Why do I support Obama?

Because Hillary could never, on her best day, come close to doing this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daH0ltD20A0

2/13/2008 10:32:30 AM

^omg. how does he do it? You just CAN'T dislike the guy, and I was trying really hard yesterday. AND the man cut off the talking head to make sure that the issue got covered!

[Edited on February 13, 2008 at 11:17 AM. Reason : possibly the most likeable politician ever]

2/13/2008 11:11:42 AM

for those at work that can't go to youtube....what is that video of?

2/13/2008 12:15:18 PM

He hit a 3-pointer (no warm-up... first shot), then cut the reporter who was making a big deal abotu the shot off to talk about how hot teh gym was and that it was a shame those kids have to use a gym built in the 20s for both physical, social, and educational activities

[Edited on February 13, 2008 at 1:50 PM. Reason : ]

2/13/2008 1:50:35 PM

^ Actually the reporter was the one that initated the conversation on education when he said "Education is very important and we want to put that on our agenda", then Barak launches into the discussion of the gymnasium.

But don't let actual events interfer with your impression of Obama being a rockstar.

Barak Obama - wrong on the issues, wrong for America.

2/13/2008 4:27:04 PM

socks. wrong on spelling, wrong for america

2/13/2008 4:30:19 PM

Last I checked, America was a proper noun and therefore should be capitalized.

2/13/2008 4:37:19 PM

last time i checked i don't capitalize things on message boards. i do consistently spell people's names correctly (at least to the best of my ability). but mostly, i was trading a stupid blow for a stupid blow. if you want to criticize obama, actually make an argument. SAY what it is that is wrong about his policies rather than just saying that they're wrong for america.

2/13/2008 4:51:39 PM

^ Um, please check out the first page of this fucking thread. I explain exactly what I don't like about Obama's stand on health care and Iraq (my two big issues). Fuck. I actually devoted an entire thread to Barack on Iraq and I have posted in many threads about his stance on health care.

Do I have to repeat talking points everytime I post? For fucks sake son. Now, if you got something NICE to say about Obama's policies, please share. If not....Shut the fuck up!!

2/13/2008 4:55:04 PM

forgive me for not reviewing your post history every time you talk. but usually i like some factual basis for statements instead of stupid platitudes like yours.

2/13/2008 4:57:10 PM

So you're saying you can't name a policy position Obama supports?

PS* I presented a slogan. A platitude is a trite, meaningless, or prosaic statement that is presented as if it were significant and original. An example would be "freedom isn't free".

[Edited on February 13, 2008 at 5:09 PM. Reason : ``]

2/13/2008 5:08:56 PM

I can't wait to see Obama take on McCain, I bet he even changes the minds of people like Socks

2/13/2008 5:14:08 PM

This is a great read for all those interested in some of the lesser known stances Obama takes on technology/internet. It's extremely comprehensive and no other candidate has anything like it.

this is provided by Lawrence Lessig who is a famous academic and professor at Standford. The guy is a freaking genius and he's a huge supporter of Obama because of his stances as detailed here:

http://lessig.org/blog/Fact%20Sheet%20Innovation%20and%20Technology%20Plan%20FINAL.pdf

2/13/2008 5:26:22 PM

I think that I may start supporting Obama to hasten the destruction of the United States federal government.

Down with the US, vote for Obama.

2/13/2008 5:30:12 PM

Ok, presidents only get to pass legislation when it was drafted by the opposing party. As such, by electing Obama we get to see none of the stuff mentioned in the pdf above turned into law. As such, I suggest we elect Obama to the White House and as many Republicans as we can to Congress.

2/13/2008 6:10:11 PM

Quote :

"So you're saying you can't name a policy position Obama supports?"

where did you get that from?

i personally support his health care package because i think it doesn't have the obvious target of a mandate that conservatives will latch onto and never pass.

i also like the idea of using national service (and not just military) as a means to getting help with a college education

2/13/2008 6:24:03 PM

Quote :

"Ok, presidents only get to pass legislation when it was drafted by the opposing party. As such, by electing Obama we get to see none of the stuff mentioned in the pdf above turned into law."

Classic fallacy of logic

2/13/2008 8:26:15 PM

because he snorts cocaine

2/13/2008 8:49:18 PM

Sarijoul,

That is a political reason to like not having a mandate, but there is a good reason for wanting to have one. Namely, if you force insurance companies to sell plans to people on demand (they can never turn you down), and at the same time you don't force everyone to buy insurance, what do you think will happen? Do you think most people will buy insurance and pay premiums every month while they're healthy, or do you think people will save that money and only buy insurance when they're sick? My guess is it will be the later. That means insurance companies will have a lot fewer people to spread their costs over and that means higher premiums for those of us with insurance. Doesn't exactly mesh with his idea of making insurance "affordable" does it?

Now, Obama eventually figured this out, and he's proposing punishing people that wait until they're sick to get insurance. But at best he will only get an outcome that is the equivilant of a mandate. And why? Because the Republicans will have a harder time objecting? Wow.

As far as your second point goes, this is nothing new. Americorp and the Peace Corp already give "volunteers" rewards for returning to school. These options are already very under-utilized. So I hold my breath on how effective expanding them will be.

But even if they are successfull at attracting "volunteers", has Obama explained how he will pay for it? Rolling back the Bush tax cuts wont be enough. We barely balanced the budget in 1999 and 2000 and we didn't have the Wars in Iraq and Afganistan to worry about, not to mention the Medicare perscription drug benefit and an aging population.

Maybe he'll borrow the money!!! That will certainly bring change to Washington!!!

[Edited on February 13, 2008 at 10:42 PM. Reason : ``]

2/13/2008 10:32:41 PM

Quote :

"Classic fallacy of logic"

Which fallacy would that be? The one where we point out how things have usually turned out in prior experiments and therefore conclude there is a good chance it will work out the same way again? I am not the first person to think of this:

Quote :

"I'm almost ready to believe some variation of the Nixon Going to China argument that the Dems would feel more constrained in being Big Gummint idiots than, say, George W. Bush and Tom DeLay ever did precisely because that's what everyone expects of them. Would, say, Bill Clinton have gotten away with creating a massive new entitlement? He tried and failed, right, with a Dem Congress, too. And god knows Clinton intervened militarily in a very promiscuous manner, but when it comes to foreign quagmires, there's the former Yugoslavia and then there's the former (future?) Iraq..."

2/13/2008 11:49:22 PM

Quote :

"Ok, presidents only get to pass legislation when it was drafted by the opposing party."

you need to open up a civics book.

2/14/2008 10:20:46 AM

When liberals start talking about "investing" in things, grab your wallet. Your taxes are going up!

2/14/2008 10:26:08 AM

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE

2/14/2008 10:32:03 AM

^

2/14/2008 11:11:59 AM

If you don't throw in your buck-oh-five, who will?

http://www.lyricstime.com/team-america-world-police-freedom-isn-t-free-lyrics.html

2/14/2008 11:25:54 AM

Quote :

"Which fallacy would that be? The one where we point out how things have usually turned out in prior experiments and therefore conclude there is a good chance it will work out the same way again? I am not the first person to think of this: "

you almost got it!!!

Quote :

"Ok, presidents only get to pass legislation when it was drafted by the opposing party. As such, by electing Obama we get to see none of the stuff mentioned in the pdf above turned into law"

Basically, it's a fallacy of logic because you said because something in the past usually doesn't happen (questionable premise anyway, probably totally off base, but anyway...), that it can't/won't happen in the future.

2/14/2008 1:28:47 PM

What is Obama's stance on National Security?



[Edited on February 14, 2008 at 1:31 PM. Reason : q]

2/14/2008 1:30:41 PM

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/homeland/

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/foreignpolicy/

don't try to pull that 9/11 bullshit.

2/14/2008 1:40:45 PM

2/14/2008 2:12:38 PM

Quote :

"What is Obama's stance on National Security? "

hahaha

2/14/2008 2:24:03 PM

^ that pretty much sums up his platform.

We are finally seeing eye to eye.

2/14/2008 2:49:40 PM

Sputter has to be an alias of hooksaw and trolltwista.

2/14/2008 2:52:18 PM

Quote :

"What is Obama's stance on National Security? "

are you suggesting his stance is to destroy buildings in NYC?

2/14/2008 2:52:27 PM

Quote :

"What is Obama's stance on National Security?"

CHANGE

is that what you wanted me to say? did i fit your neat little stereotype?

2/14/2008 2:56:46 PM

actually no, i just googled the words "huge jpg" on google images and that was what came up.

it's not a sterotype if it's true.


and I was asking to see if anyone could articulate his stance. obviously that was too much to ask.

I like his plan to beef up the military.

V - Nice cut and paste. Now tell me how anything that he states in that is actually a form of change. It's not and that is why the criticism that people foam at the mouth over change. There isn't anything new or different in his platform from any other candidate that has ever run for office.

[Edited on February 14, 2008 at 3:11 PM. Reason : ]

2/14/2008 3:00:44 PM

ok... National security?

Quote :

"The Problem Five years after 9/11, our country is still unprepared for a terrorist attack. From improving security for our transit systems and chemical plants, to increasing cargo screening in our airports and seaports, the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission have been underfunded and ignored. The 9/11 Commission gave the government five F's and 12 D's on the implementation of its recommendations. Senator Obama is a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and has supported efforts to base homeland security spending on risk rather than pork-barrel politics. He has also introduced legislation to strengthen chemical plant and drinking water security and to enhance disaster preparedness. Barack Obama's Plan Protecting Our Chemical Plants Chemical plants are attractive terrorist targets because they are often located near cities, are relatively easy to attack, and contain multi-ton quantities of hazardous chemicals. While a number of plants have taken voluntary steps to improve security, there are still major gaps; and the federal government has never established meaningful, permanent security regulations. Senator Obama worked with Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) to introduce comprehensive chemical plant security legislation that would establish a clear set of federal regulations that all plants must follow. The bill requires chemical facilities to enhance security, including improving barriers, containment, mitigation, and safety training, and, where possible, using safer technology, such as less toxic chemicals. Keeping Track of Spent Nuclear Fuel The nation has 103 operating nuclear power plants which annually produce over 2,000 metric tons of spent fuel that remains highly radioactive for many years. A report by the Government Accountability Office found inadequate tracking and security for spent nuclear fuel rods. Nuclear plants in Connecticut, Vermont and California have reported missing spent fuel in the last five years. Senator Obama introduced legislation to establish guidelines for tracking, controlling, and accounting for spent fuel at nuclear power plants. Evacuating Special Needs Population in Emergencies One of the most devastating aspects of Hurricane Katrina is that most of the stranded victims were society's most vulnerable members - low-income families, the elderly, the homeless, and disabled Americans. Too many states and cities do not have adequate plans in place to care for special-needs populations. Senator Obama introduced and passed legislation to require mandatory planning for evacuating people with special needs. Reuniting Families After Emergencies After Hurricane Katrina, thousands of people struggled to contact family and friends following evacuation. Evacuees were forced to comb through dozens of databases in an effort to reconnect with loved ones. Senator Obama introduced and passed legislation to create a centralized, federal database to allow individuals displaced by an emergency to call one phone number or go to one website and post their location and condition. Family members and law enforcement officials would be able to use this same secure, centralized system to check the status of missing loved ones. Keeping Our Drinking Water Safe There are almost 170,000 public water systems in the United States. An attack on a drinking water system could contaminate or disrupt water service, thereby disrupting society, impacting human health and compromising critical activities such as fire protection. Senator Obama introduced legislation to provide $37.5 million over 5 years for drinking water systems to upgrade their monitoring and security efforts. Protecting the Public from Radioactive Releases Following reports that nuclear power plants in Illinois did not promptly notify local communities that tritium – a byproduct of nuclear generation – had leaked into the groundwater, Senator Obama introduced legislation to require nuclear plants to inform state and local officials if there is an unintentional leak of a radioactive substance. Chronic exposure to high levels of tritium can increase the risk of cancer, birth defects and genetic damage. Barack Obama's Record There have been tritium leaks at other nuclear plants, though none so extensive as at Braidwood. The uproar over Braidwood prompted the Nuclear Energy Institute to outline a voluntary policy for monitoring tritium leaks and reporting such incidents. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has vowed to continue to push for federal legislation that requires reporting. "The nuclear industry already had a voluntary policy, and it hasn't worked," he said. Exelon's past actions have helped to prove his point. "

[Edited on February 14, 2008 at 3:12 PM. Reason : ]

2/14/2008 3:08:55 PM

Quote :

"Barack Obama's Plan Ending the War in Iraq Judgment You Can Trust: As a candidate for the United States Senate in 2002, Obama put his political career on the line to oppose going to war in Iraq, and warned of “an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs, and undetermined consequences.” Obama has been a consistent, principled and vocal opponent of the war in Iraq: In 2003 and 2004, he spoke out against the war on the campaign trail; In 2005, he called for a phased withdrawal of our troops; In 2006, he called for a timetable to remove our troops, a political solution within Iraq, and aggressive diplomacy with all of Iraq's neighbors; In January 2007, he introduced legislation in the Senate to remove all of our combat troops from Iraq by March 2008. In September 2007, he laid out a detailed plan for how he will end the war as president. Bring Our Troops Home: Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al Qaeda attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al Qaeda. Press Iraq's leaders to reconcile: The best way to press Iraq's leaders to take responsibility for their future is to make it clear that we are leaving. As we remove our troops, Obama will engage representatives from all levels of Iraqi society – in and out of government – to seek a new accord on Iraq's Constitution and governance. The United Nations will play a central role in this convention, which should not adjourn until a new national accord is reached addressing tough questions like federalism and oil revenue-sharing. "

2/14/2008 3:10:47 PM

Quote :

"Regional Diplomacy: Obama will launch the most aggressive diplomatic effort in recent American history to reach a new compact on the stability of Iraq and the Middle East. This effort will include all of Iraq's neighbors – including Iran and Syria. This compact will aim to secure Iraq's borders; keep neighboring countries from meddling inside Iraq; isolate al Qaeda; support reconciliation among Iraq's sectarian groups; and provide financial support for Iraq's reconstruction. Humanitarian Initiative: Obama believes that America has a moral and security responsibility to confront Iraq's humanitarian crisis – two million Iraqis are refugees; two million more are displaced inside their own country. Obama will form an international working group to address this crisis. He will provide at least $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can find a safe-haven. Iran The Problem: Iran has sought nuclear weapons, supports militias inside Iraq and terror across the region, and its leaders threaten Israel and deny the Holocaust. But Obama believes that we have not exhausted our non-military options in confronting this threat; in many ways, we have yet to try them. That's why Obama stood up to the Bush administration's warnings of war, just like he stood up to the war in Iraq. Opposed Bush-Cheney Saber Rattling: Obama opposed the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which says we should use our military presence in Iraq to counter the threat from Iran. Obama believes that it was reckless for Congress to give George Bush any justification to extend the Iraq War or to attack Iran. Obama also introduced a resolution in the Senate declaring that no act of Congress – including Kyl-Lieberman – gives the Bush administration authorization to attack Iran. Diplomacy: Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions. Now is the time to pressure Iran directly to change their troubling behavior. Obama would offer the Iranian regime a choice. If Iran abandons its nuclear program and support for terrorism, we will offer incentives like membership in the World Trade Organization, economic investments, and a move toward normal diplomatic relations. If Iran continues its troubling behavior, we will step up our economic pressure and political isolation. Seeking this kind of comprehensive settlement with Iran is our best way to make progress. Renewing American Diplomacy The Problem: The United States is trapped by the Bush-Cheney approach to diplomacy that refuses to talk to leaders we don't like. Not talking doesn't make us look tough – it makes us look arrogant, it denies us opportunities to make progress, and it makes it harder for America to rally international support for our leadership. On challenges ranging from terrorism to disease, nuclear weapons to climate change, we cannot make progress unless we can draw on strong international support. Talk to our Foes and Friends: Obama is willing to meet with the leaders of all nations, friend and foe. He will do the careful preparation necessary, but will signal that America is ready to come to the table, and that he is willing to lead. And if America is willing to come to the table, the world will be more willing to rally behind American leadership to deal with challenges like terrorism, and Iran and North Korea's nuclear programs. Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Obama will make progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a key diplomatic priority. He will make a sustained push – working with Israelis and Palestinians – to achieve the goal of two states, a Jewish state in Israel and a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security. Expand our Diplomatic Presence: To make diplomacy a priority, Obama will stop shuttering consulates and start opening them in the tough and hopeless corners of the world – particularly in Africa. He will expand our foreign service, and develop the capacity of our civilian aid workers to work alongside the military. Fight Global Poverty: Obama will embrace the Millennium Development Goal of cutting extreme poverty around the world in half by 2015, and he will double our foreign assistance to $50 billion to achieve that goal. He will help the world's weakest states to build healthy and educated communities, reduce poverty, develop markets, and generate wealth. Strengthen NATO: Obama will rally NATO members to contribute troops to collective security operations, urging them to invest more in reconstruction and stabilization operations, streamlining the decision-making processes, and giving NATO commanders in the field more flexibility. Seek New Partnerships in Asia: Obama will forge a more effective framework in Asia that goes beyond bilateral agreements, occasional summits, and ad hoc arrangements, such as the six-party talks on North Korea. He will maintain strong ties with allies like Japan, South Korea and Australia; work to build an infrastructure with countries in East Asia that can promote stability and prosperity; and work to ensure that China plays by international rules. Nuclear Weapons A Record of Results: The gravest danger to the American people is the threat of a terrorist attack with a nuclear weapon and the spread of nuclear weapons to dangerous regimes. Obama has taken bipartisan action to secure nuclear weapons and materials: He joined Senator Dick Lugar in passing a law to help the United States and our allies detect and stop the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction throughout the world. He joined Senator Chuck Hagel to introduce a bill that seeks to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, and stop the spread of nuclear weapons. And while other candidates have insisted that we should threaten to drop nuclear bombs on terrorist training camps, Obama believes that we must talk openly about nuclear weapons – because the best way to keep America safe is not to threaten terrorists with nuclear weapons, it's to keep nuclear weapons away from terrorists. Secure Loose Nuclear Materials from Terrorists: Obama will secure all loose nuclear materials in the world within four years. While we work to secure existing stockpiles of nuclear material, Obama will negotiate a verifiable global ban on the production of new nuclear weapons material. This will deny terrorists the ability to steal or buy loose nuclear materials. Strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: Obama will crack down on nuclear proliferation by strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty so that countries like North Korea and Iran that break the rules will automatically face strong international sanctions. Toward a Nuclear Free World: Obama will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons, and pursue it. Obama will always maintain a strong deterrent as long as nuclear weapons exist. But he will take several steps down the long road toward eliminating nuclear weapons. He will stop the development of new nuclear weapons; work with Russia to take U.S. and Russian ballistic missiles off hair trigger alert; seek dramatic reductions in U.S. and Russian stockpiles of nuclear weapons and material; and set a goal to expand the U.S.-Russian ban on intermediate- range missiles so that the agreement is global. Building a 21st Century Military "

2/14/2008 3:11:21 PM

Quote :

"The Problem: The excellence of our military is unmatched. But as a result of a misguided war in Iraq, our forces are under pressure as never before. Obama will make the investments we need so that the finest military in the world is best-prepared to meet 21st-century threats. Rebuild Trust: Obama will rebuild trust with those who serve by ensuring that soldiers and Marines have sufficient training time before they are sent into battle. Expand the Military: We have learned from Iraq that our military needs more men and women in uniform to reduce the strain on our active force. Obama will increase the size of ground forces, adding 65,000 soldiers to the Army and 27,000 Marines. New Capabilities: Obama will give our troops new equipment, armor, training, and skills like language training. He will also strengthen our civilian capacity, so that our civilian agencies have the critical skills and equipment they need to integrate their efforts with our military. Strengthen Guard and Reserve: Obama will restore the readiness of the National Guard and Reserves. He will permit them adequate time to train and rest between deployments, and provide the National Guard with the equipment they need for foreign and domestic emergencies. He will also give the Guard a seat at the table by making the Chief of the National Guard a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Bipartisanship and Openness The Problem: Under the Bush administration, foreign policy has been used as a political wedge issue to divide us – not as a cause to bring America together. And it is no coincidence that one of the most secretive administrations in history has pursued policies that have been disastrous for the American people. Obama strongly believes that our foreign policy is stronger when Americans are united, and the government is open and candid with the American people. A Record of Bringing People Together: In the Senate, Obama has worked with Republicans and Democrats to advance important policy initiatives on securing weapons of mass destruction and conventional weapons, increasing funding for nonproliferation, and countering instability in Congo. Consultative Group: Obama will convene a bipartisan Consultative Group of leading members of Congress to foster better executive-legislative relations and bipartisan unity on foreign policy. This group will be comprised of the congressional leadership of both political parties, and the chair and ranking members of the Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Intelligence, and Appropriations Committees. This group will meet with the president once a month to review foreign policy priorities, and will be consulted in advance of military action. Getting Politics out of Intelligence: Obama would insulate the Director of National Intelligence from political pressure by giving the DNI a fixed term, like the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Obama will seek consistency and integrity at the top of our intelligence community – not just a political ally. Change the Culture of Secrecy: Obama will reverse President Bush's policy of secrecy. He will institute a National Declassification Center to make declassification secure but routine, efficient, and cost-effective. Engaging the American People on Foreign Policy: Obama will bring foreign policy decisions directly to the people by requiring his national security officials to have periodic national broadband town hall meetings to discuss foreign policy. He will personally deliver occasional fireside chats via webcast. On Israel Ensure a Strong U.S.-Israel Partnership: Barack Obama strongly supports the U.S.-Israel relationship, believes that our first and incontrovertible commitment in the Middle East must be to the security of Israel, America's strongest ally in the Middle East. Obama supports this closeness, stating that that the United States would never distance itself from Israel. Support Israel's Right to Self Defense: During the July 2006 Lebanon war, Barack Obama stood up strongly for Israel's right to defend itself from Hezbollah raids and rocket attacks, cosponsoring a Senate resolution against Iran and Syria's involvement in the war, and insisting that Israel should not be pressured into a ceasefire that did not deal with the threat of Hezbollah missiles. He believes strongly in Israel's right to protect its citizens. Support Foreign Assistance to Israel: Barack Obama has consistently supported foreign assistance to Israel. He defends and supports the annual foreign aid package that involves both military and economic assistance to Israel and has advocated increased foreign aid budgets to ensure that these funding priorities are met. He has called for continuing U.S. cooperation with Israel in the development of missile defense systems. "

2/14/2008 3:12:23 PM

articulate --> expressed, formulated, or presented with clarity and effectiveness: an articulate thought.

I can cut and paste too

Quote :

"A Strong Military in a Dangerous World In a dangerous world, protecting America's national security requires a strong military. Today, America has the most capable, best-trained and best-led military force in the world. But much needs to be done to maintain our military leadership, retain our technological advantage, and ensure that America has a modern, agile military force able to meet the diverse security challenges of the 21st century. John McCain is committed to ensuring that the men and women of our military remain the best, most capable fighting force on Earth - and that our nation honors its promises to them for their service. The global war on terrorism, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, threats from rogue states like Iran and North Korea, and the rise of potential strategic competitors like China and Russia mean that America requires a larger and more capable military to protect our country's vital interests and deter challenges to our security. America confronts a range of serious security challenges: Protecting our homeland in an age of global terrorism and Islamist extremism; working with friends and partners overseas, from Africa to Southeast Asia, to help them combat terrorism and violent insurgencies in their own countries; defending against missile and nuclear attack; maintaining the credibility of our defense commitments to our allies; and waging difficult counterinsurgency campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. "The American people deserve nothing less than true protection against the emerging threats in a changing world. Those who are charged with protecting our families should be provided with all necessary resources and direction, and we must prioritize our spending, secure our borders and, fully fund the readiness of our forces." -Senator John McCain John McCain understands national security and the threats facing our nation. He recognizes the dangers posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, violent Islamist extremists and their terrorist tactics, and the ever present threat of regional conflict that can spill into broader wars that endanger allies and destabilize areas of the world vital to American security. He knows that to protect our homeland, our interests, and our values - and to keep the peace - America must have the best manned, best equipped, and best supported military in the world. John McCain has been a tireless advocate of our military and ensuring that our forces are properly postured, funded, and ready to meet the nation's obligations both at home and abroad. He has fought to modernize our forces, to ensure that America maintains and expands its technological edge against any potential adversary, and to see that our forces are capable and ready to undertake the variety of missions necessary to meet national security objectives. As President, John McCain will strengthen the military, shore up our alliances, and ensure that the nation is capable of protecting the homeland, deterring potential military challenges, responding to any crisis that endangers American security, and prevailing in any conflict we are forced to fight. Fighting Against Violent Islamic Extremists and Terrorist Tactics The attacks on September 11th represented more than a failure of intelligence. The tragedy highlighted a failure of national policy to respond to the development of a global terror network hostile to the American people and our values. The 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1998 attacks on the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the 2000 bombing of the USS COLE indicated a growing global terrorist threat before the attacks on New York and Washington. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden's declaration of war against the United States hit home with unmistakable clarity. America faces a dedicated, focused, and intelligent foe in the war on terrorism. This enemy will probe to find America's weaknesses and strike against them. The United States cannot afford to be complacent about the threat, naive about terrorist intentions, unrealistic about their capabilities, or ignorant to our national vulnerabilities. In the aftermath of 9/11 John McCain fought for the creation of an independent 9/11 Commission to identify how to best address the terrorist threat and decrease our domestic vulnerability. He fought for the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and the creation of the U.S. Northern Command with the specific responsibility of protecting the U.S. homeland. As President, John McCain will ensure that America has the quality intelligence necessary to uncover plots before they take root, the resources to protect critical infrastructure and our borders against attack, and the capability to respond and recover from a terrorist incident swiftly. He will ensure that the war against terrorists is fought intelligently, with patience and resolve, using all instruments of national power. Moreover, he will lead this fight with the understanding that to impinge on the rights of our own citizens or restrict the freedoms for which our nation stands would be to give terrorists the victory they seek. John McCain believes that just as America must be prepared to meet and prevail against any adversary on the field of battle, we must engage and prevail against them on the battleground of ideas. In so doing, we can and must deprive terrorists of the converts they seek and teach the doctrine of hatred and despair. As President, John McCain will take it as his most sacred responsibility to keep America free, safe, and strong - an abiding beacon of freedom and hope to the world. Effective Missile Defense John McCain strongly supports the development and deployment of theater and national missile defenses. Effective missile defenses are critical to protect America from rogue regimes like North Korea that possess the capability to target America with intercontinental ballistic missiles, from outlaw states like Iran that threaten American forces and American allies with ballistic missiles, and to hedge against potential threats from possible strategic competitors like Russia and China. Effective missile defenses are also necessary to allow American military forces to operate overseas without being deterred by the threat of missile attack from a regional adversary. John McCain is committed to deploying effective missile defenses to reduce the possibility of strategic blackmail by rogue regimes and to secure our homeland from the very real prospect of missile attack by present or future adversaries. America should never again have to live in the shadow of missile and nuclear attack. As President, John McCain will not trust in the "balance of terror" to protect America, but will work to deploy effective missile defenses to safeguard our people and our homeland. Increasing the Size of the American Military The most important weapons in the U.S. arsenal are the men and women of American armed forces. John McCain believes we must enlarge the size of our armed forces to meet new challenges to our security. For too long, we have asked too much of too few – with the result that many service personnel are on their second, third and even fourth tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. There can be no higher defense priority than the proper compensation, training, and equipping of our troops. Our existing force is overstretched by the combination of military operations in the broader Middle East and the need to maintain our security commitments in Europe and Asia. Recruitment and retention suffer from extended overseas deployments that keep service personnel away from their homes and families for long periods of time. John McCain believes that the answer to these challenges is not to roll back our overseas commitments. The size and composition of our armed forces must be matched to our nation's defense requirements. As requirements expand in the global war on terrorism so must our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard be reconfigured to meet these new challenges. John McCain thinks it is especially important to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps to defend against the threats we face today. John McCain knows that the most difficult and solemn decision a president must make is sending young Americans into harm's way. Having experienced firsthand the brutality of war, as president, John McCain would never make the decision to use force lightly, only when the cause is just, and our nation's values and interests absolutely demand it. Modernizing the Armed Services Modernizing American armed forces involves procuring advanced weapons systems that will help rapidly and decisively defeat any adversary and protect American lives. It also requires addressing force protection needs to make sure that America's combat personnel have the best safety and survivability equipment available. "

2/14/2008 3:15:19 PM

Quote :

"Modernizing the armed forces also means adapting our doctrine, training, and tactics for the kind of conflicts we are most likely to face. Today, American forces are engaged in dangerous operations throughout the world. From Iraq and Afghanistan to Somalia and the Philippines, American forces are fighting the battles of the 21st century against terrorists and insurgents. These asymmetric conflicts require a very different force structure than the one we used to fight and win the Cold War. The missions of the 21st century will not center on traditional territorial defense or mass armor engagements. Instead, the men and women of the U.S. armed forces will be engaged in, among other things, counter insurgency, counter terrorism, missile defense, counter proliferation and information warfare. This calls not just for a larger and more capable military, but for a new mix of military forces, including civil affairs, special operations, and highly mobile forces capable of fighting and prevailing in the conflicts America faces. Smarter Defense Spending John McCain has worked aggressively to reform the defense budgeting process to ensure that America enjoys the best military at the best cost. This includes reforming defense procurement to ensure the faithful and efficient expenditure of taxpayer dollars that are made available for defense acquisition. Too often, parochial interests – rather than the national interest – have guided our spending decisions. John McCain supports significant reform in our defense acquisition process to ensure that dollars spent actually contribute to U.S. security. John McCain also feels strongly that our nation's military spending, except in time of genuine emergency, must be funded by the regular appropriations process, not by "emergency" supplementals that allow defense to be funded outside the normal budget cycle. This process gives Congressional committees less ability to closely scrutinize defense budget requests to ensure military funding is being budgeted wisely. It makes possible Congressional pork-barrel spending that diverts scarce defense resources to parochial home-state interests. And it allows the administration to add spending above that set by budget caps, bloating the federal deficit. Budgeting annually through emergency supplemental appropriation bills encourages pork barrel spending. The American taxpayer has a right to expect us to get the most out of each and every defense dollar, especially at a time when those dollars are so critical. Throughout his career, John McCain has fought pork-barrel defense spending that diverts scarce defense resources to parochial, home-state projects rather than addressing the needs of service personnel. He believes that unauthorized earmarks drain our precious defense resources and adversely affect our national security. John McCain will continue to fight pork-barrel spending to ensure that military funds are spent where they are needed most – in support of our military personnel and our national defense. Taking Care of our Military Personnel and their Families Our military personnel and their families deserve the nation's unfailing gratitude, respect, and support. As a former naval officer with a distinguished record of military service, John McCain understands the profound sacrifices made by our men and women who serve in the uniform of our country and their families. He believes one of America's most solemn obligations is to treat our military personnel with the same sense of devotion and duty as they demonstrate in rendering their service to the nation. John McCain has fought for improved military pay and benefits, and an improved quality of life for military families. America's deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan rely heavily on Reserve and National Guard forces. John McCain has worked hard to ensure that benefits for deployed Reservists and National Guardsmen are brought in line with our active-duty military forces. As president, he will make sure that just as we are always proud of our military personnel for what they do for the country, the country can be proud of what we do for them. Honoring our Nation's Commitments to Veterans and Military Retirees John McCain has worked tirelessly to protect increased benefits for America's veterans. He understands that our country has a duty to care for veterans who have honorably served. John McCain will continue to look out for the men and women who have answered our nation's call. America must never leave its military retirees in any doubt that it will keep its commitments to them for their many years of faithful service. John McCain has been a champion of military retirees in the Senate and believes that it is especially important to ensure retired service personnel enjoy full health care and benefits comparable to that received by retired federal employees. John McCain understands that a key to recruiting and retaining a new generation of American military personnel is demonstrating that our government keeps its promises to retired service members. He will remain an unwavering champion for the rights of military retirees and their families. "

2/14/2008 3:15:44 PM

The question in this thread is not about McCain, it's about why you support Obama therefore you're just trolling.

nice try hooksaw.

2/14/2008 3:18:14 PM

Quote :

"The Problem Increasing Debt: Under President Bush, the federal debt has increased from $5.7 trillion to $8.8 trillion, an increase of more than 50 percent. Irresponsible Tax Cuts: President Bush's policies of giving tax breaks for the wealthy will cost the nation over $2.3 trillion by the time they expire in 2009. Barack Obama's Plan Restore Fiscal Discipline to Washington Reinstate PAYGO Rules: Obama believes that a critical step in restoring fiscal discipline is enforcing pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budgeting rules which require new spending commitments or tax changes to be paid for by cuts to other programs or new revenue. Reverse Bush Tax Cuts for the Wealthy: Obama will protect tax cuts for poor and middle class families, but he will reverse most of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers. Cut Pork Barrel Spending: Obama introduced and passed bipartisan legislation that would require more disclosure and transparency for special-interest earmarks. Obama believes that spending that cannot withstand public scrutiny cannot be justified. Obama will slash earmarks to no greater than year 2001 levels and ensure all spending decisions are open to the public. Make Government Spending More Accountable and Efficient: Obama will ensure that federal contracts over $25,000 are competitively bid. Obama will also increase the efficiency of government programs through better use of technology, stronger management that demands accountability and by leveraging the government's high-volume purchasing power to get lower prices. End Wasteful Government Spending: Obama will stop funding wasteful, obsolete federal government programs that make no financial sense. Obama has called for an end to subsidies for oil and gas companies that are enjoying record profits, as well as the elimination of subsidies to the private student loan industry which has repeatedly used unethical business practices. Obama will also tackle wasteful spending in the Medicare program. Make the Tax System More Fair and Efficient End Tax Haven Abuse: Building on his bipartisan work in the Senate, Obama will give the Treasury Department the tools it needs to stop the abuse of tax shelters and offshore tax havens and help close the $350 billion tax gap between taxes owed and taxes paid. Close Special Interest Corporate Loopholes: Obama will level the playing field for all businesses by eliminating special-interest loopholes and deductions, such as those for the oil and gas industry. Barack Obama's Record PAYGO: Obama voted in 2005, 2006, and 2007 to reinstate pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) federal budget rules. No-Bid Contracts: Obama has introduced and helped pass bipartisan legislation to limit the abuse of no-bid federal contracts. Against Raising the Federal Debt Limit: In 2006, Obama voted against misguided Republican efforts to raise the statutory debt limit at the same time the Republicans were pushing through massive debt-financed tax cuts for the wealthy. "

that's why i like obama, i can't possibly take the time to read and understand his platform so i will just cut and paste it to this thread ad naseum

2/14/2008 3:22:00 PM

You assume I haven't read his platform... brilliant. I've definitely read it, and you're resorting to foolish accusations. Seriously, what the fuck could cause you to believe I haven't read it? I've been canvassing for the campaign for over a month, and I'll be in NC soon to take it to you bastards.

2/14/2008 3:29:28 PM

jesus christ dude, wtf do you want?
first you're arguing that he doesn't have a stance, and now you're upset because his well documented stances aren't boiled down into a 5 second sound bite? And of course if they were summed up in a sound bite you would call a platitude

2/14/2008 3:30:54 PM

In other news, Obama can't make up his mind on climate change. I'll export the commentary to the WSJ's Blog.

Quote :

"One key part of Sen. McCain’s bill, like many other climate-change proposals now pending, is that he would allocate a big chunk of emissions permits to industry for free. They would have to buy in an auction some smaller portion of the permits. Europe did something similar when it started its emissions-trading scheme; permits were given away generously in 2005 and will be auctioned in 2013. That’s what has Sen. Obama riled up. “I’ve been very specific about proposing 100 percent auctioning, which makes an enormous difference in terms of how effective it’s going to be,” Sen. Obama told Reuters. He added that he is in regular talks with former vice-president Gore and hopes to start work on climate-change policy as soon as he secures the nomination. Meanwhile, it’s instructive to note who’s among the co-sponsors of the Lieberman-McCain climate bill of 2007: Sen. Barack Obama. Would President Obama veto legislation co-sponsored by Sen. Obama? "

http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2008/02/11/mccain-climate-change-maverick-or-softie/

Oh, Obama. You speak so well.

[Edited on February 14, 2008 at 7:28 PM. Reason : ``]

2/14/2008 7:24:33 PM

Quote :

"DrSteveChaos: It's really a very simple chain of thought. -Obama makes vacuous statements about "reform" and "change" and "optimism" that airhead college kids get all excited about -This leads said college kids to believe he'll actually change a few things, in particular certain laws pertaining to substances often consumed by said audience, supported by certain noises the candidate has made back in 2004. -Evidence from 2008 flatly contradicts this, and other aspects of this unspecific "change" rhetoric Ergo, Obama isn't a reformer. Not that hard to follow, if you're actually paying attention."

The campaigns retraction--infuriating of course--wasn't issued until after my post.

Obvious troll is obvious.

I'm voting for Barack Obama because I have forgotten the lessons of Deep Impact.

2/14/2008 7:48:50 PM

Quote :

"The campaigns retraction--infuriating of course--wasn't issued until after my post. Obvious troll is obvious. I'm voting for Barack Obama because I have forgotten the lessons of Deep Impact."

His support was tepid if you had even clicked through the first link, from the blog post you referenced. The retraction came shortly thereafter.

Let's just own up to things already, Fox Mulder - you're voting for Obama because you want to believe. You want to believe he'll change things, and therefore will go to any amount of rhetorical gymnastics with his words in order to retain that impression.

Shattering your illusion with the cold light of truth is hardly "trolling."

[Edited on February 14, 2008 at 8:42 PM. Reason : Really.]

2/14/2008 8:40:50 PM

does that mean "we the people" is a big fat illusion?

2/14/2008 8:48:01 PM

Quote :

"DrSteveChaos: You want to believe he'll change things, and therefore will go to any amount of rhetorical gymnastics with his words in order to retain that impression."

I don't have to go to any rhetorical gymnastics to retain that, or any impression.

Witness me having the impression that you're an obvious trollfag douchenugget despite your best argument to the contrary without having exerted any rhetorical gymnastics to obtain said impression. Your own rhetorical gymnastics were enough for that.

If Obama's wanted me to have the impression of which you write, he'd probably handle the rhetorical gymnastics for me, anyway. That'd be a novel concept.

What do you know? He wrote a 62-page Plan For Change outlining exactly what changes he would make.

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/ObamaBlueprintForChange.pdf

What a swell fuckin' guy.

Quote :

"DrSteveChaos: Shattering your illusion with the cold light of truth is hardly "trolling." "

What truth? That if you comment on a developing story broken by the Moony times the circumstances may invalidate your comments?

Stop the fucking presses.

And the Fox Mulder comment....?

FAIL

Quote :

"Obvious troll is obvious."

[Edited on February 15, 2008 at 2:01 AM. Reason : ...]

2/15/2008 2:00:36 AM