October 7, 2008 by Jeremy.

Well tonight debate was mostly pointless. The only thing that it showed is that Tom Brokaw is an idiot. He was more interested in hearing the sound of his own voice and getting his follow-up questions out then really making it a Town Hall Debate.

They topics were so narrow. We learned nothing new.

Obama is in the lead so all he had to do was show up and cover his talking points - mission accomplished.

John McCain had to come out with a little fire and really show why Obama is not a wise choice and he did not accomplish this to the level that he really needed to do.

I thought McCain got on the level with the people better and really stood his ground when Obama tried to railroad the debate.

McCain was strong and better presented his tax plan than Obama. His point about leaving the taxes alone in an economic crisis was a great point. We don’t need to tax anyone to improve the economy especially those individuals who actually create the jobs.

I think Obama’s questioning McCain Health Care Plan is valid because I’m not sure it is a great idea myself. It sounds decent in theory but it quite a risk to make in practice. However, Obama’s plan on Government-Run Health Care is a horrible idea and has been proven as such time and time again.

In doing what they needed to for this debate I give the win to Obama, but in better connecting with the people and making their points and intentions clear I would give that to John McCain. So the debate was virtually a draw. We’ll see if the American people agree with me.

These debate really do suck though. I mean there are so many more topics out there that are important and categorize the candidates other than the economy and foreign policy. I do think those are important topics but the President will have to deal with many more things than those two topics.

Let’s hope the last debate is a lot better!

Posted in Decision 2008, Jeremy, Coherent Thoughts, Politics | Print | 2 Comments »

October 7, 2008 by Jeremy.

CIVIL RIGHTS

Senator John McCain

• Supports CA Prop. 8: one-man-one-woman marriage. (Jul 2008)
• Voted against MLK holiday in 1983; now calls that a mistake. (Apr 2008)
• Don’t ask, don’t tell is working; don’t tamper with it. (Jun 2007)
• Confederate flag on top of capitol was wrong; in front is ok. (May 2007)
• Leave gay marriage to the states. (Jan 2007)
• John Lewis was as courageous as anyone could ever hope to be. (Apr 2004)
• Fear did not restrain Dr. King to resist repression. (Apr 2004)
• 1994: No Senate hiring discrimination by sexual orientation. (Jan 2004)
• Support evangelism but don’t pander to evangelical leaders. (Feb 2000)
• Inter-racial dating ban is idiotic and cruel. (Feb 2000)
• Career-long history of supporting Indian causes. (Jan 2000)
• Ten Commandments would bring virtue to our schools. (Jan 2000)
• Confederate flag is a “symbol of heritage”. (Jan 2000)
• Allow, but not mandate, school prayer. (Jan 2000)
• Would be “comfortable” with a gay president. (Dec 1999)
• Flying Confederate flag should be left to states. (Sep 1999)
• 1st Amend. not a shield for hate groups. (Aug 1999)
• Indian gambling OK; lottery is not. (Aug 1999)
• Hollywood should voluntarily self-censor sex and violence. (Jul 1999)
• Supports Amendment against flag-burning. (Apr 1999)
• We don’t need laws against Spanish language & culture. (Mar 1999)
• Affirmative action OK for specific programs, but no quotas. (Jul 1998)
  

  Voting Record

• Ban on same-sex marriage is unRepublican; leave it to states. (Nov 2006)
• Voted YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
• Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
• Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)
• Voted NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
• Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
• Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
• Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)
• Voted YES on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (Jul 1995)
• Supports anti-flag desecration amendment. (Mar 2001)
• Require 90 day delay for compliance before ADA lawsuits. (May 2002)
• Limit interstate class-action lawsuits to federal courts . (May 2002)
• Rated 0% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
• Rated 33% by the HRC, indicating a mixed record on gay rights. (Dec 2006)
• Rated 7% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)

Senator Barack Obama

• Has stood together with Latino leaders for last 20 years. (Jun 2008)
• Hate crimes related to the immigration issue is unacceptable. (Feb 2008)
• People want to move beyond our divisions. (Jan 2008)
• 2004 DNC speech merged “heritage” with “diversity”. (Dec 2007)
• The politics of fear undermines basic civil liberties. (Oct 2007)
• 1980s boss predicted Obama would be heir to MLK’s voice. (Aug 2007)
• Racial equality good for America as a whole. (Jun 2007)
• Put the Confederate flag in a museum, not the state house. (Apr 2007)
• Muslim heritage gives Obama unique influence in Muslim world. (Oct 2006)
• No black or white America–just United States of America. (Oct 2006)
• Gays should not face discrimination but should not marry. (Oct 2004)
• Forthright on racial issues and on his civil rights history. (Jul 2004)
• Defend freedom and equality under law. (May 2004)
• Politicians: don’t use religion to insulate from criticism. (Apr 2004)
• Miscegenation a felony in 1960 when Obamas practiced it. (Aug 1996)
• The civil rights movement was a success. (Aug 1996)
  

  Affirmative Action

• Keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day’s work. (Aug 2008)
• Apply affirmative action to poor white college applicants. (Apr 2008)
• Fight job discrimination to give women equal footing at jobs. (Feb 2008)
• Remove discriminatory barriers to the right to vote. (Feb 2008)
• Benefited from affirmative action but overcame via merit. (Dec 2007)
• Include class-based affirmative action with race-based. (Oct 2007)
• Better enforce women’s pay equity via Equal Pay Act. (Aug 2007)
• Blacks should infiltrate mainstream to affect change. (Aug 2007)
• Commitment to diversity by CEOs is advisable. (Mar 2007)
• African-Americans vote Democratic because of issue stances. (Jul 2004)
• Supports affirmative action in colleges and government. (Jul 1998)
  

  Gay Rights

• Opposes CA Prop. 8, one-man-one-woman marriage. (Jul 2008)
• Being gay or lesbian is not a choice. (Nov 2007)
• Decisions about marriage should be left to the states. (Oct 2007)
• Homosexuality no more immoral than heterosexuality. (Oct 2007)
• Ok to expose 6-year-olds to gay couples; they know already. (Sep 2007)
• Has any marriage broken up because two gays hold hands? (Aug 2007)
• We need strong civil unions, not just weak civil unions. (Aug 2007)
• Legal rights for gays are conferred by state, not by church. (Aug 2007)
• Disentangle gay rights from the word “marriage”. (Aug 2007)
• Gay marriage is less important that equal gay rights. (Aug 2007)
• Gay rights movement is somewhat like civil rights movement. (Aug 2007)
• Let each denominations decide on recognizing gay marriage. (Jul 2007)
• Pass ENDA and expand hate crime legislation. (Mar 2007)
• Opposed 1996 Illinois DOMA bill. (Mar 2007)
• Supports health benefits for gay civil partners. (Oct 2006)
• Opposes gay marriage; supports civil union & gay equality. (Oct 2006)
• Marriage not a human right; non-discrimination is. (Oct 2004)
• Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws. (Jul 1998)
  

  Voting Record

• Strengthen the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Aug 2007)
• Voted NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
• Ending racial profiling is part of fight for justice. (Jan 2001)
• Sponsored bill for special-needs evacuation plans. (Sep 2005)
• Sponsored bill for a Rosa Parks commemorative postage stamp. (Dec 2005)
• Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
• Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
• Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery. (Jun 2008)
• Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees. (Dec 2007)
• Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)
• Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements. (Jan 2008)

Governor Sarah Palin

• Non-support of anything but traditional marriage. (Oct 2008)
• I’m a feminist; equal rights for women. (Sep 2008)
• Equal pay for equal work; but not Ledbetter Act. (Sep 2008)
• Hillary put 18 million cracks in glass ceiling. (Sep 2008)
• Would like support from women’s groups, but won’t woo them. (Sep 2008)
• Vetoed bill denying benefits to gays, as unconstitutional. (Aug 2008)
• ADA brings expanded freedom to Americans with disabilities. (Jul 2008)
• Recognize Juneteenth to celebrate the end of slavery. (Jun 2008)
• HIV/AIDS among Alaska Natives is public health crisis. (Mar 2008)
• Recognize Martin Luther King holiday. (Jan 2008)
• Comply with same-sex partner benefits despite disagreement. (Dec 2006)
• Marriage only be between and man and a woman. (Nov 2006)
• Value our cultural diversity. (Nov 2006)
• Prefers term “anti-rural” to “anti-Native”. (Nov 2006)
• Special legislative session on same-sex health benefits. (Nov 2006)
• Ok to deny benefits to homosexual couples. (Aug 2006)
• No spousal benefits for same-sex couples. (Jul 2006)
• Top priorities include preserving definition of “marriage”. (Jul 2006)

 Senator Joe Biden

• No on gay marriage; yes on equal treatment. (Oct 2008)
• 1978: opposed busing except for gov’t-intended segregation. (Jul 2007)
• 1968: Wilmington riots failed at conversation between races. (Jul 2007)
• Nobody asks if you’re gay in a foxhole. (Jun 2007)
• Civil unions ok; gay marriage is probably inevitable. (Apr 2007)
• Voted NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
• Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
• Voted YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)
• Voted NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
• Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
• Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
• Voted NO on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)
• Voted NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (Jul 1995)
• Rated 60% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
• Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks. (Dec 2005)
• Rated 78% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
• Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
• Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)

Source: http://www.issues2000.org/default.htm

Posted in Decision 2008, Jeremy, Coherent Thoughts, Politics | Print | 1 Comment »