I believe the health, perhaps even survival, of our nation depends on three issues: the economy, energy and our relationships with foreign nations.
America is weakened. Our economy is stumbling, our infrastructure is crumbling and we are militarily over-extended. I support Barack Obama because I believe we must change direction, significantly. We’ve been on a “Borrow and Spend” free-for-all. Our nation now has an unprecedented $9 trillion national debt. We must change direction.
Our economic crisis is worsened by our precarious energy situation. America now imports 70% of our oil. McCain’s response calls for more domestic drilling. I give Obama credit for telling the difficult truth on this issue: America consumes 25% of the world’s oil but we have only 3% of the world’s oil reserves. We cannot drill our way out of dependence on foreign oil. To regain independence we must aggressively develop renewable energy options. Obama’s energy plan is spot on.
Another reason I support Obama is that we need to re-establish strong relationships with foreign allies, quickly. Now, more than any time since the cold war, we need strong, creative relationships with foreign nations. Obama’s thoughtful approach will be more effective than McCain’s volatile, quick-draw tendencies.
I love my country, but am frustrated and worried about it. If we elect Obama, I will be genuinely proud of America for the first time in a long time. Such a step would be a major breakthrough on the race issue. And it would show that we are ready to courageously embrace change.
At this point, no single President is going to be able to make it all better. It gives me hope that Obama has said as much himself. Consistently he’s said, “It isn’t going to be easy. Everybody is going to have to sacrifice to get through this.” We, you and me, regular citizens, are going to have to take responsibility for redirecting our troubled nation. Obama’s unwillingness to take the easy road and tell us that if we vote for him everything will be OK, suggests that he may actually make the necessary hard choices. Not once have I heard McCain call on Americans to do anything other than vote for him.
Barrack Obama, accompanied by engaged, everyday citizens like you and me, is our best chance for re-invigorating our economy, our democracy and our nation.
Cylvia Hayes, Bend
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2008.
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I support your desire for change. However, considering that the past is still the best judge of the future, perhaps you should consider the track record of those that inspire you in your ignorance. Is the farthest left of center Senator in congress, and the fourth most partisan, likely to be the one to reach across the aisle? History and logic say no.
Usually, we presume those that have accomplished a similar specific goal in the past, are most likely to accomplish one in the future, having the right stuff. Obama has never actually reached across the aisle or done a single solitary job of merit on anything remotely approaching a Presidential level. Associating with with a wide assortment of nefarious anti-Americans over a period of decades is not an endorsement for desirable change. Having your Harvard education paid for by a radical Muslim America hater is not a qualification, either.
Obama’s simplistic followers are so enamored of his polished eloquence that they flock to him like starry eyed bleating sheep following the Judas goat; a function of their own internal emotional need. Even a desperate desire, does not make God appear, or the Black Messiah.
Bob, the used car salesman, is also a smooth talking SOB, but he would make a real piss poor President.
Be careful of what you stupidly ask for… you just might get it… and… the change you get… might not be the change you dreamt of.
Vote for a hero, not a smooth talking zero…
Your “Hero” crashed his plane 4 times and disobeyed orders So, if we go by your theory of the past predicts the future we can count on McCain to ignore advice from people smarter and to “crash” as president.
You honestly think his thinking is accurate? My goodness, he picked one of the most incompetent politicians I have ever seen as his running mate, I know 13 year olds that have a higher IQ.
There goes CT again, vomiting rhetoric and heaping derision without offer up as an alternative anything more than a label of “hero”. Rather than build up his own candidate with well reasoned argument he attempts only to tear down and ridicule those with who he disagrees. Could it be that deep down he knows McCain is now just a bumbling old fool and can offer nothing more than the same old tired attacks?
I will remind the pinheads opposing me that McCain is a well known entity and requires no further documentation… if you are so lame intellectually as to require input about who he is at this point… you are pinhead hopeless. Most Obama supporters have no idea who Obama is other than he has a well oiled yap coupled with a secretive persona.
Redistribution of wealth, a pillar of Obama think-speak, is Marxist philosophy, which he learned at the knee of his Marxist mentor in Hawaii, “Frank,” who was a member of the Communist Party. “Birds of a feather flock together,” enter Frank, Ayers, Hamadi, Wright, et al. If the change you want is to change from a free capitalist society to a Marxist Socialist or Communist society, vote for the Karl Marx Manchurian candidate, a man who has never changed anything in his entire life other than a diaper. Practice bleating like the ignorant sheep you are, to stay in character for after he is elected and none of his promises happen.
If you want a true American hero who’s past is well known, vote for John McCain.
“Birds of a feather flock together,”
Like the Keating Five CT?
Dowap: Who says those giving McCain orders were smarter? If you think a 13yo can run a state with 29,000 employees and after two years have the highest popularity of any Governor in the Union… you just demonstrated that you are beyond ignorant. According to Palin’s college IQ tests, she tested at 132…average is a 100… genius is 139. Before you stick your ignorant foot in your lame mouth at least remove your boot. Point of fact: She is a hellava lot smarter than you are…
At the same age Obama was snorting coke( according to his own words) and hanging out with a certified communist mentor… John McCain joined the Navy…
John McCain did college in the Navy…Obama went to Harvard courtesy of a radical extremist Muslim who paid his way… Ask yourself what Obama saw in his radical associations… then ask yourself what those extremists saw in him… wise up. Vote smart.
Obama has the least credentials for the job of anyone who has ever ran for the office in our entire history. Who’s followers are being taken for fools?
Like Obama has the majority of the time, I’ll just pop in and vote “present.”
Excuse me while I count my “change.” That’s all I’ll have in my pocket when he’s done with me.
CT, do you notice that you’re all alone here in your praise for McCain?
I honor and respect McCain’s service to his country, but that was more than 40 years ago and in itself it does not qualify him to be president. The McCain I see today seems confused, vacillating, lacking in sound judgment. The selection of Palin is one big example; the way he flopped around on the financial crisis is another. Frankly I think he’s way past his prime. (And don’t think I’m an ageist kid; I’m 62.) And as far as the economy goes he offers nothing other than what Bush has offered — more tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations.
“If you think a 13yo can run a state with 29,000 employees and after two years have the highest popularity of any Governor in the Union… you just demonstrated that you are beyond ignorant.”
George W. Bush at one point had the highest job approval rating of any president in history. Popularity proves nothing. Sarah is all sizzle, no steak.
CT is not alone in his praise of McCain. Popularity proves nothing??? So Obama is all sizzle, no steak? In my opinion Obama is nothing more than a fast talking used car salesman!!!
if you take a position at a US corporation in Canada and the USA and put them side by side then the following is true. First of all the pay for the same job is 16 percent higher in Canada than in the USA. The reason is that in our country the payroll, the actual benefits for the employee is counted as an expense. In Canada ones taxes take care of the health care costs. The actual costs in taxes are less than 2%. for actual health care. So in this country we are sold on a false bill of goods in that our employer pays for our health care, but in fact we are paying it indirectly thru our total benefit and wage package, but we are paying for them. Not to mention that insurance companies deny about every possible claim and play coding games with us and code the bills so that we end up in collections.
For the self employed person insurance is almost impossible to get insurance unless we you want to pay a grand for a family of four. for an average business, small business, this is usually about one eigth of ones total revenue.
So the bottom line is this has to change. health insurance companies are robbing us blind.
Obama is the man on the three issues and our health care. We have to pay teachers at least half again as much as they are currently being paid, plus offer education benefits to them so they can learn more and become better teachers.
Bush and Cheneys plan was to ship jobs offshore to cheapen labor costs. However if all the jobs get sent offshore so the corporations make more profits, then who is going to be left to buy the products when all of us end up under the poverty level.
Europeans spend about twelve hours per year writing to government, protesting and keeping government in line whereas Americans spend less than 4 hours every four years, a basic two and two rule for local and national elections.
Halliburton moved its headquarters to Dubai as to avoid any subpeonas when we go in and audit them after Bush and Cheney are gone and someone is to be held accountable. In Dubai we will have no jursidiction and be without recourse. And if we do get a subpeona, then by the time we get to them, the shredders will all be broken and the documents all gone.
Lets take back our country. Obama is a far cry better than McSame and Pain.
Obama is a freaking disaster and things don’t look to get better anytime soon.
Yeah, they’ll keep blaming it on Bush and demand the voters re-elect him so he can further destroy America and people like the OP will certainly buy it and keep promoting this worthless piece of garbage we’ve elected.
Ok, now you’ve elected your “black” president: Get over it and wake up and realize the permanent damage he is infliction on the United States of America!