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: Since I find this interesting...I'll put it here too... |
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If this a repeater for some, skip it...but I find this too fascinating to keep from discussing with this crew also. Barack Obama:
Columbia University- B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude
Joseph Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)
vs.
John McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899 (hey, someone has to bring up the rear...)
Sarah Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism And what if??? What if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, including a three month old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?
What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?
What if McCain had only married once and Obama was a divorcee?
What if Obama was the candidate who left his first wife after a severe disfiguring car accident, when she no longer measured up to his standards?
What if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affair while he was still married?
What if Michelle Obama was the wife who not only became addicted to pain killers but also acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?
What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?
What if Obama had been a member of the Keating Five? (The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption i n 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s.)
What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?
What if Obama couldn't read from a teleprompter?
What if Obama was the one who had military experience that included discipline problems and a record of crashing seven planes?
What if Obama was the one who was known to display publicly, on many occasions, a serious anger management problem?
What if Michelle Obama's family had made their money from beer distribution ?
What if the Obamas had adopted a white child?
You could easily add to this list.
If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?
This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference. |
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| | From:  _Xer | Sent: 11/4/2008 8:09 PM |
I do not care for politicians and that includes all four of the major players.
Why, buddy, specifically why don't you like ALL politicians, and specifically why do you not like McCain and Omaba?
Coot, do you know what the alternative to politics is? War! Whenever you have more than one human being you have more than one belief in what is the best course of action for all humans. Politics is a noble human enterprise, my friend. It is the attempt to hammer out compromises to avoid conflicts.
Unfortunately, all politicians are human, what is the alternative to that? Machines? Aliens? All humans are subject to frailties, and that includes corruptibility. Unfortunately, in a Capitalistic society, that means politicians can be bought. Thus America's politicians have to wrestle with their own human greed. It is an argument for replacing older politicians with newer ones on a regular basis.
On the other hand, there is a learning curve to any endeavor including politics, so more experienced politicians are better able to represent the interests of those who elected them. It is a balancing act we are involved in, all of us, the voters and the politicians.
Someone once said if you don't like the choices you have to vote for, run for office yourself. There's something to that, don't you think? |
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"Someone once said if you don't like the choices you have to vote for, run for office yourself. There's something to that, don't you think?"
Well friend, try to run for any State or National office w/o big bucks to back you up. For most of us, we need the big bucks to come from the really rich or organizations of some kind. And, we all know that the biggie "donors" do not expect anything in return. ho ho ho
I do not care for liars of any elk. Can you name me one elected official on the national scene who carried through on promises made.
Xer, I believe that I understand the need for government and for politicians - that I have never disputed and that is different (in my simplistic mind) of not caring for those in elected positions. Sort of like, I love life, but not high on disease.
oc...Pikes you are correct about "Credentials open a door." and in my corporate world of old, that was what the Human Resources people did. In most cases, they did a good screening and cross checking of applicants before I ever interviewed them. |
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| | | From: _Xer | Sent: 11/4/2008 9:05 PM |
For most of us, we need the big bucks to come from the really rich or organizations of some kind. And, we all know that the biggie "donors" do not expect anything in return.
Two points. How can you fault the candidates for the system design? And, how do you believe we could improve on the system?
As to lies and politicians, do you think anyone who is a politician becomes a liar because it is a necessity of their office? Or, do you think only liars are drawn to politics? Or, is their some other explanation?
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| | | From: _Xer | Sent: 11/4/2008 9:11 PM |
BTW you didn't explain specifically what you dislike about McCain and Obama, and Palin and Biden.
Honestly, McCain has disappointed me. I wanted to vote for him in 2000, but Bush won the party's bid. Now there is NO way I will vote for him. Obama? There is nothing yet I dislike about Obama. Biden is a mixed bag for me, but Palin there is nothing like about at all. At least for me, this election was a no-brainer. |
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McCain so obviously sold his soul this time...and Palin is the worst joke the repugs ever tried to play on the public. |
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| | | From: _Xer | Sent: 11/4/2008 10:08 PM |
Boy! Am I glad to not be working for the Elections Department this year!!! I would have been up all night tonight! Glad I did it for a while, but glad I don't do it anymore. Rotten work, that.
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Xer, before you come to the conclusion that I am very much anti politicians and country, let just say this: There are a lot of reasons to believe that this country is a great country and that it has a remarkable future. I base this statement on the several (many) college level students that I am in contact with. This past week, I have been exchanging emails with a couple of PHd types re our future. I believe that there are lots of reasons to have hope, but not with the current crop of politicians. It just may be that the Obama thing is a start, but I would not wager it since IMO he is of the same political material as the rest.
oc...as I have stated several times before, I value discussions in person where I am able to get my points over using more than my limited use of typed words. With this statement, I end my part of this conversation.
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| | | From: _Xer | Sent: 11/4/2008 10:18 PM |
| Jen, I figure the way McCain mishandled his campaign is indicative of how he would have bungled in the White House. My honest feeling is he has lost his ability to function at the levels necessary for a competent president. The last eight years are testament to incompetence at the highest levels of American government. I believe in my bones Obama will be competent to the position. He is going to have one of the toughest turnover periods/first two years in history, but I believe this young man will rise to the challenge. I also believe other governments will be willing to initially give him the benefit of the doubt. Something they would NOT have given McSame, and for obvious reasons. Since he is going to be competent to the position, that initial boon will continue as they work with him and find him reasonable and respectful. I really believe things are looking up for America again! |
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| | | From: _Xer | Sent: 11/4/2008 10:20 PM |
Coot, I truly value your perspective. Sorry you are bowing out. I would have enjoyed learning more about the reasons to believe that this country is a great country and that it has a remarkable future
Respectfully,
Xer |
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Xer...I agree...not only the mismanagement of the campaign, but the lack of personal control concerned me greatly...I could just see him sitting across the table from a world leader losing his temper and calling off negotiations because someone asked the wrong questions. Frightening...and then with Bible Spice in the background, we'd all be wholly hosed. |
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| | | From: _Xer | Sent: 11/4/2008 11:45 PM |
.I could just see him sitting across the table from a world leader losing his temper and calling...
Calling the world leader a "cunt" like he did his wife in front of reporters? (shudder) |
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| | | From: _Xer | Sent: 11/4/2008 11:47 PM |
| I had a lot of respect for John McCain in the past, so I have had a lot of respect for him to lose. It's a shame, sometimes, to learn more about another person. |
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| | | From: _Xer | Sent: 11/4/2008 11:52 PM |
Bible Spice, that's cute.  |
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Yeah, I agree on the "Bible Spice"!!!  Much cooler than "Caribou Barbi"  I just got a shock! I was watching my local news (KARK, the NBC affiliate out of Little Rock) and heard my name over the airwaves! EGADS! Apparently, there's an overweight, white-haired, male Political Pundit in the Little Rock area with my same name, that they called onto their 6pm News Broadcast tonight. Normally, the 6pm broadcast on KARK is almost a repeat of their 5pm show. But tonight they seem to be trying to compete with CNN, MSNBC, et al with "Live, up to the second coverage of Election 08!"  I changed the channel to MSNBC. All my favorites are there: Anne Curry, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, and Gene Robertson. I love listening to those four "Liberals." Even when I don't agree with what they're saying, they always state their point with eloquence. Long may they live and prosper! |
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| | | From: _Xer | Sent: 11/5/2008 12:37 AM |
Egads is right! Just imagine if you had SEEN yourself walk onto the local news. Now THAT would be mindblowing!!! ![]() |
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