Who you voting for?

[Autumnlicious]

DeistPaladin,

did you ever consider that Obama is a narcissist who cannot understand no matter how many compromises he makes, the Republicans will engage in bi-partisanship conduct?

I think that explains a hell of a lot with one massive personality flaw. It is believable, considering the self-loving aspect of his feel-good campaign.

How many of you were suckered by "Change we can believe in"?

Doesn't it make you wonder why the phrase makes you feel good?

Perhaps because it appeals to one's vanity and pride.

[TheDarkestOfAngels]

did you ever consider that Obama is a narcissist who cannot understand no matter how many compromises he makes, the Republicans will engage in bi-partisanship conduct?

I hope you mean "will not engauge in bi-partisanship conduct" because republicans have been anything but bi-partisan.

[DeistPaladin]

DeistPaladin,

did you ever consider that Obama is a narcissist who cannot understand no matter how many compromises he makes, the Republicans will engage in bi-partisanship conduct?

I might if the problem were just with Obama. The fact is that the Democrat Party has had cancer of the spine at least for at least a dozen years. Obama is just the latest incarnation of wussbag appeasers to our own right wing.

In 2006, the Democrats were swept into Congress with a strong anti-Bush mandate. They then rubber stamped everything Bush demanded. They whined that without control of the White House, they were powerless to do anything.

In 2008, they were given larger majorities in the legislative branch along with control of the White House. They continue to whine that with such strong Republican opposition, they can't get anything done.

Funny thing about appeasement is it brings out the radical streak in the opposition. Moderates within Republican ranks can be effectively silenced. Why be moderate when you can get everything you want? The psychotic nature of the current incarnation of the Republican Party can possibly be attributed to the spineless nature of their political opposition.

[ReB]

Look guys, I'm just saying, Obama's main concern was a socialist healthcare system. After congress didn't pass that, everything went to shit. I admit I think thats one of the reasons why he is so terrible. He had basically 1 idea on his mind when coming into presidency. If you ask me, he didn't have his priorities straight. He COULD do a better job if he wins the election.

[DeistPaladin]

Look guys, I'm just saying, Obama's main concern was a socialist healthcare system...

You know, I remember there was a time when "socialism" was a political-economic ideology and not just some generic pejorative bandied all around while screeching about anything left of the hard right wing in America. During the Bush administration, anyone pointing out how we were lied into the Iraq War was accused of being "shrill" and yet shrieking "socialism" all the time isn't?

[Heather]

Look guys, I'm just saying, Obama's main concern was a socialist healthcare system. After congress didn't pass that, everything went to shit.

Huh? It did pass. I'm confused. And who in their right mind (right being the key word since many fundies are against it), would be against affordable health care???? Have you ever known anyone that is completely uninsurable? My mom, for instance, has pre-existing conditions so she can not obtain private health insurance. She had insurance through her employer but she was laid off. She is currently unemployed so she is not under a corporate healthcare plan. She has to pay out of pocket 100% for every doctor visit and prescription. She now orders her medicines from Canada because the cost of drugs up there is about 200% cheaper than the U.S. Why are they cheaper in Canada? Because the government runs their healthcare system which keeps cost under control.

Why are Americans ok with putting their health insurance into the hands of a corporation and private healthcare and not the government? I just will never get it.




"The Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by the President in March 2010, gives you better health security by putting in place comprehensive health insurance reforms that hold insurance companies accountable, lower health care costs, guarantee more choice, and enhance the quality of care for all Americans.

How it Works

The Act will not be implemented all at once. Portions of the law have already taken effect like provisions that implement a new Patient’s Bill of Rights that put an end to some of the worst insurance company practices."


http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform/h...hcare-menu

[Whateverist]

Kudos to Heather for recognizing how important and difficult it was to pass even the healthcare bill that we got. It isn't the best one I could have imagined by a long shot. But I live here in a the USA so I expect much, much less. By and large, we are not a bright people.

More viable parties would be better. A parliamentary system might help. Effective election reform would be huge. Not allowing health care to be run for profit would be sane. Not worshiping capitalism as our highest value would make us more humane. Right now we have a system that could better be described as one dollar/one vote than one man/one vote.

I will enthusiastically vote for Obama not because he is the magic man who can, but because he is the only the adult running. If elected he won't solve all our problems because no one could. The way power is divided in this country ensures the status quo wins. I do trust Obama to gather whatever progressive slack there may be in the system and to maximize policies that are good for the 99% to the degree that is possible. Others may promise more but they don't understand where we live or the system that has us trapped. Or else they are just not being honest.

Incremental change is change I believe in. Anything more may require guillotines. Hey, it worked for the French.

[DeistPaladin]

A parliamentary system might help.

America couldn't handle a system as potentially volatile as a parliamentary system. Given our bi-polar political mood swings, we'd put the Italians to shame for the record number of different administrations we could have in a decade.

It seems every two years America swings the opposite direction. Reagan was elected in 80 by a landslide. Then two years later, Democrats sweep Congress. Then two years later, Reagan wins by a record landslide. Then two years later, Democrats take the Senate and House. Then two years later, Reagan's VP H W Bush wins the election. I don't remember the election results in the mid term but he lost to Clinton in 92. Then the Democrats lose congress in 94. Then Clinton is re-elected by a landslide in 96.

As far as I can remember, the only time a sitting president did OK in the mid-term was W Bush in 2002, who benefited politically from the then recent 9/11 attack. Every two years, we "vote to throw the bums out", putting in the people that we threw out two years prior.

Our three-branch system of government, even if it has its flaws, is designed to put the breaks on any changes, so that change happens over a period of time instead of all at once.

[Cinjin]

I'm voting for Newt Gingrich ... cause I'm a redneck, bible thumpin, sister pumpin, god fearin, jesus suckin, gun toting, wife bashin, hate breedin good ole red blooded American male. Hallelujah! Abe Lincoln, Bettsy Ross, and Ronald Reagan! God damn the muslims and praise be the red white and blue and don't forget cherry pie!! In God We Trust! Amen and Hallelujah!! --- now lets go kill us some camel jockeys!




/sarcasm

[Whateverist]

I'm voting for Newt Gingrich ... cause I'm a redneck, bible thumpin, sister pumpin, god fearin, jesus suckin, gun toting, wife bashin, hate breedin good ole red blooded American male. Hallelujah! Abe Lincoln, Bettsy Ross, and Ronald Reagan! God damn the muslims and praise be the red white and blue and don't forget cherry pie!! In God We Trust! Amen and Hallelujah!! --- now lets go kill us some camel jockeys!
/sarcasm

Thank you for so succinctly presenting the majority opinion of those who favor voting against Obama.

And there is another upside for those voting for the Newt. His plan to put the kids of the poor to work as janitors in our schools will help maintain or, better, even decrease the national IQ level so that he and his cronies can continue to get fat on all the spoils.

(Guillotines.)