Positive Obama thread

Anonymous

Did anyone see McCains speech from this week-end where he referred to nuclear waste as "blah blah blah?"  This man is off his rocker - ooops maybe I should say he belongs in a rocking chair.

Nicki

denisa

O.M.G.......

just logged back on here after a brief hiatus, only to read this hideous comment from someone called daisy 6, who says:

" Most of the women I know who vote Democrat would vote for anything (animal, mineral, vegtable) for president as long as that thing would allow them to kill their baby,."

the mods should remove you

i had forgotten how this place sometimes draws fringe insanity. there goes a perfect example.

NoH8

grace- I had to go thru hoops to get my absentee ballot, including paying postage twice. They make it very hard in PA to vote absentee, including having to leave your home and go hunt down a form to fill out to apply for an absentee ballot. IMHO, voting should be made as easy as possible, including early voting, so that everyone is included without difficulty. Having to wait hrs in line disenfranchises poor people, who can't take time off work or pay for child care to spend half a day in lines (hello Florida).

Bren-2007

I just stumbled on the following article ... 

Dozens Of Call Center Workers Walk Off Job In Protest Rather Than Read McCain Script Attacking Obama

By Greg Sargent - October 27, 2008, 5:18PM

Some three dozen workers at a telemarketing call center in Indiana walked off the job rather than read an incendiary McCain campaign script attacking Barack Obama, according to two workers at the center and one of their parents.

Nina Williams, a stay-at-home mom in Lake County, Indiana, tells us that her daughter recently called her from her job at the center, upset that she had been asked to read a script attacking Obama for being "dangerously weak on crime," "coddling criminals," and for voting against "protecting children from danger."

Williams' daughter told her that up to 40 of her co-workers had refused to read the script, and had left the call center after supervisors told them that they would have to either read the call or leave, Williams says. The call center is called Americall, and it's located in Hobart, IN.

"They walked out," Williams says of her daughter and her co-workers, adding that they weren't fired but willingly sacrificed pay rather than read the lines. "They were told [by supervisors], `If you all leave, you're not gonna get paid for the rest of the day."

The daughter, who wanted her name withheld fearing retribution from her employer, confirmed the story to us. "It was like at least 40 people," the daughter said. "People thought the script was nasty and they didn't wanna read it."

A second worker at the call center confirmed the episode, saying that "at least 30" workers had walked out after refusing to read the script.

"We were asked to read something saying [Obama and Democrats] were against protecting children from danger," this worker said. "I wouldn't do it. A lot of people left. They thought it was disgusting."

This worker, too, confirmed sacrificing pay to walk out, saying her supervisor told her: "If you don't wanna phone it you can just go home for the day."

The script coincided with this robo-slime call running in other states, but because robocalling is illegal in Indiana it was being read by call center workers.

Representatives at Americall in Indiana, and at the company's corporate headquarters in Naperville, Illinois, didn't return calls for comment.

LAphoenix

Junie, thanks for the song.  It was great!  I know what you mean about the ever-changing polling places in the city.  Do you get sample ballots in the mail?  In CA, they list your polling place on the back of the sample ballot. 

Bin, I heard about the telemarketer walk-out but didn't realize it involved so many people.  You know those people probably really needed the money, so it speaks volumes that they quit. 

Did anyone see Michelle on Leno last night?  I bet J. Crew appreciated the plug!  I loved her story about Malia being worried that daddy's appearance on TV Wednesday might interfere with her own TV viewing.  She's gonna do all right in the WH!

NoH8

That's a great story. It's nice to know that all McCain supporters aren't willing to get into the slime of his campaign!

Here;s what I think the McCain concession speech is going to sound like.  The parenthesis is what he's thinking and how he really feels. "I congratulate my opponent on his win (still can't say Obama's name) and thank all my supporters for their tireless efforts. In these difficult economic times, it's amazing we did as well as we did. (if Obama was a better candidate, he would have won by more because there's no way we could have won).  I want to thank my running mate (he's so pissed at Palin he can't say her name any more) and wish her well back in Alaska (if she thinks she has a place in the national arena after she went diva on me and put herself above my win she's got another thing coming. I'm going to work hard to make sure her national career is over). And I've got a warning for Mr. Obama (now he can say Obama's name because he's threatening him), I'm going to be watching you like a hawk and keeping you on your toes. hehehehe (smiles like he's joking, but he isn't). I'm going back to the senate and continue my maverick ways to clean up washington."  Then when he leaves he whispers to Cindy., "Sorry, Cindy. I know you wanted to be first lady. I can't believe I let you talk me into all those sleazy campaign tactics. I told you it wouldn't work, you bimbo. I lost my soul going into the gutter with tactics I didn't even believe in all because you wanted the white house. Aren't our 7 houses enough for you. I told you first lady isn't the same as queen of the country, but you still pushed me to use the race baiting tactics, even after what Bush'a campaign said about Bridget in 2000. how could you go behind my back and hire those same goons for my campaign. Where am I now. My reputation ruined and no presidency."

Little-G

Junie...great song!!  Sing it loud!! 

 Who has the latest on Troopergate?  I haven't heard anything since she gave her deposition. 

g

LAphoenix

The article below has some very good info about where, when and how to vote safely.  Did you know that employers are required by law to give you time off to vote?  I didn't. 

•  
  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/myra-armstrong/easy-steps-to-ensure-your_b_136904.html

Ivylane

Did anyone see that fool Elizabeth "gas bag " Hassel(whatever) from the view?  She was at a campaign rally with Palin and brought up the "wardrobe issue" again.  Palin's "handlers" are livid because they are trying to let this thing die and that idiot brought it up again.  What a dope. She didn't do Palin any favors.  I am also beginning to feel bad for Palin.

Amy...let's see how close McSame's speech is to yours...lol....

One more week.... I don't think I could take ANOTHER week of listening to the Limbaugh/Hannity followers talking about socialism and Obama taking their 401K money and marxism and waawaa waa....they are all spewing the same rhetoric...... but that McSame....he and Palin sure are mavericks that are going to solve all the ills of the world......

NoH8

blue- I'd like to ship Elizabeth to some island with Palin and all the others like them so we can be free to have our country back. I have to chuckle at all the morons who take Limbug and Hannity as fact and run around like chickens with their heads cut off spreading the lies trying to perpetuate the fear. Anybody with half a brain knows to consider the source. Don't Barbies like Eliz think their place is in the home, cooking dinner, clean and  listening to what their husbands tell them to do?

Ivylane

OMG.....a NEW one....have you seen "TITO THE BUILDER"?  At the Palin Rally?  OY!

NoH8

roflmao- did someone tell Palin she needs to appeal to hispanics?

Ivylane

They're grasping at straws....it's pathetic.  They dressed up some poor guy with everything "builder-like" except a hammer and sent him out there.  Really pathetic....  what's next?  Dino the dentist?   Pablo the postman?  Brian the bartender?  How about Paula the pole dancer???

NoH8

Maybe she was appealing to the african american vote by giving a shout out to Tito Jackson and the Jackson 5?

Little-G

blue...it'll be "palin the pole dancer"  ;-) 

Keep talking to people, keep up the momentum!!!!  Let's really ROCK this vote!!!!

OBAMA '08...it's almost here!!!!

AnneW

Back to the issues ! Todays NYTimes had a decent editorial about the candidates' health care plans. I know this has been a big discussion over on the other thread --------->

I certainly prefer Obama's, but I don't feel it does enough to help the poor burger-flippers and cleaning ladies of the country who still won't be able to afford a plan like his. It's a start, but not enough, for me.

The Candidates' Health Plans

The nation's health care system is desperately in need of reform - as far too many Americans know from grim, personal experience. In this election, Barack Obama and John McCain are offering starkly different ideas for how to fix that system.

There is no shortage of problems:

¶ Some 45 million Americans lack health insurance, limiting their ability to get timely care.

¶ The costs of medical care and health insurance are rising much faster than household incomes, making it increasingly difficult for people to afford either.

¶ People can't carry their insurance from one job to another, limiting their mobility. Outside the workplace, it is hard to find affordable insurance.

¶ Despite the wealth and technological prowess of this country, the quality of medical care often lags behind that available in other industrialized nations.

Both candidates have largely accepted the prevailing expert wisdom on ways to improve quality and lower health care costs over the long run, such as relying more on electronic medical records and better management of the chronically ill. But they have very different ideas on the best way to make insurance available and affordable for all Americans.

We believe that Mr. McCain's plan, which relies on reshaping the tax code, is far too risky. It is likely to erode employer-provided group health insurance and push more people into purchasing their own insurance on the dysfunctional open market, where insurers often reject applicants with pre-existing conditions.

Mr. Obama has focused primarily on extending coverage to a big chunk of the 45 million uninsured Americans by expanding existing private and public programs with the help of federal subsidies and mandates. His boldest innovation would be a new federally regulated exchange where Americans not covered at work would be able to choose - as federal employees currently can - among a variety of private group policies. He would also create a new public program to compete with the private insurers.

Mr. Obama's plan is a better start than Mr. McCain's. But it is still not likely to help all Americans who need and deserve affordable, high-quality medical care.

As voters weigh their choice for next Tuesday's election, we offer this detailed review of the two candidates' plans.

THE MCCAIN PROPOSAL Mr. McCain's main idea is to change the tax code so that workers would have to pay income taxes on the value of their employer's contribution to their health insurance. In return, all Americans, whether currently insured or not, would receive a tax credit of $2,500 for an individual or $5,000 for a family to buy health insurance, either through their employer or on the open market.

Mr. Obama has derided this plan as giving tax credits with one hand and taking them away with the other. But the tax credits are initially so generous that a great majority of workers would end up ahead: their tax credit would exceed the tax they would have to pay on their employer-provided insurance.

They could stay in the same health plan at work and have extra money that could be applied to other health care costs. Or they could buy policies in the open market. As good as that sounds, a $5,000 credit would not go very far toward buying a typical $12,000 family policy but might well suffice for the young and healthy, who get preferable rates.

Mr. McCain correctly recognizes that there are disadvantages to linking insurance to jobs - as thousands of laid-off American workers already are discovering - and that there is an intrinsic inequity in the current tax code that favors those who have employer plans over those buying individual coverage.

The great danger is that Mr. McCain's plan will fragment the sharing of risks and costs - the bedrock of any good insurance plan - by enticing young, healthy workers to bail out of their employers' group policies to seek cheaper insurance on their own. Their older or less healthy colleagues would be left behind, which would drive up premiums at work. The rising costs could lead many companies to drop their health coverage entirely.

The proposal also offers little protection for older and sicker people forced to buy policies in the open market. Mr. McCain says the federal government would help underwrite high-risk pools like those operated by many states to cover such patients. But the subsidies his aides have talked about - some $7 billion to $10 billion a year - would fall far short of the amount needed.

Mr. McCain would loosen state regulations on insurers by allowing companies to sell across state lines. Some states require insurers to accept all applicants and provide specified standard benefits, and they limit the ability of companies to base premiums on health status. In the name of promoting competition, Mr. McCain's plan would free companies from those terms. Anyone who lost insurance as a result would have to seek coverage through the high-risk pools.

THE OBAMA PLAN Mr. Obama would do far more than his opponent to address the nation's shameful failure to provide health coverage for all citizens. He would require all parents to get coverage for their children and expand Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. He would also require large and midsize companies to offer health insurance to their workers or pay into a kitty to subsidize coverage elsewhere - a provision that Senator McCain castigates as a "fine" but that really is their fair share of the burden.

Mr. Obama says the government would provide subsidies to encourage small employers to offer coverage and to help low-income people buy insurance. This is not a government-run program - as Mr. McCain claims - but it does give the government a much bigger role than it now has by expanding public programs and creating a new national plan.

Mr. Obama would also greatly increase government regulation of the insurance industry. He would require insurance companies to take every applicant and meet a minimum standard of benefits, and he would prevent them from charging higher premiums based on an applicant's health. Some states have similar requirements now and insurance companies still sell policies there.

COVERAGE Some experts estimate that the McCain plan would reduce the number of uninsured only modestly because millions of people would drop or lose employer coverage, and not many more than that would buy policies outside of work. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center estimates that the McCain plan would lower the number of uninsured by a mere two million in 2018, out of a projected 67 million uninsured in that year. The Obama plan would cut the number by 34 million, the center says, but still leave nearly 33 million uninsured.

The McCain campaign makes an optimistic prediction that up to 30 million of the uninsured might take out policies using their tax credits. If so, those policies would probably be meager - with high deductibles, large co-payments and limited benefits - and unlikely to provide much help in a crisis.

COSTS Despite all the Republican warnings about high-spending Democrats, McCain's plan could be a lot more expensive than Mr. Obama's, at least in the early years, and possibly in the long term. This is because the generous tax credits would drain federal revenues faster than the tax on employer policies would replenish them.

The Tax Policy Center estimates that the McCain plan would cost the federal government $1.3 trillion over 10 years, and the Obama plan $1.6 trillion. Using different assumptions, the Lewin Group, a consulting firm, estimates that the McCain plan would increase federal spending by $2.05 trillion over 10 years, compared with $1.17 trillion for the Obama package.

Neither candidate has persuasively explained how he would pay for his plan. Mr. Obama says he would apply the money saved by rescinding Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy and hoped-for savings from reforming the health care system, but there is considerable doubt those savings will materialize quickly.

Mr. McCain also counts on cost-containment measures but is mostly relying on market forces to reduce the cost of health insurance and health care. He expects that people who buy their own coverage will shop for cheaper policies and make more careful choices about what medical care they really need. Among the dangers is that chronically ill people may forgo needed treatments.

Mr. Obama's plan is the better one because it would cover far more of the uninsured, spread risks and costs more equitably and result in more comprehensive coverage for most Americans. We fear Mr. McCain's plan would jeopardize employer-based coverage without providing an adequate substitute. At a time when so many employers are reducing or dropping coverage, that is not a risk that the country can afford to take.

Anne

NoH8

Anne- I think Obama has to be realistic as to what the  republicans in congress and what the americans are willing to accept at this time. If Obama and the dems go all gung-ho liberal, they risk causing a backlash and having the republicans come back stronger in 2010. He's going to have to move to the center if he wants to make lasting change and not ignite the other side against him in such numbers that it will come back to bite him, the dems and the country against him. If it were up to me, all the mccain voters would see the error of their thinking and take back and notice how much better off this country is with democratic ideals in charge, but that's going to happen. Some of the folks on this site even said if Obama is elected they won't even try to accept his presidency, unlike what they expected of us when  King George's reign began 8 years ago. Dems have compromised our ideals for the past 8 years, and republicans will  have to learn the same. The open minded ones will make the best of it but the closed minded ones won't be happy if the country returns to peace and prosperity.

I heard a level headed, intelligent republican McCain supporter on tv yesterday. No that is not a typo or an oxymoron. Governor Palenti (sp?) conceded that although he supports McCain. nothing terrible is going to h appen if Obama is elected. He agreed that Obama is patriotic and a good man, but said they had different philosophies and he believed his was better.  Why can't more of them be like that.

LuAnnH

I have actually been watching CNN and they are weighing out the two candidates plans on health, taxes, everything they are campaining on. Obama still sounds better to me.  Both plans will raise our national debt by trillions of dollars so I can't see either saving money but if the country starts to improve I'm happy.

One person made the comment on the other thread about looking what happened last time a dem took control we got bill clintion.  I personally like the admistration at that time.  He had sex outside his marriage, show me a polititician that didn't, if his wife could live with who am I to day anything.  But personally we had a balance budget in fact and excess of cash in our budget so it sounds like he did something right.

As for troopergate, it is trying to be pushed aside until after the elections:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/743883.html

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/743882.html

http://www.idahostatesman.com/1419/story/550725.html

I had wondered about this myself last night and started looking into it.  Looks like it will be out right before the election.

Little-G

LuAnn,

 Thanks for all the updates you gave!!  I hope Troopergate is out before the election.  I think its only fair.  McCain had asked Ted Stevens to step down for his indiscretions, what about Palin?  So many problems among all the repubs.  This is not what we need to fix things.  Barack looks great today!!  Standing in the rain with everyone else.  While the troll was all dry.  Again...to me it tells a story.  Barack is in there with the rest of us, while the troll puts himself above.  

OBAMA '08...it's almost here!!!!!!!!!

sccruiser

McCain even cancelled a rally because of the rain--is he afraid of melting? Some supporters even showed up for the event. So sad.

As for Palin--wonder how she assigns the makeup artist to a category? Certainly doesn't fit in w/lights and clothes for her family, does it? And that was over $27K for 2 weeks! Seems like it's almost as much as the clothing money spent on her & her family. And to do this in hard times.

Now Palin has asked Stevens to step down. She waited until McC asked first--wonder why she waited?

Speaking of Stevens--guilty of 7 felonies, probably won't get any jail time, and to top it off he gets to keep his $121+K salary that will be paid out of our tax dollars; and go up every year!! Now I know why there is so much corruption in the government--there isn't really any punishment for getting caught. We put people who aren't politicians in prison for 12 years to life for committing lesser felonies. When will this country have equitable justice. IMHO Stevens deserves to lose that pension and have his assets sold and the money raised should go into the general fund to cover some of the taxes we keep paying for his living expenses. Sheeeeesh! And Palin's first comments were to say what a sad day it was for Alaska and the Stevens family. Well, it's a sad day for this country and all the millions of people who paid their taxes so he could break laws for his own personal gain. I don't feel sorry for him at all. 

PSK07

Stevens is one heck of a guy. He threatened to take down one of my US Senators two years ago because she was so against drilling in ANWR amongst other things. Interesting guy...

Still trying to figure out why some people think we're so mean and why it is so important to respond to everything. This is the deal on a group I'm a member of, and I don't get it.

Time for the 4:20pm Obama brainwashing...shhhhh don't tell anyone

NoH8

g- That was barack at my alma mater getting all wet! I wondered the same thing about why it's ok for Palin to breech ethics but not Stevens. I wonder if Alaskans will show their true colors by reelecting Stevens even though he's a convicted felon.

psk- 4:20pm, my favorite time of the day. 4:20 am is way too early for me.

grace- palin wants stevens to stay in and win the election so he can then step down and she can appoint a republican or call for a special election. If he pulls out of the election then the dem will win and we can't have ethics getting in the way of a republican win, now can we.

djd

Okay, thought I'd share an asinine reason for voting for McCain.  My Republican brother has explained (on more than one occasion) that he is worried about his 2nd amendment rights.  That might make sense if he even OWNED a gun or was an avid hunter or whatever.  But he doesn't, never has, and never will.  But I guess Limpbaugh and Shannity have told him to be afraid, very afraid, of losing his gun rights.

What's even more asinine is when you factor in that our oldest brother, a gun-toting, bible-thumping, right wing nut was shot and killed last year by his wife in what was an apparent dispute over personal finances.  Of course, being in the gun-friendly state of Georgia, the wife walked away scot-free.

Anyway, even if he did own a gun, since when has Obama or anyone else been on an anti-gun rights crusade???

The other asinine thing is that nmy brother isn't remotely concerned about the economy.

Go figure.

Anonymous

LOOKS like Joe the Plumber has waayy outlived his usefulness to John McCain

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/foxs-shepard-smith-forced_n_138674.html

The Palin TELL ALL starts here...

http://men.style.com/gq/blogs/gqeditors/2008/10/palin-alone-abo.html

What a wild ride this election has been...

Anonymous

"Over there, over there,

Send the word, send the word over there -

That OBAMA'S coming,

OBAMA'S coming........

So prepare......"

Ivylane

Joe the plumber....what a buffoon

NoH8

McCain couldn't have picked more of a flawed poster boy. First he picks Sarah Baracuda to help clean up washington, but doesn't vet her enough to find out she's entrenched in her own ethics violations. Then he picks the tax evading Samuel Joseph, who's neither Joe or a plumber, nor going to buy a business, nor going to take home less money with Obama's tax plan. In fact, he'll make less with McCains. So while we have Colin Powell, he has two ethically challenged wanna bes.

LAphoenix

NoH8

LAP- I heard about the peopole from Obama, Japan being great fans being especially proud of the name of their city since Obama started running for president.

LAphoenix

Amy, aren't the Obama girls great?!  Across Japan, Obama is favored by about 80% of the people.  Of course, if word of this town gets out to the GOP, they'll probably start accusing Obama of being an Asian, African, Marxist, Muslim terrorist socialist.

Oh, Joe the Plumber.  You'll make a wonderful GOP candidate.  You lie, know nothing and love the sound of your own voice.  If you want to be the perfect Republican, however, you must stop admitting that you don't know stuff.   Hubris, man, hubris!