I was prepared to think it would just be canned crap. But it was hopeful, it was thoughtful it was a breathe of sanity in this election. No smears, only message...and it was one of hope. No fear mongering, it was on topic, one that covered issues in depth. One that spoke to the whole electorate. Presidential. Money well spent. It gave him an opportunity to speak on issues without having to reply to vague references and innuendos. What would McCain have to say in 30 minutes if he wasn't focussed on cutting the other guy down? I don't think he or Palin could fill 30 minutes without that sort of slander.
I wish one of the networks would give McCain 30 minutes. But we've seen his and Palin's interviews and instead of talking about their platform they focus most of their energy on talking down their opponent. Don't they have a positive message? Can't they outline their policies?
I felt the same way in the beginning....that the speech was gonna be just that... A speech. But it was so much more. I like to think of it as beautiful. Something I haven't heard from even my closest friends, who are my family. Except for Karen. (she's my sister) (i live in a very red state) I absolutely love what this politician is tryin gto get across to the American people. I am sad that so many "Don't Get It". peace and love
I only heard excerpts on the radio. We don't have our tv set up. What I did hear made me think "fireside chats". Let's enjoy this moment before the haters get on this thread to rehash the 60's and cut us down for being less than completely cynical.
Obama's prime-time ad skips over budget realities By CALVIN WOODWARD WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was less than upfront in his half-hour commercial Wednesday night about the costs of his programs and the crushing budget pressures he would face in office. Obama's assertion that "I've offered spending cuts above and beyond" the expense of his promises is accepted only by his partisans. His vow to save money by "eliminating programs that don't work" masks his failure throughout the campaign to specify what those programs are - beyond the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. A sampling of what voters heard in the ad, and what he didn't tell them: THE SPIN: "That's why my health care plan includes improving information technology, requires coverage for preventive care and pre-existing conditions and lowers health care costs for the typical family by $2,500 a year." THE FACTS: His plan does not lower premiums by $2,500, or any set amount. Obama hopes that by spending $50 billion over five years on electronic medical records and by improving access to proven disease management programs, among other steps, consumers will end up saving money. He uses an optimistic analysis to suggest cost reductions in national health care spending could amount to the equivalent of $2,500 for a family of four. Many economists are skeptical those savings can be achieved, but even if they are, it's not a certainty that every dollar would be passed on to consumers in the form of lower premiums. --- THE SPIN: "I've offered spending cuts above and beyond their cost." THE FACTS: Independent analysts say both Obama and Republican John McCain would deepen the deficit. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates Obama's policy proposals would add a net $428 billion to the deficit over four years - and that analysis accepts the savings he claims from spending cuts. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, whose other findings have been quoted approvingly by the Obama campaign, says: "Both John McCain and Barack Obama have proposed tax plans that would substantially increase the national debt over the next 10 years." The analysis goes on to say: "Neither candidate's plan would significantly increase economic growth unless offset by spending cuts or tax increases that the campaigns have not specified." --- THE SPIN: "Here's what I'll do. Cut taxes for every working family making less than $200,000 a year. Give businesses a tax credit for every new employee that they hire right here in the U.S. over the next two years and eliminate tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. Help homeowners who are making a good faith effort to pay their mortgages, by freezing foreclosures for 90 days. And just like after 9-11, we'll provide low-cost loans to help small businesses pay their workers and keep their doors open. " THE FACTS: His proposals - the tax cuts, the low-cost loans, the $15 billion a year he promises for alternative energy, and more - cost money, and the country could be facing a record $1 trillion deficit next year. Indeed, Obama recently acknowledged - although not in his commercial - that: "The next president will have to scale back his agenda and some of his proposals." --- THE SPIN: "I also believe every American has a right to affordable health care." THE FACTS: That belief should not be confused with a guarantee of health coverage for all. He makes no such promise. Obama hinted as much in the ad when he said about the problem of the uninsured: "I want to start doing something about it." He would mandate coverage for children but not adults. His program is aimed at making insurance more affordable by offering the choice of government-subsidized coverage similar to that in a plan for federal employees and other steps, including requiring larger employers to share costs of insuring workers. --- THE SPIN: "We are currently spending $10 billion a month in Iraq, when they have a $79 billion surplus. It seems to me that if we're going to be strong at home as well as strong abroad that we've got to look at bringing that war to a close." These lines in the ad were taken from a debate with McCain. THE FACTS: Obama was once and very often definitive about getting combat troops out in 16 months (At times during the primaries, he promised to do so within a year). More recently, without backing away explicitly from the 16-month withdrawal pledge, he has talked of the need for flexibility. In the primaries, it would have been a jarring departure for him to have said merely that "we've got to look at" ending the war. As for Iraq's surplus, it's true that Iraq could end up with a surplus that large, but that hasn't happened yet. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081030/ap_on_el_ge/fact_check_obama_ad
Just when has the McCain/Palin ticket ever addressed specifics Wacky? Obama isn't confusing anything, but the McCain ticket is confusing fear mongering with a true campaign based on issues. I've yet to see an outline of what McCain or Palin would do today. I only listen to them spouting fear and accusations. Not what this country needs today. We do have to look at ending the war in Iraq, or we can look at ending up like the Russians did with their war with Afghanastan. You can't keep sending money down a black hole with the sole hope of victory at any cost. Even ball games have limits. Shouldn't large profitable companies provide for their employees health care needs? Don't they provide for their management level employees healthcare? How is McCain proposing to finance his tax cuts? Through trickle down? There's nothing left to trickle down today. That's why we have the bailout. The only thing that can save us from the purchasing of middle eastern oil, is the introduction of vehicles that don't use petroleum. What is McCain doing to promote those types of vehicles. They don't run on nuclear power. I am wondering just want all these new nuclear plants McCain wants to subsidize will do for the American people. Does he or Cindy own stock? He doesn't know how many homes he owns, I don't think he knows what's in his portfolio.
Shouldn't large profitable companies provide for their employees health care needs? Don't they provide for their management level employees healthcare? My wife and life partner of 27 years has cancer, and is in a battle for her life, so that's an issue that's really up close and personal right now. Luckily she is covered on my health plan, which covers most services at 100% and with no deductible- it's about the best plan you can get. But even with that, our out-of-pocket medical expenses, just in the form of copayments, works out to be about $1000/month (at least one, and sometimes as many as three physician office visits per day, not a one of them non-essential, plus prescriptions plus a few other misc copayments). If we didn't have insurance, there's a strong possibility that she wouldn't even be alive now. [At her insistence, I took her to the Board of Elections today, to vote early since there's no guarantee of how she'll be doing by next week... she said she voted for Obama.] What I found interesting is that Obama is pretty well-informed about not just the problem faced by consumers, but also the problems faced by employers who wish to provide excellent coverage as a way of obtaining/retaining reliable employees. McStain didn't seem to even understand the questions asked on this subject, and that was ... embarrassing to witness.
I just want to wish your partner good luck with the prognosis. Been there. Thoughts are with both of you.
Little bits of love make the world go round. those negative thoughts just add turmoil to an already sad world. Run away, Run away!
That's devastating news SunLion, I can't imagine what you're going through. I am hoping for the best.
I don't think you watched it. There was nothing at all like that in it. You must just be spouting talking points.
