Comments on: Debate? What Debate?

By: Pmac

Pmac — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:05:39 +0000

Cathleen Stacey,
If we judge by lies, we can discount every one of them.

By: Urbie

Urbie — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:02:23 +0000

This “Obama will jack your taxes” mantra is exactly what the righties were saying would happen under Clinton — he’ll jack taxes, wreck the economy, regulate and spend us into oblivion, etc. Well, that’s not what happened. Regardless of what was going on under his desk, we experienced a balanced budget (ya, with help from a GOP Congress, back when the GOP still had at least a few small-government types, who are long gone by now), an unprecedented economic boom, and I don’t know about anyone else, but my income tripled while he was in office. That, friends, is the bottom line. It’s all about the economy, and Clinton understood that. McCain (who I voted for in AZ when he was last up for re-election) doesn’t have a clue about the economy — by his own admission — and makes no bones about his intention to keep the Bush war machine going. It’s going to be a disaster — and that’s even if he doesn’t lose his marbles or die in office and leave Miss Deer-In-Headlights at the wheel.

I still might not vote for Obama (in 2000, I wrote in Martin Sheen, figuring that at least he did a good job on TV), but McCain has lost his bearings — endlessly repeating the POW line (a la Giuliani endlessly repeating “9/11″) isn’t going to get it done, now that we’ve got some real problems from the past 8 years….

Urb

By: Kelvin Kao

Kelvin Kao — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:06:24 +0000

Kelly, if you ever go to Taiwan, you need to get rice cakes made on the spot by street vendors. Then you will never generalize on the blandness and emptiness of rice cakes again!

But yeah, the pre-packaged ones are indeed bland and empty.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 22:13:57 +0000

Jim,

Thanks for the comment. A key factor that’s missing in your last comment, though, is that few voters will make a decision solely based on tax policy. While the top issue right now is polling “economy” (very broad), the next three are: health care, national security and Iraq. It may well be that voters who support McCain on taxes are swayed by other issues - I find this to be the case with many of my colleagues.

By: Jim Howard

Jim Howard — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:07:17 +0000

There is a book out that includes a study of who pays taxes and how they vote.

As readers of this blog know, only about half the adult population pays any income tax. The other half either pays no income tax or gets a negative ‘tax’ via EITC.

Among income tax non-payers only about 25% support McCain.

Among income tax payers only about 25% support Obama.

McCain is not nearly as strong on low taxes as President Bush, but he’s light years better than Obama.

It is not possible for a rational person to look at Obama’s record and his enthusiasm for many very expensive new entitlement programs and conclude that taxes will not increase more under Obama than they would under McCain.

If Obama is elected, it will be by public sector employees and non-income tax payers.

By: Cathleen Stacey

Cathleen Stacey — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:43:36 +0000

Biden lied thus I discount everything he said. I also think debates should not happen. Let each candidate go out on their own and campaign. Not all the American people are stupid and followers of the media. Now if a new law is ever needed that would be the one. The media trying to control a nation of people. Sickening.

By: Tina Marhsall

Tina Marhsall — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:18:26 +0000

First off, GO PHILLIES! Sorry, I can’t help myself. Second, I find these debates misleading as well. It’s hard to choose one team over another when I feel like I’m hearing only what they want me to hear. I came across some insightful info this morning…an article called “The 16th Amendment” on this website”
http://www.petermanseye.com/
Check it out. Who knew reading about taxes could be both informational and enjoyable. And, if for nothing else, give yourself a 10 mintue work break. With all of the stress coming from the government bailout, the presidential campaigns, and every other minuscule daily matter, I think we are well-deserved. Cheers.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:49:26 +0000

Dan,
I’m not arguing that isn’t true, I’m just saying that both campaigns need to be consistent in their definitions when making this point - otherwise it’s meaningless. That’s all.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:40:44 +0000

Pmac, Statistically, I believe that’s true… sorry, couldn’t resist.

By: Pmac

Pmac — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:39:36 +0000

Hard to believe that these debaters keep bringing up stats and such that have already been disproven. The more a person hears it, the more likely they are to believe it?