2008-08-31, 23:23 | Link #2021 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Age: 36
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I think one of the real shames about this election is it's focus on ultimately meaning buzzwords, instead of the actual issues and policies the candidates stand for. "Maverick," "celebrity,"...they may make good attack ads, but they don't make good presidents.
One of the reasons I'm leaning towards Obama is his stance on foreign policy. I think we need direct diplomatic relations with Iran. The Bush administrations "no talks" policy has really hurt us in the long run, even though it may make for good speeches. In 2003, the president of Iran was the moderate Khatami, and he offered an extremely generous peace proposal to the Bush administration. They basically offered to stop all military action and terrorist funding in the region, in exchange for the US ending sanctions and hostility against Iran. And the Bush administration never even replied to it, at all. Because of the current US administration's refusal to deal with Iran, the moderates lost political clout and the hardliner-s have taken over...people like Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president you see in the news saying he wants to "wipe Israel off the map" and stuff like that. But we still have a chance to increase the power of the moderates again...Ahmadinejad's economic policies have turned out poorly, leading to lots of internal criticism against him, even in his own party. Plus, in the last election the reformists gained seats. We NEED greater diplomatic influence in Iran, and that's what Obama stands for. Being pointlessly antagonistic just increases the power of the hard-liners...they want America to be the Great Satan, because that's how they get people to vote for them...by using America as a sort of scapegoat to conceal their bad policies for the Iranian people. McCain is the one who sang "bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb bomb Iran" as a sinister joke. I'd rather appeal to the moderates and try to build them back up to their political strength of 2003 instead of just starting WWIII. Btw, there are some interesting interviews with Khatami online, I suggest you read them if you're interested in Iranian politics. (As we all should be in this important times of potential international conflict) There's also an article on Khatami's "Grand Bargain" here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...ndbargain.html |
2008-08-31, 23:29 | Link #2022 | |
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: NJ
Age: 33
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It seems like I'm not the only one to think that Sarah Palin is a major breakthrough for women's rights. On a different forum, CleverTalkers.com, it seems like all the women are saying that Palin is a big step forward for feminism and women's equality. More equality than Obama. Yeah, so check it out: http://clevertalkers.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=102 I think I pretty much agree with them. I wonder why anyone would think otherwise. |
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2008-08-31, 23:29 | Link #2023 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Suburban DC
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2008-08-31, 23:41 | Link #2024 | |
Kuu-chan is hungry
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
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If executive experience was such a huge deal, then she already has more than McCain. Why isn't she running for President then? Obama is just more experienced and it takes some real spin to say Palin has more than him. Heck, I've seen principals run schools with several thousand kids who probably had a tougher job than running a small town of 7000. I'm not going to say that's the experience needed for President or VP. I'm all for a woman president but it has to be the right woman. In my opinion, Palin is not the right woman. |
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2008-09-01, 00:13 | Link #2025 | |||
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
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That said, judging people for president based on "experience" has been proven to be flawed. Some of the worst presidents in our history have been true established statesmen such as Nixon and Ford. (See here for more on experience vs presidential quality.) Quote:
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2008-09-01, 00:14 | Link #2026 | |
Army of One
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Not sure if it has been posted yet but it made me think of these clips lol. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDmNk23vEYI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk20I...eature=related Last edited by Sassarai; 2008-09-01 at 00:36. |
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2008-09-01, 00:19 | Link #2027 | |
Hina is my goddess
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Dec 2005
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2008-09-01, 11:55 | Link #2028 |
Kuu-chan is hungry
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
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http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archi...1/1318541.aspx
I appreciate the fact that she's keeping the baby and will marry the father but... Another example of good ol' GOP American family values for social conservatives... As for a more focused topic on Sarah Palin's view on abortion: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/0..._n_122924.html If you get raped and get pregnant, no choice of an abortion for you! |
2008-09-01, 12:18 | Link #2029 |
Disabled By Request
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Imo, having a black president is even more of a breakthrough than having a female president, what with all the racism against blacks that has gone on in the US virtually since its inception. That would've made Condoleezza Rice look really good. It's too bad she dropped out of the elections. My point is that white people, men or women, were once considered to be on a much higher social status than black people, and Palin just happens to be white.
PS: I'm caucasian |
2008-09-01, 12:27 | Link #2030 | |
Not Enough Sleep
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: R'lyeh
Age: 48
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__________________
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2008-09-01, 13:29 | Link #2031 | |
日本語を食べません!
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Francisco
Age: 42
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Or do her positions on issues not matter in the slightest? |
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2008-09-01, 13:49 | Link #2035 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: East Cupcake
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No the issues do not matter in the slightest to some people. As Samantha Bee has said, "Palin is a Vagina-American", so women will vote for her because she has a vagina (Samantha Bee Voting McCain). While this is played to comedic effect in the skit, there are some people that do believe this (just see all the rabid Clinton supporters that MSNBC/CNN/FOX focused on last Monday and Tuesday at the DNC), and these people (both women and men) will vote for whatever woman is present.
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2008-09-01, 14:10 | Link #2036 | |
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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I find her views on sex-ed and contraception stupid and harmful. It results in things like, well, her daughter being stuck with a baby and a husband at 17. And worse. But at least she thinks it's for everybody - not just the poor who can't afford to take a quick trip to a state or country that's more permissive. |
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2008-09-01, 14:39 | Link #2037 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Boston
Age: 35
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Hurricane Gustav brings an interesting dilemma into the race for both campaigns.
Will McCain suffer because his convention is being overshadowed by the hurricane? Or will it help him because he gets to show that he cares more about the misfortunes of people than his own convention? And how will people react to Obama's decision to stay away from the region? Will they accept his reasoning that if he were to go there it would only serve as a distraction? Or will they think that Obama it too detached from ordinary Americans to help them out? |
2008-09-01, 16:29 | Link #2038 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
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I personally wish abortions would never happen, and fully respect anyone who would never have one. However, forcing that belief on everyone else is a different matter, and that is what the extreme right wants to do. As for Palin's daughter, the thing that annoys me is that Palin is also one of those "abstinence only" people. "Abstinence only" simply does not work, and it results in getting 17 year old girls like Palin's daughter pregnant because you didn't want them to use a condom. |
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2008-09-02, 11:06 | Link #2040 | |
日本語を食べません!
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Francisco
Age: 42
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I certainly hope would-be Obama voters don't cross over because of something as silly as "OMG a woman" but I could very well be wrong. |
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debate, elections, politics, united_states |
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