BlogHer - The Presidential Debate - Mired in the Middle - Comments

The SC selected Bush in 2000

shellie — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:20:24 -0500

The SC selected Bush in 2000 by a 5-4 majority; he has appointed more conservative judges since then. Why is yet "one more" going to matter?

Assuming that McCain wanted to rock the boat with an anti-Roe conservative -- and could get such an appointment through the Democratic Senate.

I'll worry about this when I hear Ginsberg or one of the other liberal judges SAY they want to retire before 2012. If conservative judges wanted to retire, they would have done it while Bush still had a GOP Congress.

Better than the debate

Liz Henry — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:03:00 -0500

Thanks for this post and the comments thread too! I twittered it last night and got this response from moyalynne:

@lizhenry love the comments thread on that blogher post - thanks for passing it along. more worthy debate there than at the debates!

So I'm passing on the compliment.

-----------------
Liz Henry
lizzard@bookmaniac.net
Contributing Editor, World and Latin America

I didn't.

SuburbanTurmoil — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:13:12 -0500

I figured my questions are pretty much the same as everyone else's...

How will you try to fix the economy?

Will I pay more taxes?

What's your plan for the war on Iraq?

These were just a few of my questions and all were addressed last night.

Hi there ...

topsyturvy86 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:56:53 -0500

Just thought i'd find out how it went at the debate. Did you get your questions answered and/or reach a decision?

Temi

If you have one or the other

Oengus1963 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:23:30 -0500

If you have one or the other in the white house which would be more receptive to influence from the other through their role in the senate?

McCain will end his bid for the white house if this venture does not get realized, so he has to assume the role of support, in that of support of policy that is best for the nation not to further a political career which is in its twilight.

Obama may be thwarted by a McCain’s administration and he will have ongoing political aspirations, that’s less than ideal particularly with a democratic majority.

Obama will bring a democratic majority and allow republican influence, he needs to respect that he needs to insure a second term, that will require working well with the houses.

Nobody walks in knowing or

Oengus1963 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:10:30 -0500

Nobody walks in knowing or having the answers, it is a process. Change requires objectivity not staunch conservatism, we have lots of concepts on the table they all have to go through the house and looked at analytically.

This administration will be totally preoccupied with financials, that are global issues as well, chanting hurray for America will not be appreciated. We need to assure the world we are moving in a positive direction more stable and more secure. Neither will get away with anything that is not built on logical efforts formed in consensus.

We need a president that is a good speaker, if anything it is the figure head of the nation all the world watches and perceives through them, if that person is also thoughtful and intelligent it rings through…be careful choosing a self proclaimed maverick will not be appreciated around the world.

We need brilliance and

Oengus1963 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:45:27 -0500

We need brilliance and comparatively speaking Obama is more than McCain, it will be a tough four years and nothing will change easily within it, pick the man with a more pleasant demeanor, he will be more likely to make friends than enemies.

Here are the fact checks

Erin Kotecki Vest — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:50:56 -0500

It's a pdf

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/taxes/Tax_Plan_Facts_FINAL.pdf

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

Just point it out for me and

NCmommy — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:44:50 -0500

Just point it out for me and maybe I'll change my vote.

Sigh

Erin Kotecki Vest — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:30:24 -0500

You can find the answers you seek at http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/ where the plans are detailed and you can see for yourself.

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

Do you really want us to

NCmommy — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:49:43 -0500

Do you really want us to become a socialist country? America thrives on competition and profits. People are in business to make money and for that you want to punish those who are successful? You make it sound as though we are giving free money to the rich when it is the rich who has been contributing more than the average Americans on taxes. Do you honestly think that jobs will not be lost and businesses will not close down if we eat into their profits? When the high income Americans lose their jobs, how will Obama continue to fund the policy that is outline in his proposal?

Lindsay, did you submit a question for the candidates?

Lisa Stone — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:38:41 -0500

Just curious! Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

BlogHer is non-partisan but our bloggers aren't! Follow our coverage of Politics & News.

Amen on Factcheck.org

Lisa Stone — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:20:18 -0500

It's a fantastic site. I also recommend the Sunlight Foundation as a great congressional watchdog site: http://www.sunlightfoundation.com/. (Be sure to scroll down below their huge intro graphic to get to the info.)

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

BlogHer is non-partisan but our bloggers aren't! Follow our coverage of Politics & News.

How I decided

NCmommy — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:52:29 -0500

The reason why I was undecided for so long was making the stupid mistake of getting my information on what I saw on TV and what I read on the web. It was only after I read and dissected the policies of both parties that I decided to vote for McCain. Why, because going with Obama’s plan would make me a looter and a freeloader. I understand that the less fortunately needs breaks, but when it is ever going to be enough? The rich are already paying higher taxes. How much more do we Americans want to dig into their pockets? How can we justify entitlement to their earnings? Back to the subject of the undecided…I think the best way to help you determine who to vote for is to dig deep into the policies of each candidate and think of the negative implication that it will have long term. We see the pros, but where are the cons?

Until recently, I too was independent

Erin Kotecki Vest — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:47:00 -0500

Because I firmly believe our entire system needs an overhaul, but I can honestly say I've never voted republican, so maybe I'm just a idealistic democrat. I don't know. and I only changed my voter registration for primary purposes.

Either way, I'm anxious to hear what you think going in undecided and what, if anything, moves you.

saPolitics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

The Presidential Debate - Mired in the Middle

SuburbanTurmoil — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:17:22 -0500

I'm not a Democrat. I'm not a Republican. I'm not liberal and I'm not conservative. I'm moderate and I'm Independent. I vote for the candidate, not the party, and typically my ballots include votes for members from both parties. So at this point in the presidential election, I'm feeling a little lost.

Right about now, everyone, it seems, has taken sides. The Obama supporters are waaaay over there, to my left. The McCain supporters are waaaay over there, to my right. Each side seems to loathe the other. I'm stuck in the center, attracted to and repelled by both extremes, and sort of wishing we could all just get along.

I saw Barack Obama on Oprah before he announced his candidacy and was struck by his wisdom and his way with words. Several months later, I watched a documentary on McCain's history as a prisoner of war and was literally brought to tears by his fellow prisoners' memories of his courage and influence on their morale during years of torture and imprisonment. I think both men have the leadership skills it takes to be a good president.

I believe Michelle Obama would make a poised and informed First Lady. We see less, it seems, of Cindy McCain, but I interviewed her during my days as a morning anchor, and I was equally impressed by her warm and friendly demeanor. The pampered ice queen I thought I knew from press photos of her was not the reality that I encountered.

On the other hand, I worry that Obama will pull troops out of Iraq too quickly, without first making sure the Iraqis' new government is adequately stabilized. Sure, I wish we were out of this war, but since we're in it, I think we owe it to the Iraqi people to not just abandon them before their new government is able to operate on its own, and that stabilization may not meet Obama's 16-month withdrawal timeline. I also worry Obama's party politics will mean that my family will end up giving more of our income to the government, when we're struggling to make ends meet as it is.

As for John McCain, I worry he'll keep our troops in Iraq too long, and for the wrong reasons. And honestly, I can't get past the story that he called Cindy the "c" word in front of a group of reporters. Sure we all lose our tempers from time to time, but I wouldn't call a man who did that my friend, nor would I want to work for him; why would I want him to be president? I'm willing to try and believe that the story is false, but in order to do that I need McCain to address it, and so far he hasn't.

I realize that there are still a significant number of voters out there like me- voters who don't subscribe to any one party, voters who are at least somewhat disillusioned by politics and the state of our nation in general and most importantly, voters who haven't made up their minds. When I learned that the second Presidential debate was aimed at undecided voters and that it was going to be held here in Nashville, I knew I had to be part of it.

And tonight, I will be. I've got my Debate '08 media credentials tucked into my wallet and I'm headed for Belmont University later today. Like thousands of others in the audience, I'm hoping this debate will help me come to a decision on which candidate gets my vote. I plan to listen closely and keep my mind open to both sides.

Stay tuned for my report- and my decision.