Country First

[Dr. Shane]

Some Democrats are offended by the Republican placards that read "Country First" as they feel the Republicans are implying that Democrats are not placing country first. I think they miss the point.

"Country First" is contrast with putting political parties first. McCain has always been a maverick and placed country before his political party. That is what he is driving at. He is a reformer.

[Woody]

McCain is one of the very few who can get away with this statement. At least few others have such a record of proof.

[Neil D]

Obamma says that McCain has voted with Bush 90% of the time. 10% is a reformer? Are you willing to take a chance that 10% is reforming politics?

Give me more evidence that McCain is a reformer....Where is that 75% with Bush and 25% he went against Bush? That would be evidence of a reformer....

[Dr. Shane]

The 90% number is political rhetoric. The fact is that Bush doesn't have a vote in the US Senate so McCain actually NEVER voted with Bush. OK, so where did the Obama campaign get the 90% number from? They got it from McCain. When McCain was trying to get the nomination he said he voted with the President 90% of the time to show he was Republican enough to deserve the nomination.

Quoting the 90% number is what we call "gotcha politics". McCain has done this when he quoted Hillary Clinton saying that he (McCain) is more qualified to be President than Obama is. So if we, as individuals, want to go along with this type of political game, we have to buy into both sides. That means we agree that McCain voted 90% of the time with Bush and Hillary says someone voting 90% with Bush is more qualified to be President than Obama. How many want to jump on that bandwagon?

Those of us that follow the news closely know McCain is no Bush. Especially those of us that listen to conservative talk radio from time to time. Glen Beck, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh have chided McCain hundres of times for not supporting the Republican party. Limbaugh said earlier this year that we have a choice in November between two Democrats. Limbaugh has also mocked McCain throughout the years for McCain's "maverick" label. The big political flip-flop in this year's politics is that these hosts are all now supporting McCain.

[there buster]

Something like 90% of all Senate votes are procedural and non-controversial. Many are 'voice votes.' Using such statistics, it actually turns out that Everyone votes with everyone else about 90% of the time.

Only on items where there is a clear dispute, do votes 'with' or 'against' have any meaning.

So if the Dems claim McCain voted with the Pres. 90% of the time--using every single vote as their basis-- it's probably correct. It's also correct that Obama voted with Bush in excess of 80% using the same stats.

And if McCain claims he voted against the President and with the Dems 25% of the time, using only the disputed issues as the basis, that's also probably true.

[carolaa]

I didn't see this thread before I commented in the Mrs. McCain thread about this very thing.

[D. Allan]

The 90% number is political rhetoric.

And straight out of the mouth of John McCain. Of course it still can be 'ploitical rhetoric' i guess.

/dAb

[Dr. Shane]

It was political rhetoric just like Hillary saying McCain is more qualified than Obama was political rhetoric.

[D. Allan]

Did she say that?

[Dr. Shane]

I won't go out on a limb and say that is an exact quote but that is basically what she said. She was making the case why she should have the nomination. Her point was that if Obama is nominated McCain would clearly be the candidate most qualified for the job. And,,,, of course,,, she was right. The question we must ask ourselves is if the less qualified candidate would make a better President.

[Bravus]

Yes, McCain himself said he voted with Bush 90% of the time, in trying to make the case to Bush supporters that they could vote for more of the same. He sometimes forgets that everything he says goes to every audience, not just the one in front of him. (In fairness, Obama has made the same mistake.)

But I came here for silly jokes, not serious political discussion:

Forget Country First, I'm all about Rock First.

[there buster]

Quote:

Forget Country First, I'm all about Rock First. bwink

LOL. Nawww! COUNTRY First! (and pretty silly, too)

[jasd]

>>But I came here for silly jokes, not serious political discussion:<<

To the Moderator: Abuse! J'accuse, Abuse! Abuse!

Ah, c'mon, can't a fellow provide a silly joke for Bravus? I assume, that this is the kind of joke being referenced, yes?

[jasd]

[D. Allan]

Quote:

The question we must ask ourselves is if the less qualified candidate would make a better President.

And by 'better president' what do we mean? Policies have a lot if not the most to do with it.

[Dr. Shane]

Policy and character. Character matters even more with a candidate that doesn't have much experience.

With McCain we can compare what he says with his record. It is too late in McCain's career for him to recreate himself. McCain is running on his maverick label which he has had for many years.

Obama is running on the message of "change" but he has never been in a powerful enough of a position to show us what kind of change he is talking about. All we really have to go on is what he says. So his character is of the utmost importance. Can we trust him to do what he says? That can only be answered by examining his character.

In my opinion, both candidates have character. So to me, this election isn't one about character. Both candidates have good policies they want to do and bad policies they want to do. Since I am not sold to either political party, it the decision more difficult.

[Woody]

To me this election is about which man or woman will get the government off my back.

Let me give you an example.

In this day and age ... can you imagine that the government requires me to have a 'land line' so that they can call my septic tank whenever they desire. Do you know how much it costs to own and maintain a land line in addition to your cell phone? This is just over the top to me. If they want to talk to my septic tank ... they could call me and ask permission. After all it IS my tank. But no. I don't have the right to give permission. They have the right to call 24/7 and speak to my tank.

What has the world come to. No I mean what has America come to if I have to purchase a telephone for my tank.

Sarah ... please help me out here.

[olger]

You could tell them "No `tanks."

I agree about getting the parasite of government out of our lives.

On another note, I don't believe that the presidential election was EVER intended to have this much influence over our lives.

og

[Woody]

You could tell them "No `tanks."

og

Yes. But I need my tank. And if I don't have a telephone connected to my tank ... I lose my tank. This makes me all tanked out and no where to place my poop.

PS. And please don't tell me where I can take my poop.

[olger]

Good luck on your "downloading."

:smile:

[Woody]

Good luck on your "downloading."

:smile:

It has definately effected my "downloading". You got that one right.

[Woody]

I should clarify ...

My downloading has been affected because I have a telephone line that goes to the left of my house and to the right. It goes to my neighbor to the Right and my septic tank to the Left. Notice that the poop is the Left.

So, I have lines going everywhere and it slows the process.

But if you are talking about the other kind of downloading process. That would be affected if I didn't have the liberal left telephone line connected.