2008 U.S. Presidential Campaign Discussion Thread-Part 10.

[yolland]

14 days to go, guys, 14 days to go....

[purpleoscar]

Originally Posted by martha

How the hell do you guys think he's a socialist? Do you even know what that means?

Socialists believe in redistributionist policies. If the democratic party wants to do more redistributionist policies than Republicans then they are more socialist. Does anybody want to assert that the democratic party will do less than Republicans in spending and taxation?

Increasing taxes to corporations who provide jobs is not smart during a downturn in the economy. It slows down the recovery. Companies need to be able to reinvest their profits.

If there is a context problem with "spread the wealth" then tell me what the actual context is. Is "spread the wealth" redistributionist or not? What is Rush and Hannity getting wrong about that statement?

[yolland]

Republicans generally favor smaller government than Democrats, does that make them "more anarchist"?

Look at the image diamond posted, that should make it clear to you why the McCain campaign is really interested in making this association.

[A_Wanderer]

An anarcho-capitalist GOP, if only

[Varitek]

Originally Posted by yolland

Republicans generally favor smaller government than Democrats, does that make them "more anarchist"?

zing!

[BVS]

Originally Posted by purpleoscar

Socialists believe in redistributionist policies. If the democratic party wants to do more redistributionist policies than Republicans then they are more socialist. Does anybody want to assert that the democratic party will do less than Republicans in spending and taxation?

Well Yolland spelled this one out pretty well. You have always had a problem with the definition of Socialism, we discussed this in one of your first posts in FYM... Why is it Republicans always act like they are small government and small spenders yet they are constantly trying to legislate what goes on in the bedroom and start big expensive wars of choice?

Originally Posted by purpleoscar

Increasing taxes to corporations who provide jobs is not smart during a downturn in the economy. It slows down the recovery. Companies need to be able to reinvest their profits.

Last week you said saving provides jobs. Well which one is it? Sorry but this is a one sided short sighted economic theory...

Originally Posted by purpleoscar

If there is a context problem with "spread the wealth" then tell me what the actual context is. Is "spread the wealth" redistributionist or not? What is Rush and Hannity getting wrong about that statement?

What is the "trickle down" theory? It's a theory that the richest will spend and invest and that will SPREAD out and eventually help the working class. There's only so much pie at one time, most economic theories in one way or another is about spreading it out, you have to spread in hope that you will eventually make the pie bigger. The problem is, trickle down doesn't work...

[Utoo]

Once again, we see that McCain is old and confused. Obama isn't "socialist." He's a "sociologist."

[Utoo]

"There's class warfare, all right, but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning."

- Warren Buffett

New York Times, November 26, 2006.

[BVS]

Originally Posted by Utoo

"There's class warfare, all right, but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning."

- Warren Buffett

New York Times, November 26, 2006.

Uh Oh, now Oscar is going to come in here and tell you Warren is just stricken by the guilt of being rich and he's worried about people not liking him...

[anitram]

Originally Posted by purpleoscar

Socialists believe in redistributionist policies.

Says the guy from Alberta who benefits from the redistribution of profits within his own province. And interestingly enough, Alaskans receive something in the neighbourhood of $2-3K annually in redistribution cheques.

Socialists.

[Utoo]

MCCAIN'S TAX EVOLUTION
From NBC's Carrie Dann and Mark Murray
The metaphor of Joe the Plumber, an aspiring entrepreneur wary of an Obama tax hike that could punish his success, has rapidly become a plunger-wielding symbol of the crusade against “Socialism.” Obama’s perhaps-inartfully-stated response to Joe last week that his policies would help to “spread the wealth around” crystallized GOP efforts to paint the Democrat's progressive tax system -- which would cut taxes for those making under $250,000 annually and raise them for the top income brackets – as just a shade to the right of Marx.

This weekend, McCain told FOX News Sunday's Chris Wallace that Obama’s words embodied “one of the tenets of socialism.” At a rally today, McCain said that his opponent’s plan is based in “redistributing wealth, not in policies that grow our economy and create jobs and opportunities for all Americans.” And his running mate Sarah Palin took issue this week with Obama’s tax hikes on “hard working families” and small business owners, calling it “another government giveaway.”

But McCain has not always been such a vocal champion of slashed tax rates for wealthier Americans.

It’s well documented that McCain’s full-throated support of cuts for those in the top tax brackets represents something of a reversal since 2001, when he voted against Bush-backed tax slashes for top earners. “I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us at the expense of middle class Americans who most need tax relief,” he wrote in a statement at the time.

But archived MSNBC videotape from 2000 further demonstrates how McCain’s tone has shifted on taxes and what constitutes socialism since the end of his last presidential race. Answering questions during a Hardball College Tour show in October 2000, McCain defended the progressive tax system when questioned by a town hall participant who warned that the high tax bracket of her father – a doctor – smacked of an inching towards “socialism and stuff.” McCain said that progressive tax systems are based on the fact that “we feel, obviously, that wealthy people can afford more.” He spelled out this response: “Here's what I really believe, that when you are -- reach a certain level of comfort, there's nothing wrong with paying somewhat more.”

McCain then added a caveat, saying that benefits that are too high can certainly hurt productivity.

John McCain, Toolbag.

[martha]

Originally Posted by purpleoscar

Socialists believe in redistributionist policies. If the democratic party wants to do more redistributionist policies than Republicans then they are more socialist.

A few policies that remind people of "socialism" are slightly different than what Lenin did.

[Varitek]

John Stewart addressed the socialism issue last night. I suggest the McCain supporters take a look at what their candidate has to say on the issue, compared to what Obama says.

McCain Says the S-Word | The Daily Show | Comedy Central

[BVS]

Originally Posted by Varitek

I suggest the McCain supporters take a look at what their candidate has to say on the issue, compared to what Obama says.

But then what would they have to talk about? Facts just get in the way, have you learned nothing?

[Tiger Edge]

Kinda OT: I went to an Obama rally in Miami yesterday!







And if I went in and photoshopped each picture it would look so much better!



The place was packed! I heard later that there were over 30,000 people crammed into this little itty bitty park.

[U2democrat]

Great photos!


Obama's in town today, I would go but I have to head back to school (fall break is over ). Apparently people were lining up before the sunrise.

[Utoo]

Awesome! Cool that you were so close to the front!

[Utoo]

McCain would consider second stimulus package

Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Wednesday he would consider a second economic stimulus package if he is elected president.

He attacked Barack Obama, his Democratic rival for the White House, for saying that "when you spread
the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

John McCain, Toolbag.






Wait, did I say that already?

[Lila64]

Great pics TigerEdge!

[Utoo]

GOP Uses Terror Images in Ad Targeting Obama

Republicans have unleashed a blistering mailing against Barack Obama that invokes the 9/11 attacks with a disturbing image of a jumbo jet and a warning that the Democrat nominee isn't "who you think he is."

The attack flier reportedly has been landing in homes in Missouri and Virginia - two states that the Democrats have been working hard to convert to blue in November - in the last few days, according to Politico.com and Time magazine's "The Page" Web site.

The front cover shows a plane with its nose aimed squarely at a few travelers in an airport waiting area, and warns, "Terrorists don't care who they hurt."

The image of a plane in conjunction with terrorism was a clear reference to the airplanes-as-weapons attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Inside the mailing, by the Republican National Committee, is a picture of an angry-looking Obama pointing his finger as he talks, and a headline that reads, "Barack Obama thinks terrorists just need a good talking to."

As evidence, it quotes his debate answer during the Democratic primary season, when he was asked whether he would meet unconditionally with dictators of rogue nations. Obama answered, "I would."

The mailer also uses a quote from Obama saying that the threat to the nation currently isn't as "dire" as the one during the Cold War, adding, "We shouldn't allow our politics to be driven by the fear of terrorism."

The mail piece adds, "Islamic terrorists want our laws changed, our culture changed and our families converted. We don't. What is there to talk about?"

And it concludes, "Barack Obama. Not who you think he is."

Asked by reporters if he was proud of the mailer, McCain promptly replied, "Absolutely."

Obama's campaign ripped the RNC and McCain for the flier.

"The fact that John McCain is actually proud of this deplorable mailer is another indicator of how dishonorable his campaign has become," said spokesman Tommy Vietor.

"The narrow, polarizing campaign he's running is part of the reason why Gen. Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama as the leader with the judgment to keep America safe and respected in the world."

John McCain, Douchebag.


Y'know, usually I'm not the type to post a bunch of quoted articles in a single day. But it seems to me that with only 2 weeks left in this election, the deplorable, despicable side of John McCain emerges almost hourly.