Issues, anyone?
Posted 43 weeks 6 days ago byI realized last night while watching some of the Democratic debate between Edwards, Obama and Clinton that the candidates are not focusing on issues that concern me, such as the use of torture by our government to gather information, warrantless wiretaps and searches, detention of suspects in "facilities" outside the U.S., the actions of our current executive branch such as the use of signing statements and the OVP claiming that it is "not a member of the executive branch"...I could go on and on. Also, I worry that the immigration question has still not been solved, health care is completely out of wack and I wonder about the billions and billions of dollars in debt that our grandchildren will be paying in the centuries to come.
Instead of focusing on these weaknesses in our current situation, the Demos insist on speaking instead about what makes them "the best candidate". Maybe I'm jumping the gun a little bit, but I would feel more comfortable casting a vote for Obama or Edwards if they would only tell me THEIR plans. For example, I never hear about any ideas on how to fix health care. Just that "we have a plan". I heard that back in the 1990s and that is exactly why I will not vote for Hillary (or as I like to call her, Billary) Clinton. I understand the Republicans in Congress back then probably blocked her "reforms" but what's to stop the current Reps. from doing the same thing to her now?
I'm sick of the one-liners, the catch phrases, the slogans. Call me old fashioned, but I want to hear a real, solid, concrete debate in the style of Lincoln and Douglas. Where someone, somewhere, ANYWHERE can tell me that we're on the wrong track, here's why, and most importantly, here's what I plan to do about it.
But in the world of instant replay, 24-hour news networks and talk radio, I guess they're too afraid to bring up a plan because they know it can and will be used against them later on.
Thoughts
Check Him Out
Submitted on January 17th, 2008 by UriahYou could always go watch any of the hundreds of youtube videos of Ron Paul.
He tells us exactly what is wrong with the economy and what he plans on doing to resolve the problems.
Not only the economy, but there are hundreds more on the problems with terrorism, immigration, and domestic spying.
Everything you are asking for is being said, but mainstream media isn't covering it. WHY? I don't know, they aren't.
IF more people knew what Dr. Paul had to say, it would be scary, but of course the powers that be don't want an informed citizenry.
Uriah
Has anybody seen the 2004
Submitted on January 16th, 2008 by ReneeHas anybody seen the 2004 episode of South Park called "D*uche & Turd"? Its a parodie of the 2004 presidential election, and it pretty much sums up the general feeling of discontent in this blog (not to mention it is pretty funny).
Political Candiates and Supreme Court Judges
Submitted on January 16th, 2008 by The Big KlosowskiThey all do the best to obscure their real thoughts on anything and just focus on work experience until they get in office. Seems like nobody wants to be pinned down on any issue.
I've heard it said though that politicians are better off having management/negotiation skills than being issue-centric. Sometimes issue-centric candidates can be hung up on just one or two aspects of the job, where leadership and management experience can tackle many challenges that might come up.
Take a look at Bush. He ran on completely different issues than he had to address in office due to 9/11 - so flexibility and leadership is key for the president. The judgement is still out on Bush, but you see what I mean?
Also, remember in the days of Lincoln/Douglas you were talking about whole debates and speeches. Now candidates have to get their point across concisely in one sentence or they risk being target to an attack ad. Case in point was Kerry in '04 with the "I did vote for it, then against it" attack ad. He took two sentences to get his point across, that was one too many and it cost him big time.
Great to have you on the site, thanks for posting up a blog.
Bad debate
Submitted on January 16th, 2008 by JoelI think a lot of people feel the same way you do. But to be fair, part of the reason you didn't get your answers is because the moderators weren't asking the right questions.
They were asking horserace questions, gotcha questions, inside-baseball questions, but only rarely did they delve into actual substance. We can't learn about substance if journalists don't delve into it.