newsweek.com — Do we want leaders who are everyday folks, or do we want leaders who understand everyday folks? Therein lies an enormous difference, one that could decide the presidential election and, if McCain and Palin were to win, shape the governance of the nation.
Oct 4, 2008 View in Crawl 4
9enispOct 6, 2008
Buried for -- "Whether one agrees or disagrees with his politics, there is no arguing that McCain is qualified to be president of the United States."
jdibiaseOct 6, 2008
You're correct that earmarks are not the same as debt. Earmarks are taking federal money and applying it to a particular legislator's pet projects, which usually "buy" them the support of a particular block of voters. These legislators have no responsibility to those from whom the money was obtained (i.e., US taxpayers) and apply it to a very narrow project in his/her district or state. Debt is an oft-used tool of municipalities in which the municipality decides for itself (for example through a mayor and city council) to finance a project or projects, much like when someone finances the purchase of a house, which they can't afford to pay cash for.The debt Palin presided over was, according to Wikipedia, $14.7 million for a new multi-use sports complex; $5.5 million for street projects; and $3 million for water improvement projects. I'm not sure how this equates to Wasilla tax dollars going to waste.Included in the pork requests Obama has made was $1 million for the hospital where his wife worked at the time. Oh yeah, and that was shortly after she received a promotion and her annual salary increased from $121,910 to $316,962.
jdibiaseOct 7, 2008
Intelligence is important, and I don't doubt that Obama is a very intelligent person. But I disagree with some of his fundamental beliefs and philosophies (e.g., his job is to "make government cool again") and many of his judgments (e.g., choice to go to Rev. Wright's church and associate with Bill Ayers).I'm not thrilled with McCain/Palin as the only other viable choice, but believe I don't have much of an alternative.
abisinisterOct 10, 2008
Palin's credibility?None,Bad JudgmentPalin waited more then 11 hours after her water broke to go a hospital<a class="user" href="http://www.babelation.com/?q=node/1180">http://www.babelation.com/?q=node/1180</a>
saurabharyaOct 19, 2008
well Palin have the followers and will have the voters........ it doesn't matter 10 or 20...
mike1945Oct 21, 2008
We had two ordinary folks that made excellent presidents, Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln. Those are just two that come to mind at this point. And then we had two Yale graduates recently, Bill Clinton and George Bush. Need I say more?? Honesty and lots of good native intelligence count for a heck of a lot more than a fancy education.
mike1945Oct 21, 2008
Quote from your post: "Are we a country at war with itself or are we a united country where we put aside our differences for the common good?" Yes we are a country at war with itself. Democracy stirs passions and free speech allows those passions to be aired. Is it bad yet?? Try 1861 to 1865 for what bad really is.