Posted by
JFKDem on Monday, October 13, 2008 1:27:24 AM
It seems debates are just two candidates trying to shoehorn talking points into answers. Some direct responses are needed. Examples:
Criticism of Mccain's cancellation of campaign to go to DC to solve financial crisis: A Senator is elected by the people of his state and paid $162,000 to do their job. It's not an excuse to say you're too busy running for president and "phoning it in".
Criticism of Mccain's involvement in "the Keating 5": Mccain was exonerated; however, Mccain himself has used the experience to see how influence can corrupt the the oversite process and has since campaigned against special interests. Obama, in his short Senate career ( with most of time spent running for president) hashad no such transformative experience. In fact, Obama was quickly coopted by influence peddlers and was one of the largest recipients of political giving.
Republican policy of deregulation over last 8 years is to blame for financial crisis: Fanny mae/Freddy mac are the most regulated and overseen financial institutions and they failed. What good is regulation when there is failure of oversite? Republicans did not control congress for 8 years or even 6 years( does anyone recall Democratic control of the Senate in 2001-2002 because of jumpin' Jim Jeffers?). Many republicans, like John Mccain pushed for reform and influential Democrats blocked such action.
Democrats have a better plan to deal with economic downturn: Democratic policies are Hoover-esque. The financial crisis alone did not cause a decade of economic failure in 1929. It was govt. response by restricted money supply, raising taxes, and protectionism that were most destructive. The Democrats of 2008 promise just these kinds of responses.
Election of Mccain is continuation of Bush deficit spending: Sen. Obama and the Democratic party have a very ambitious agenda of govt. spending projects and expansion of benefits. It will take a proven budget hawk to to stand for the american taxpayer to prevent abuse of one party control of the govt. and that choice is NOT Sen. Obama.
Government investment in alternative energy will bring energy independence and drilling for oil will not bring immediate relief to gas prices. Fact --it will take many years to realize the benefits of alternative energy and the results are for from certain. Fact2--most alternative energy solutions promise to produce more electrical energy and still will not efficiently replace fossil fuel use in autos. In the meantime, oil production is key to providing economic relief until technology brings solutions.