God and I know what my sins are. But I would rather that the government fund religious run hospitals and charities that actually do something than dump tax dollars into organizations that have no conscience, help noone, and are only required, as not for profits, to distribute 1% of the money they raise toward helping the poeple they are supposed to serve. I believe John McCain understands responsible fiscal policy, separation of church and state, and the difference between helping people and paying lip service to helping people.
I think McCain my be old, and he panders to his right wing base, but I also think he is not a lightweight. He's been around Washington long enough to have a good understanding of the power structure and how to get things done. He's not going to be fooled or bullied by politicians in or outside of his party who will try to manipulate or humiliate him, or use him for their own political gain. He's not cool or glamorous and the French don't like him. But, he's not here to endear himself to France. He's here to serve the people and interests of the United States and I think he will do that. |
| posted by Kathleen on 09/14/2008 03:54 PM
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I am not voting for Barak Obama for the following reasons:
1. Anyone who says that he will bring change to Washington DC and that the political system will be different because of his presence is either a fool, or believes that American voter is one. The three legislative branches, our whole way of doing business in politics, the culture of political systems, is impossible to change with any level of immediacy. Look how long its taken for America to embrace a black political candidate for the presidency. The civil war was over when? The emancipation proclamation was signed when? MLK died when? Brown vs Board of Education? Change takes time, lawsuits, even war and martyrdom. Please don't patronize me. Barak Obama is changing nothing.
2. As a teacher, I know how much the federal gov't has over local school districts -- almost none. I also know how federal money is distributed towards schools -- in earmarked grants. Federal money for education does not mean more books and teachers, supplies, busses, field trips or anything for the kids. It usually means new offices for new administrators, new wings for the art, music, and athletic departments, electronic signs, new furniture for the secretarial staff every five years -- all nice for the people that get the benefit of them -- but the core classes never get any new furniture, any additional staff, any budget for new texts, workbooks, classroom supplies, travel money, or anything. Its very frustrating. If a politician tells me he's going to dump money into schools because he thinks it will improve the education kids get in school, once again, he's an idiot or he thinks I am one.
3. I believe in helping our poor and underprivileged. I believe in supporting the old and the sick. But I believe that many so called charitable organizations do little or nothing to help the populations that they exist to serve. I believe in the separation of church and state and I want noone to tell me what belief system I should have. I know my God and I know what my sins are. But I would rather that the government fund religious run hospitals and charities that actually do something than dump tax dollars into organizations that have no conscience, help noone, and are only required, as not for profits, to distribute 1% of the money they raise toward helping the poeple they are supposed to serve. I believe John McCain understands responsible fiscal policy, separation of church and state, and the difference between helping people and paying lip service to helping people.
I think McCain my be old, and he panders to his right wing base, but I also think he is not a lightweight. He's been around Washington long enough to have a good understanding of the power structure and how to get things done. He's not going to be fooled or bullied by politicians in or outside of his party who will try to manipulate or humiliate him, or use him for their own political gain. He's not cool or glamorous and the French don't like him. But, he's not here to endear himself to France. He's here to serve the people and interests of the United States and I think he will do that. |
| posted by Kathleen on 09/14/2008 03:54 PM
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Great discussion Pamela! Excellent points Kathleen!
Some of the reasons for my vote are..
1. I want a President who will take it seriously when the
leader of another country that hates and wants to destroy
us, makes threats against us. Not to just dismiss them
as a "Tiny" country.
We cannot allow Iran to follow North Korea and become
another Nuclear Threat!
TWA Flight 847 hijacked 1985.
Berlin Disco bombings 1992.
Kurdish exiles assasinations 1992.
Paris subway bombing 1995.
Plots to attack New York Twin Towers & Pacific Ocean jetliners 1995.
Khobar Tower bombing 1996.
East Africa embassey bombing 1998.
USS Cole 2000
9/11 Attack
Response....... Bush's Iraq & Afganistan War.
2. I want a President who will not get rid of the Bush tax cuts.
If the Bush tax cuts expire Tax Rates will increase in each
tax bracket. Low income taxpayers will see the 10%
bracket disappear and will pay taxes at 15%.
Mariage penalty will reappear.
Taxpayers with children will lose 50% of their child credit.
Taxes on dividends and capitol gain will increase.
The death tax will come back in 2011.
3. I want a President who cares about the gas prices!
I want to Drill Now!! $3.50 a gallon is killing my budget.
What will the cost to heat homes in the Northeast do to
people's pocketbook?
I'm tired of paying for Ethyonol in my gas tank, and $4.00
for 4 ears of corn. We are subsidizing famers to grow
corn to produce Ethyonol and paying more at the grocery
store. Dairy farmers pay higher prices for corn to feed their
cattle etc. all these costs get passed onto us. What does
a gallon of milk cost you this week?
4. I want a President who understands and respects the
military, who will take of all the brave men and women
who take care of us, injured and not.
5. I want a President who understands that Government
Health Care is not the answer. Countries who have
Government Health Care come here to have their serious
operations, because of our excellent Doctors and Nurses,
and not have to wait months and months for diagnostic
tests.
In Canada every month people contribute a min. of $96. a month toward
health care and 55% of earnings goes to taxes for the health care system.
They now have a shortage of Health providers, and many tests and supplies
are not covered.
6. I want a President who respects innocent life from conception to natural death.
I can go on and on.
I will vote for McCain/Palin!!
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| posted by ellen on 09/14/2008 10:41 PM
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1. THE LAST 4 YEARS! This country is in turmoil, and John McCain voted with Bush's policies over 90% of the time. This doesn't signify the needed change I believe Obama will bring. Also, this war needs to end...McCain vowed to keep our troops in Iraq "for a hundred years, if need be". I have a son, and I'm all set with this continuing until he's 18. Let's bring our troops home and let Iraq try to run itself.
2. I'm pro-choice. John McCain would have Roe v. Wade overturned if he could...he's stated such.
3. If (heaven forbid) something should happen to our president, I would feel comfortable knowing that someone with as much foreign relations experience as Joe Biden would step in. I'm not a Palin fan at all.
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| posted by on 09/15/2008 10:35 AM
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I know this is going to sound weird but to me they both have good points and bad but my #1 reason for not voting for Obama is that I don't want my 2nd Amendment taken from me. With unemployment and gas and food prices rising so will crime. Taking guns from law abiding citizens will do no good. The criminals will always have them and I believe in protecting my home.
I live right in the middle of 2 cities that were named the "worst" Flint Mi. is 45 minutes north and Detroit is 45 minutes south. I am in the "suburbs of Detroit and it is beautiful, but I am also 8 miles from Pontiac and they just laid off over 200 police and crime is rising there.
It didn't work in Washington DC and look at all the countries that banned guns, knife crimes are high and they want to ban knives that are over so many inches unless you are a chef. STUPID!!! Are baseball bats next? It is the person that commits the crime that should be held responsible not the object that they used.
He is doing this to Illinois he refused to have harsher punishments for gang members (or criminals) who use guns in the crimes**, instead he just wants to take guns away.... well that made it easier for them now that they know they can rob a house or rape a woman and not worry about being shot or get a "harsh" punishment. Is it because they are mostly minorities?
**NOTE: Even Pro-gun people believe/support harsher punishments for crimes committed with a firearm. |
| posted by Kristhal on 09/15/2008 11:32 AM
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Fear and Indimidation is what has been posted. You want:
1. To marginalize the people of color.
2. Brandishing weapons. The weapons that symbolize Guns and Violence. Just take a look at Columbine, and see what your brand of Politics has produced.
3. Implicitly fan the fires of Hate, Prejudice, Racism, and Bigotry.
You "sound like" self proclaimed history buffs with a reactionary neo conservative bias. Slanted so far to the Right, it is off the charts.
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| posted by esther on 09/15/2008 12:18 PM
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So it's because of politics that Columbine happened? Not the mental instability of those kids? Right, if kids are going to go out and commit a crime no matter what "color" they are they will find the means. They can order stuff to make bombs online. I am far from racist I am a minority but the sad reality is that we minorities get stereotyped. A gun doesn't commit the crime and if you teach your children to respect guns and if they see one to go tell an adult then you have done your part. Most kids that have gun accidents is because they are curious if you show them they get it out of their system.
The police have no obligation to defend a citizen they come after the fact. We are democrats but I don't want my basic human right to defend my self taken from me. Economy is directly related to crime. Everything can't be in the governments hands and we have to take responsability.
It is sad that because "guns" are used in most mass killings here in the U.S. they are viewed as the enemy. Just like the saying goes "guns don't kill people, people kill people"
I am not going to have someone break into my house and put my kids in danger and just sit and hope that nothing will happen. It doesn't work that way |
| posted by Kristhal on 09/15/2008 02:00 PM
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I'm voting McCain/Palin!
Why?
1. The war on terrorism: I want to let our soliders win what they have started & not have it end up in my backyard b/c we decided to leave before finishing! I have based my opinion on this on discussions I have had with military friends of mine. A Marine I know (who is preparing to leave on his 4th tour & leave his wife & son behind again) told me that it feels like a slap in the face when people talk about pulling the troops out so they can be w/ their families! While he doesn't want to be away from his family, this is what he signed up to do when he made the decission to join, and all he wants now is the opportunity to finish the job they started (even if it takes 100 yrs)! I will take to word of our soliders over any politician - regardless of party affiliation!
2. Roe vs. Wade getting over turned. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN! I believe that all human life holds value & not any one life holds value over another - especially the innocent whose only action was that of being created & they weren't even the one's who made that decission. The women wanting to keep their "choice" b/c it's their body, need to take responsibility for the fact that they made their choice by choosing to have sex. It is common knowledge that the only way to prevent getting pregnant is to never have sex in the first place (protected or unprotected - neither is fool proof)!
3. 2nd ammendment - right to bear arms! I believe every citizen has the right to protect one's self & the democratic party (the presidential nominee, congress & the senate) has made it clear that this isn't a right in their minds. If democrats became in charge of the entire system, this would be a right that would be evolked. My husband & I are avid hunters as well & don't want to be striped of our right to hunt! While we hunt for fun, we always eat what we kill as well. Please don't start in on animal rights. Go back to my #2 & start saving babies, then I'll talk to you about saving animals!! |
| posted by Pamela on 09/15/2008 03:08 PM
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| I want to thank all of you that have been participating in this discussion. Esther - instead of ridiculing what others have posted - why don't you post your own reasons for choosing your candidate? That is what this discussion is supposed to be about - not whether or not you agree with the others. Personally, I don't care if you agree w/ me. I am just interested in the reasons why people have choosen their candidate. Who knows, somebody's reason may change another's mind on how they are voting? |
| posted by Pamela on 09/15/2008 03:13 PM
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At least OBAMA has a VISION. That is, to End the War and bring back the Respect of the world that we have lost.
The obsession with the second amendment is really not about the Constitution. It's just about, the purpetuation of Guns and Violence. That's right, Guns don't kill people, but the kind of narrow minded provinceal kind of thinking has nothing to do the Constitution or the Bill of Rights; which truely define America; and Voting for Obama, could end the violation that has been ongoing of our personal freedoms and he will reinstate Habeas Corpus so Americans have a right to a fair trial, once again.
Thirdly, what you call "fun" killing Animals, and then "bludgeoning" us to death about pro-life, god fearing rhetoric, is exactly what has polarized this country, like never before. A republican once said "A house divided can not stand". And the McCain/Palin will cause this country to fold like a house of cards, because the candidates are divisive and will continue to follow in bush's footsteps.
Obama Will Unite Us, as a People and a Country.
PS: Columbine demonstrates what has happened in America. Children killing Children as a result of kind of doctrine that is preached about Guns and Violence and the Drugs that go along with that, that kill what you feel. Now we have bombs that kill, and drugs that kill. This is what has become of the American Dream.
Hopefully, Obama will CHANGE this path of Destruction. |
| posted by esther on 09/15/2008 05:11 PM
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http://www.nypost.com/seven/09152008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/obama_tried_to_stall_gis_iraq_withdrawal_129150.htm?page=0
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| posted by ellen on 09/15/2008 07:38 PM
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Ok, I HAVE to say this.....ending the war now will stop nothing. I have a brother who is going to be shipped to Afghanistan in November. AND I have cousins being shipped out. AND I have a stepson of my own,who,yes, I do not want to see get drafted later. BUT... do you think taking out the troops now will stop terrorists from coming later?? NO! Right now, the troops are out there to bring peace. My brother mission was called "Enduring Peace." Now, sure, the people there dont want anything to do with us, but if we pull out now, terrorists WILL come over here and there could be a situation WORSE then 9/11 causing MORE people to be killed. I,personally, have seen enough from 911. THAT is why Sen McCain says he will keep troops there for 100 years if need be. He's been in that situation. HE suffered plenty physically and mentally. He's not doing it to take peoples family and friends away, hes doing it to help our country.
AND, esther....why is it that every time someone posts something with their reasons on why they arent voting for Obama that you bring up color?? Its not about color!! Its about our country! Leave that at the door please! And,also, stop putting people down for their views. No one is putting anyone else down. So please stop.
I was for Obama at first, but my vote changed when he statring focusing more on putting down McCain...even BEFORE Palin came around. And also, because I'm not seeing how anything will change with him. Sorry. But, I respect everyones choices, thats not what I'm saying at all. |
| posted by Dana on 09/16/2008 11:59 AM
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Oh, I forgot something. This whole thing with the guns.... do you think making it legal to NOT have the guns will stop people? Do criminals care? No matter if you take them away or not, the criminals ALWAYS find a way of having them. Druggies always find ways to get drugs. It will never stop. So why take it away and have people get killed for not being able to protect themselves the same way? I,personally, will NEVER allow my husband to get a gun. He keeps asking me, but I dont want a gun in my house. And, if he DOES EVER get one, it BETTER be in the garage locked away in a safe. LOL! But why take it away from those who feel its neccessary for safety?
And as for hunting, sure, I'll never do it. But for some it is a sport or fun. I dont agree with killing animals also in that way, but its like trying to tell people its not right to be vegetarian. Sorry, but that will never end either. |
| posted by Dana on 09/16/2008 12:05 PM
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| I think you need to start reading "My Readings" on the message board, and find out what other people are saying. |
| posted by esther on 09/16/2008 03:11 PM
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Any one who thinks
"Obama cares about ending the war and what other countries think about us."
Please read this.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/09152008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/obama_tried_to_stall_gis_iraq_withdrawal_129150.htm?page=0
It appears he only cares about his own intrest! |
| posted by ellen on 09/19/2008 06:29 PM
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