Go Vote!

So here we find ourselves on Election Eve of 2008. Hopefully, when casting your vote you voted, or will vote, because you care about the issues. Voting can’t be about political parties, race, or personality. And you shouldn’t vote based on talking points. You’ve had plenty of time to research, to watch the candidates and find out who they are and what they really stand for, and hopefully, the kept to their beliefs.

I’ve blogged about flip-flopping before, and like I said then, flip-flopping is only a problem when it becomes a change for the worse. If a candidate supports something they didn’t support long ago, don’t vote based on the past. And speaking of the past, if the past years have been so terrible do you really know why?

When it comes to change, change can come from either side. If the past 8 years have been bad, than it is possible to learn from our mistakes and fix them. It's that very message McCain and Palin are trying to get across, while it's easier for Obama. Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin promote themselves as mavericks, they should instead be promoting themselves as MacGyver. Oh and remember, every political candidate is an agent of change, and agents like that have been around for a long time.

So come Wednesday, I hope America will have chosen the best person for the job, and not because they're considered a maverick or the face of hope- and this is assuming the election doesn’t go 2000 on us. So do what’s right for the country, and don't elect your American Idol. Now go vote!

Trust, But Verify - a.k.a. The Presidents' Conversation

Imagine if you will a small room, a sort of meeting hall. There are windows running down the length of both sides of the room, in the center of the room a rectangular conference table. There are eleven chairs, five on each side, with one at the head of the table. The doors open behind the head chair and in walk eleven men, figures of American history. Each take their assigned seats, and quietly converse. The men are eleven of America’s presidents.

Private conversations go on for some time until Thomas Jefferson begins to speak. Folding his issue of today’s newspaper he says, “My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.” Nodding his head, Gerald Ford states, “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.” “The people are the government, administering it by their agents; they are the government, the sovereign power,” says Andrew Jackson. “Man is not free unless government is limited,” adds Ronald Reagan. From the end of the right side of the table, Abraham Lincoln speaks. “The people will save their government, if the government itself will allow them,” he then adds, “This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it.” Turning from Lincoln, Andrew Jackson faces the rest of the presidents and says, “Fear not, the people may be deluded for a moment, but cannot be corrupted.”

The topic shifts to the state of the government and the economy. “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have little,” states Franklin Roosevelt. Lincoln turns to FDR and says, “You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.” “A wise and frugal government, shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government,” says Thomas Jefferson. “Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery,” adds Calvin Coolidge. “Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States,” says Ronald Reagan. Andrew Jackson faces his successors and predecessor, “The planter, the farmer, the mechanic, and the laborer... form the great body of the people of the United States, they are the bone and sinew of the country men who love liberty and desire nothing but equal rights and equal laws.” “The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life,” states Teddy Roosevelt. With a small smile coming across his face Ronald Reagan says, “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.” A few more smiles appear amongst the presidents as Reagan adds, “Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”

Some more time passes, the issues are discussed, and final statements just two days before the 2008 election are stated. Not resisting Teddy states, “If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month.” Gerald Ford smiles as he closes saying, “Even though this is late in an election year, there is no way we can go forward except together and no way anybody can win except by serving the people's urgent needs. We cannot stand still or slip backwards. We must go forward now together.” From the head of the table the current President states, “Our nation must come together to unite.” Kennedy raises his hand, “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future,” he then adds, “…ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Shaking his head Lincoln says, “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.” “No man will ever carry out of the Presidency with the reputation which carried him into it,” says Jefferson. Ronald Reagan turns to Jefferson, “Trust, but verify.”

The Lyin', the Watch, and the Wardrobe

Dear Sarah is how the one of the latest anti-Gov. Palin videos circling the web starts off. A bunch of teenage girls, including younger girls, all basically stating that what Gov. Palin stands for will somehow ruin their lives. One little girl tells Sarah not to tell her what books she can’t read. One says that Sarah wants God to let the soldiers to die in Iraq, while another thinks that Sarah’s beliefs have to be hers. Another girl states how more women are raped in Alaska, but adds that Gov. Palin did nothing. Bottom line, these girls all “think” that Gov. Sarah Palin will undo all that women fought for. Well if a ten-year-old said it, it must be true. No. Now it is true that rape numbers are higher in Alaska, but it’s a lie that Gov. Palin did nothing.

Of course another “concern” for the McCain-Palin campaign the polls numbers, well, somewhat. Turn on ABC, CBS, NBC, and Obama leads by 7-11 points. But watch carefully now, because usually the network name is followed by a joint partner in polling, like an ABC News-Washington Post poll. How trustworthy can a poll like that be when the Washington Post has endorsed Obama? So watch carefully, and don’t be fooled.

And lastly, what do you think of Gov. Palin’s clothes? To be honest, who cares? Well sadly the media does. For all last week it was the big concern involving the $150,000 spent on Gov. Palin’s clothes by the RNC. Palin doesn’t get to keep the clothes, and SHE DIDN’T BUT THEM. Hey what about John McCain’s $500+ shoes or Barack Obama’s $1,500+ specially made suits? At least Palin's clothes will be auctioned off with the proceeds to go to charity.

It’s no secret that the campaign trail is rough for McCain and Palin. And it’s no secret their under a greater microscope than Sen. Obama. I’m just wondering if people are even focusing to the issues, I mean really focusing and listening. Obama has pointed out how McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said about this election not being about the issues. And at times it seems like that with what the media tends to report. It seems the media is more interested in reporting the lyin’, the watch (poll numbers and other flaws), and the wardrobe.

Crisis for Obama is Biden

By now you’ve probably heard about that old guy who says negative things about Barack Obama, no it’s not McCain, its Joe Biden. Yes, Obama’s running mate has looked into his crystal ball and has seen that within six months of Obama’s presidency, there will be an international crisis. “Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking,” said Biden. Alright so the world will test him, but did he have to add, “Remember I said it standing here if you don’t remember anything else I said. Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.” Apparently he did. “He’s gonna have to make some really tough - I don’t know what the decision’s gonna be, but I promise you it will occur. As a student of history and having served with seven presidents, I guarantee you it’s gonna happen.”

Thank you Carnac.

Obama responded to the comments saying that Biden’s core point was that the next administration is going to be tested regardless of who it is. Well that’s one way to look at it, but Biden said, “It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama.” Sen. Obama went on to add that the question “…is will the next president meet that test by moving America in a new direction by sending a clear signal to the rest of the world that we are no longer about bluster and unilateralism and ideology, but we’re about creating partnerships around the world to solve practical problems?”

Did this give you a warm and fuzzy feeling? If there is an Obama administration let’s hope the only crisis for Obama is Biden.

Sen. Robin Hood’s Strategy

How do you create more jobs if you’re going to tax the businesses that create the jobs? The answer…you can’t, or at least not many jobs.

When Barack Obama came down the street of one Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher a.k.a. Joe the Plumber, Joe had this to say, “I'm getting ready to buy a company that makes about $250,000 … $270-$280,000 a year. Your new tax plan's gonna tax me more, isn't it?” Now if Joe, who has been working for fifteen years, buys another truck and adds something else to it and builds the company, he’ll be getting taxed more and more while “fulfilling the American Dream”.

Said Sen. Obama in response, “So, over the last 15 years, when you weren't making $250,000, you would have been getting a tax cut from me. So you'd actually have more money, which means you would have saved more, which means that you would have gotten to the point where you could build your small business quicker than under the current tax code. So there are two ways of looking at it. I mean, one way of looking at it is, now that you've become more successful through hard work, you don't want to be taxed as much.”

And…

“…I'm going to cut taxes a little bit more for the folks who are most in need, and for the 5 percent of the folks who are doing very well, even though they've been working hard … and I understand that; I appreciate that … I just want to make sure that they're paying a little bit more in order to pay for those other tax cuts. Now, I respect your disagreement, but I just want you to be clear. It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance at success, too.”

So he’s going to tax the well off, or the rich, so that everyone has a chance at success. But what happens if Joe gets beyond the $250,000 mark? He may not be able to provide healthcare to his employees, or hire; he may have to lay some if his workers off. Odds are he’d have to charge more, but what if his customers aren’t willing to pay more? Say good-bye to Joe’s plumbing business. But on the bright side, someone was getting the money from Joe’s taxes, and they get the chance to succeed, assuming they even start a business. And if they do, what are the odds they’ll end up like Joe?

This is what Obama calls “spreading the wealth around”. Says Obama, “…my attitude is that if the economy's good for folks from the bottom up, it's gonna be good for everybody. If you've got a plumbing business, you're gonna be better off if you've got a whole bunch of customers who can afford to hire you.” But like I said, what if they can’t afford to hire Joe because Joe has to charge more because of higher taxes? And we’re not just talking small business but major corporations. When taxes are low, businesses can afford to take on more workers, you know, provide jobs – help the middle class. But hey, the media is more concerned about non-licensed Joe asking Obama a question and going Big Brother on him. Heaven forbid we really question Sen. Robin Hood’s strategy.

The Final Debate

In this point we're not going to worry about who won, or what's true and what isn't. Instead I'll encourage you to study the candidates on the issues and use common sense. Anyway, here are some highlights from the final debate.

John McCain:

• Americans are hurting right now and they’re angry.
• They want this country to go in a new direction.
• Homeowners first.
• Help Joe buy that business which he can’t afford due to Obama’s tax increases.
• Take Joe’s money give it to Sen. Obama and let him spread the wealth around.
• McCain wants small businesses/& owners to keep their money.
• Nobody likes taxes; let’s not raise anybody’s taxes.
• Cut people’s taxes, and create jobs.
• Stop saving $700 billion a year to countries that don’t like us.
• Cut Back:
  Spending
  Marketing assistance programs
  Subsidies for ethanol
  Eliminate the tax on sugar cane based ethanol
• Can you balance the budget: Yes
• "Sen. Obama I am not President Bush, if you wanted to run against President Bush you should’ve run four years ago."
• Obama voted for the energy bill that was full of goodies.
• I have fought against spending, reform, etc.
• Obama has spent more money on negative ads than any other campaign in history.
• Sarah Palin is a reformer.
• Given money back to tax payers
• Joe Biden has been wrong on foreign policy issues which are supposed to be his strength.
• We can offshore drill now, we have to now.

Barack Obama:

• Rescue package for the middle class.
• Focus on jobs.
• End jobs overseas.
• Let’s help families right away.
• Fix healthcare and education.
• Homeowners renegotiate mortgages.
• McCain’s plan is a giveaway to banks.
• We both want to cut taxes.
• McCain wants to add $200 billion add. tax cuts to corporate America.
• 95% of working families will get a tax cut.
• 100% percent of McCain’s ads are negative.
• Special needs will require additional spending.
• In 10 years we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
  We can’t drill our way out of the problem.

What’s the Joke?

By now you’ve heard of Samuel Joseph (Joe) Wurzelbacher, a.k.a. Joe the Plumber. He’s the guy who went up to Sen. Obama worried, because Obama’s tax plan will increase taxes on small businesses making more than $250,000, and Joe doesn’t want that. Well according to the Toledo Blade, Joe doesn’t have a required plumbing license and isn't registered to work as a plumber in Ohio. He also does not have the money to buy the plumbing business where he now works. So why would a non-licensed non-registered plumber have anything to worry about?

Truth, I don’t know.

But perhaps Joe’s question is one shared by other small business who ARE wondering what Joe asked. But even if Joe had the money to buy the business it is doubted by the Obama campaign that any plumber makes more than a quarter million a year. And apparently that very thought of is quite comical at Obama rallies. It’s funny that John McCain would try to help a plumber. I’m sorry but wouldn’t plumbers fall under the middle class category? I mean Barack Obama talks so much about how John McCain doesn’t talk about the middle class, that when someone, like Joe, from the middle class has a problem, it’s funny? Tell me He who is running for president, what’s the joke?