Political Punch

How can anyone take seriously someone who was proud of Bill Clinton???

Posted by: ellsbells930 | Jul 27, 2008 10:10:02 PM
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Chelsea must be very proud of him.

.. to bash the French as wimps ignores a lot of history.

Posted by: Mike Guilford | Jul 27, 2008 9:14:57 PM
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It's also an insult to wimps...

How can anyone take seriously someone who was proud of Bill Clinton???

Merci France! Without France, there might never have been a United States. And to bash the French as wimps ignores a lot of history.

At any rate, even though Europeans cannot vote in the US election, their lives are always affected by the policies of the USA--sometimes good, sometimes bad.

But this American finds himself more often agreeing with French policies rather than our dumb religion baiting half-assed policies. This American also sees a great global advancement in the EU, and as I figured, the Euro is kicking the US dollar.

Obama, and most Democrats can see the necessity and the undeniable fusion of our societies around the world in this modern epoch. I want a president who is respected around the world. Not because he throws our military around, but because he listens, talks, and ultimately leads on principle, not greed. I was proud of Bill Clinton. I was expecting to be proud of President Hillary, but I'm content with our soon to be president: Obama. A very global soul.

UK Resident - My personal economy will be better w/ McCain. Obama is a socialist who wants to take our hard earned money & give to those who don't want to work hard or who want the government to take care of them. I prefer to take care of myself & my family WITHOUT government interference.

James Danley ************************

One thing in life is that it's so easy to find reasons to justify any blunders.
Every past government did that. It's nothing new.

Well, bottomline is - whoever TRULY believes that Mccain and the republicans will be better for the economy should go ahead and vote for them.

However, you and I know that not many people believe that - not even John Mccain himself(he once confessed). The polls on the economy are out there.

James Danley - well said! I think all Americans should have to read your post. You very clearly & simply stated what most people (including those in Congress) don't understand.

UK Resident, thanks for the explanation.

I certainly cannot speak for anyone other than myself. I don't consider us on a "downward" path. I am a strong supporter of capitalism, the free market, personal responsibility and self-reliance--not a reliance on the federal or even state government. When it comes to the poor and needy, I believe they should be cared for by the private sector (i.e., charities, churches and direct assistance by individuals, organizations, corporations and small businesses) through voluntary contributions NOT mandated through wealth redistribution. The federal and state governments treat these individuals as numbers. Whereas the private sector is much better able to treat these individuals as individuals on a personal level. Thus they get more than just food, lodging and some spending money, they also get counseling, encouragement and occasionally honest friendship.

The current bump in the road for our economy is due to government interferring with the free market. When the free market is allowed to be FREE, then it always corrects itself. Take the current slump in our housing market. The purchasing of new homes slowed down drastically because the median price for homes rose too high. This is cyclical. Prices come down when people aren't buying. At some point the median price of homes will reach a level that sparks an interest. As soon as home purchases begin to rise, those in the market will quickly determine that they best get in at that point because the market may have reach its bottom. THAT will start a flood of new purchases. THAT will drive the prices back up. THAT is nothing more than Economics 101.

Having said that, this time around we had a glitch in the system. The subprime mortgage companies offered flexible mortgage rates that seemed very attractive in the beginning because the rates were so low. But when interest rates rose, in some cases as much as doubling and even tripling the mortgage payments, people just could not afford these higher payments causing a flood of home foreclosures. Some of these individuals who lost their homes were hard working individuals who just gambled on the lower flexible rates rather than a fixed rate. Others were actually defrauded by greeding individuals. And still others were speculators who purchased multiple homes and planned to just re-sell them for a profit. Once the foreclosures began, however, the free market kicked in and mortgage rates rose. The speculators just stopped making their payments...they weren't living in the homes so it was no big deal for them. That cause even higher rates. Those who just gambled on the flexible rates--knowing what they had gotten into--should not be bailed out. just got lost out. The defrauded individuals, on the other hand, should be given assistance in order to refinance their homes at fixed rates. BUT because this all occurred during the drop in home prices, the value of their home is now lower which means they may not be able to use just their home anymore as collateral on refinancing their original mortgage.

And then there is energy. The American politicians have interferred with energy prices for decades. Instead of letting the free market be FREE, for the past 30 years they have placed restrictions on energy. The Democrats and environmentalist blocked construction of nuclear plants; banned off-shore drilling; blocked the construction of new refineries. So our dependence on foreign oil has reach over 70% in order to meet our demand.

The skyrocketing of the price of gasoline has had a huge ripple effect on our economy. Inflation is now going through the roof. It cost more to transport goods so that price is passed on to the consumer. But had the government left well enough alone the market could have been correcting itself all along. Instead prices kept going in one direction.

An Obama Administration will actually make things worse. He and the Democrats want to now stiffle the free market even more by adding a windfall profit tax on the oil companies. Limiting their profits will only cause less supply and even higher prices. THAT is what happend in the 1980s.

AND Sen. Obama and the Democrats want to now add several new entitlement programs (i.e., womb-to-tomb universal health care). In order to pay for these programs, Sen. Obama wants to raise the taxes on the wealthiest 5%--limiting their profits which will cause layoffs and higher unemployment. That means less revenue to pay for these new entitlements.

That's it in a very brief nutshell.

James Danley **************************

Sorry for that. I mean why do some americans want to continue on a downward path? Why don't some of you ever learn?

I wouldn't be surprised if George Bush were running neck and neck with Obama despite all the evidence of his failed policies. So funny!!!

clarity - Obama's warm reception is enough to make me NOT vote for him. He'll cave to whatever the other countries want.

Obama, have you learned french, german or arabic? Are you ashamed of yourself?

UK Resident, you wrote: "Why do you want to continue digging?" Sorry, but I don't understand this comment.

Who cares what France thinks. Really who cares. Didnt we like have a outcry from america to say Freedom Frys, instead of French Fries. Thats what American thinks about France!!!!

James Danley *****************

Well, I am not saying that likeability should be a determining factor. But you and I know that it helps.

In terms of the economy, I can not remember hearing any american who thinks that Mccain economic policy will be better than Obama's. The polls are there.

It's funny but I'm beginning to realize that George Bush could be running neck and neck with Obama if he were running again. This only happens in America and no where else. Why do you want to continue digging?

UK Resident, I agree that it is a good thing if an American president is liked. BUT that should NOT be a factor, much less a determining factor, in who we elect as our president. Contrary to what you may read on the blogs, the vast majority of conservative Republicans personally like Sen. Obama as well. I do! He IS a very likeable person. He is charismatic and very charming. However, I just do not agree with his ideology. While he may be trying to portray himself as a middle-of-the-road politician for the general election, in reality, he is the most liberal senator in the U. S. Senate. And the policies that he advocates will decimate the free market and Corporate America.

James Danley ******************

We, in the UK, feel exactly the same as you guys in the US about these islamic extremists.

We need to fight this war together!!! Nobody in Europe wants to get on an airplane with their hearts pounding in fear.

My simple point is that it is a good thing that an american president is liked and respected in Europe - not a bad thing. Europe and America share exactly the same concerns and values.

Obama being liked by the germans, french, and british is a good thing. It simply means that if he is US president, the Europeans are more likely to listen to him and be willing to work wholeheartedly with the US on any issue.

Here's a young man from Chicago who has defied all the odds, pulled himself by his own bootstraps only to be ridiculed by the the same people who stand to benefit the most from his election. I don't care if you like Mccain, but please abstain from all the hateful garbage that i've read so far. If you really believe that Obama refused to visit the troops, then you need serious help....professional, psychiatric help. Everytime this nation aims at progress, a few Americans always stand in the way. These are the same people who stood in the way of JFK and MLK. But a majority of Americans love to see our beloved nation move forward. I'm with the latter. You decide which side you're on.

I can't understand, for the life of me, why McCain says one of his strong suits is having met and knowing leaders of friendly countries, and McCain supporters seeing Obama's success in getting the ear of the same leaders as a bad thing!

BTW, the US are not alone in Afghanistan; I'm Canadian and our troops have one one the deadliest missions to run in the Kandahar region and we have sacrificed nearly 100 of our troops in that mission because we believed that indeed the taliban were a threat because of their support of Al Qaeda. We didn't go to Iraq because, as well as most nations, we did not believe the Bush administration false claims and shady evidence of a threat from Saddam.

UK Resident, I did not say that having good relations with other nations is tantamount to compromising... Please do not twist my words. What I said was that IF we had to compromise... in order to be liked, THEN it would be a bad thing. A case in point: If the requirement for making the Islamic extremists like us is to convert to Islam, THAT would be compromising our principles. AND IF we then had to go the next logical step and accept the Islamic extremists' corrupted interpretation of Islam, THAT would mean abandoning our sovereignty and independence.

Now as for Iraq and Afghanistan, the rest of the world can go ahead and just sit back and watch us "drown" in our "own problems." But should al Qaeda be victorious over the U. S. the rest of the world won't be "sitting back" for very long. Which brings me to my next point...

Now you brought up common sense. Since 1998 the Islamic extremists have attacked or attempted to attack Algeria; Egypt; England; Indonesia; Iraq; Jakarta; Jordan; Kenya; Morocco; Pakistan; Saudi Arabia; Scotland (foiled); Spain; Tanzania; Tunisia; Turkey; USA (12/31/1999 - foiled; 9/11/2001 successful) and Yemen. Does it appear that the jihad against Western Civilization is just a hoax or a conspiracy created by the Bush Administration? You don't have to like President Bush you don't even have to like the United States...if you aren't with the Islamic extremists you are on their hit list.

I support Obama! Yes we can!
I support France! Oui!