GolfHos

I hope everyone gets to the polls and votes, apathy is a terrible thing.

As for me, I'm once again pezzed about my choices.  Probably end up voting Libertarian again even though I can't support the entire platform.  Free choice, free markets, etc.; without the war mongering and religious overtones is about as close as any gets for me.

It is the economy stupid.  Problem is - presidents have such limited influence over it, it simply makes me laugh when people credit or blame economic performance on the Executive.  No matter the winner the economy will recover, but something tells me the winning party will take/get credit for the natural phenomenon.  That is not to say tax policy and the like do not have an effect - the rate and heights of the recovery can be influenced, but the recovery will happen either way.

I like to promote business, thats no secret.  While I can appreciate Obama's calls for a tax increase on the affluent, I cannot disregard the assault on business that his rhetoric makes.  One persons loophole is anothers justified savior.  Just calling something a loophole does not make it wrong or bad.  Heck, credits for dependents sure look like a loophole to those without children.  As does mortgage interest to those without homes.  Of course, most of us do not argue the validity of those loopholes.  But for some reason, when it comes to business... all tax incentives are considered loopholes to be slandered and railed against.

And the class warfare being conducted... tax the rich, give it to the poor... (we do this already, but we apparently need more of it  ::)) is simply vote buying.  Its pandering that is no better than the fear-based pandering of the McCain campaign.  Its even more insidious in that its easy to pezz off 5% of the country, promise money to the other 95%, and gain the votes to win an election.  But mob rule isn't always right - its why we're not a pure democracy.

And that McCain campaign... no good either.  Ideas are lacking and personnel decisions have been poor.  Palin was a WTF moment for me.  Not that Biden has the right stuff, but at least Obama didn't completely screw the pooch the way McCain did.  But enough about all of that.  It looks like Obama has the advantage, and I'm ok with that.  Not moving to Canada or anything if he wins; like those few noble, smart, responsible and dedicated actors... that ended up not moving last time  ;)


Anyway - glad its almost over.  Perhaps this site will become interesting again.

LOL, never let it be forgotten who fired the first shot.

2500 bucks this deal is costing me, right to the Wall Street Libertarians who worshipped at Greenspans feet for the better part of 3 decades. Some folks need to get over the misconception that Gubment money is somebody else's money. It's OUR money.

The vote buy was perfected in 2004 and 2008, and it was perfected by you-know-who.

The US military industrial complex--the biggest socialist program the world has ever seen--but it's our socialist program.

OMG

No wonder several found this place uninteresting the last month or so.

Carry on.  It will soon be just a site for you.

I'm guessing your definition of class warfare only goes one way.

I don't know what else you call it when failed businesses get bailed out to 'Reliquidate', and then sit on the money to pay bonuses.

I read your post and predicted the responses in my head before I read them.  :sad3:

I liked your post but you forgot the golden rule around here. Democrats are pure goodness and can be blamed for nothing. Republicans are pure evil and are to be blamed for everything that was/is/will be bad.  :)

for the major positions of power, with the people the parties DO trot out there... yeh, sadly it basically does come down to this.  politics has sucked as long as I can remember, but it REALLY sucks with the modern NEOCON republican party.   

Choices (IMHO) tax and spend and more modern views on life vs. borrow and spend and antiquated views on life
Why can't I have tax as needed, spend less, domestic issues 1st and foremost, and modern view on life candidate who isn't an unelectable kook?

omg lol. and then you woke up.  :sad3:

(http://thecoredump.org/images/deadsanta.jpg)

Thanks for not moving to Canada, Hobbit!!!!!

I've got more plans to chautauqua to StL than to Canada, so there is a better chance we can play that long awaited grudge match if you stay on "our team".

Besides, they talk real funny up there. 

I have no real interest in getting into a partisan pissing contest. I believe neither candidate, party, ideology, or philosophy has a monopoly in truth, righteousness, or the American way. While I do favor one candidate over the other, I don't convince myself that his victory or defeat will or will not seal the potential for future success of our country.

Whoever is the eventual winner today, I will paraphrase John Wayne (I think) and say regardless of whether he's the candidate I supported, he's our president, and I hope he does a good job. Petty partisanship stands to continue to do much more damage to the country than the current or future occupant of the Oval Office. One thing I've learned by being married is that being right is not the same thing as doing the right thing. People have become so obsessed with being right, they fail to consider whether they're doing the right thing.

That being said- if you haven't yet voted, VOTE. I don't care who you plan on voting for, exercise your right and your obligation as an American. Feeling disenfranchised is a pretty *feces*ty reason to sacrifice your rights.

(Jules and twoiron are naturally excluded from this message, as I believe their government officials are still chosen through knife fights and drinking contests.)

*fudge* you spacey, I voted already.

Other then that I agree with you.

On a different note you look good with blue eye shadow.

Don't think I don't know how good I make this look.

Well said. 

I voted today for the first time in my life.  I have members of this forum to thank for giving me the insight, the interest, the education, and the passion to do what many take for granted, and many others yearn for.

Because voting is compulsory here, I've been voting for 20 years.

I look forward to voting because while I'm lining up I can buy a sausage in a bread roll and a can of coke ;D

Naturally the outcome of the above knife fights and drinking contests influence how I vote. If a potential Prime Minister can chug a Yard Glass of beer in under a minute he gets my vote

Good for you, Stroh.

I view these elections as, more than anything, taking stock of where we are as a democracy and a nation, and creating a vision for where we want to go with all of this.  Basically, in one fell swoop passing out grades to those who've been in charge, and then doing a bit of strategic planning for the near future.

I'm pragmatic enough to realize the shadow will fall some place between the idea and reality---that whomever wins will, by definition, fall short of expectations.... and that is ok by me.

Which is not to say it doesn't matter.  It does matter.  One look at the despicable accomplishments of the UUXcaingang administration proves that point.

But this year's campaign has been particularly disturbing.  

What offended me most was the way the McCain campaign dragged a fresh $100 bill through a trailer park to see what they'd come up with, and sure enough, they found Bible Spice.  

And then when that looked like it was starting to blow up in their faces they did it again and pulled in Joe the Plumber.  

And then McCain turned to the cameras and said, "Look here you *fudge*ers, here's my plan.  I'm gonna give the country to the trailer trash, to these sorry, miserable, proudly ignorant folk who's greatest life accomplishment will be failing to get sucked up into the vortex of a black tornado.  To all these people who's lives are so *fudge*ed up, they won't help but *fudge* up yours and drag us all down to the same level.  And I'm doing all of this because I'm very, very, very confident you wouldn't dare vote for a negro. That's my vision so you can either vote for me or *fudge* you."

That was the point when this sort of shifted from laying out competing strategic visions, and debating arcane points of the geopolitical firmament, into something far more personal.

And I'm not even a negro.

Good chit stroh!

But I fear that using this site as your education for the political arena, will likely leave you walking in circles  ;)

But, at least, he got off his ass and into the voting booth.

Congratulations,  Stroh[sm_thumbsup2]

 [sm_laughing]


Thanks.  I regret that I let 30 20* years go by.  But I feel I made a difference today, not just in the election but in my life as well.

I should have edited my post to reflect that I read, learned and was influenced by all members and opinions here.  I simply boiled off and took to the polls what was important to me.

Esp. on prop. 31 about beer.   ;)


* Sorry trying to do too many things at once.  Not the least of which is 5th grade homework. >:(

So are you Smarter than a 5th Grader??

Right now, 1.  But it's getting close.   [sm_anon]

OMG, best post EVAR!

If you take the McCain proposition to its natural conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, please meet who would have been (from left to right, respectively) his Secretaries of the Navy, Army and Air Force.

(http://wonkette.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/liveblog-bitterz.jpg)