DEBATE IN THE ROUND: Last night’s Presidential debate wasn’t exactly a thriller. The potential of the town hall format was wasted by moderator Tom Brokaw’s poor choice of questions from both email and the assembled crowd of allegedly undecided voters. Of course most of the discussion was concerned with recent economic matters and the home mortgage situation, dooming the entire evening to a very dry doom.
Obama predictably blamed the Bush administration and deregulation policy of the last eight years, ignoring the role of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. He continued to make his outrageous promise to go through the federal budget with an axe “line by line”. Anybody want to tell the Senator that money bills must originate from the House? The President does not have the line item veto to do such a thing. Even more disturbing was Obama’s reference to “coordinating with other countries” on matters of economic policy. That sort of internationalism is the last thing we need right now. Another part of Obama’s mantra is pointing out that the federal budget was in surplus when George W. took office. Never mind that little, um, WAR that came along. Naturally no Democrat could discuss economics without engaging in a little class warfare, and the Illinois Senator is no different. He continues to harp on “middle class” tax cuts and appears oblivious to the fact that most small businesses are sole proprietorships that file federal taxes as individuals. These businesses would be crushed by Obama’s tax hikes and massive new spending. Senator McCain said some of the right things, but more disturbing was his proposal to sink the federal government $300B deep into the home mortgage market by having Treasury buy up mortgages. The taxpayers are sure to get soaked to the bone on that one. It is remarkable that leaders of both parties have an instant reflex to deepen government involvement in the markets, fleeing like lemmings toward a high socialist cliff. Gee, the feds have done so well with all their other programs, let’s have them start taking over our economy and healthcare.
The foreign policy portion of the event was notable only in the fact that it was another display of the dangers of making Barak Hussein Obama the next Commander in Chief. He even referred to “moral interests” being a factor in determining proper use of American forces. He continues to insist upon withdrawing forces from Iraq as an answer for Afghanistan as well as repeatedly promise to strike in Pakistan if necessary. The question was actually about strategy for the Afghan front, and Senator McCain correctly responded by deferring to General Petraeus. Both gentlemen essentially backed Israel in the event of an attack by Iran, vowed to prevent the Iranians from developing nukes, and promised to prevent a “second Holocaust”.
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:
1. Seeing Senator McCain interact with a Navy veteran in the crowd was touching and insightful. McCain patted the man’s back and warmly shook his hand as he thanked him for his service to our nation. Obama didn’t bother to get out of his chair to thank the guy.
2. Cindy McCain wore BLUE while Michelle Obama wore RED. Shouldn’t that have been opposite? Anyone besides me notice?
3. McCain needs to get some fresh new phrases to use. He’s wearing out “my friends” and “the point is”. He even dusted off “naked aggression”, one that never fails to make me smile.
4. Both candidates willfully violated the time limits and the little green, yellow and red lights intended to guide them, and Brokaw kept whining about it.
5. At the end of the affair, Obama and McCain moved to shake hands, blocking Brokaw’s view of the giant teleprompter and nearly causing him an aneurism.
Obama predictably blamed the Bush administration and deregulation policy of the last eight years, ignoring the role of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. He continued to make his outrageous promise to go through the federal budget with an axe “line by line”. Anybody want to tell the Senator that money bills must originate from the House? The President does not have the line item veto to do such a thing. Even more disturbing was Obama’s reference to “coordinating with other countries” on matters of economic policy. That sort of internationalism is the last thing we need right now. Another part of Obama’s mantra is pointing out that the federal budget was in surplus when George W. took office. Never mind that little, um, WAR that came along. Naturally no Democrat could discuss economics without engaging in a little class warfare, and the Illinois Senator is no different. He continues to harp on “middle class” tax cuts and appears oblivious to the fact that most small businesses are sole proprietorships that file federal taxes as individuals. These businesses would be crushed by Obama’s tax hikes and massive new spending. Senator McCain said some of the right things, but more disturbing was his proposal to sink the federal government $300B deep into the home mortgage market by having Treasury buy up mortgages. The taxpayers are sure to get soaked to the bone on that one. It is remarkable that leaders of both parties have an instant reflex to deepen government involvement in the markets, fleeing like lemmings toward a high socialist cliff. Gee, the feds have done so well with all their other programs, let’s have them start taking over our economy and healthcare.
The foreign policy portion of the event was notable only in the fact that it was another display of the dangers of making Barak Hussein Obama the next Commander in Chief. He even referred to “moral interests” being a factor in determining proper use of American forces. He continues to insist upon withdrawing forces from Iraq as an answer for Afghanistan as well as repeatedly promise to strike in Pakistan if necessary. The question was actually about strategy for the Afghan front, and Senator McCain correctly responded by deferring to General Petraeus. Both gentlemen essentially backed Israel in the event of an attack by Iran, vowed to prevent the Iranians from developing nukes, and promised to prevent a “second Holocaust”.
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:
1. Seeing Senator McCain interact with a Navy veteran in the crowd was touching and insightful. McCain patted the man’s back and warmly shook his hand as he thanked him for his service to our nation. Obama didn’t bother to get out of his chair to thank the guy.
2. Cindy McCain wore BLUE while Michelle Obama wore RED. Shouldn’t that have been opposite? Anyone besides me notice?
3. McCain needs to get some fresh new phrases to use. He’s wearing out “my friends” and “the point is”. He even dusted off “naked aggression”, one that never fails to make me smile.
4. Both candidates willfully violated the time limits and the little green, yellow and red lights intended to guide them, and Brokaw kept whining about it.
5. At the end of the affair, Obama and McCain moved to shake hands, blocking Brokaw’s view of the giant teleprompter and nearly causing him an aneurism.
The scary part of the whole election is the idea of Obama at the controls of the mightiest military force the world has ever known in a time of war. John McCain doesn’t exactly thrill me, but there’s just no way I can vote for a man with no military experience at all in time of war. It’s nearly irresponsible. With less than four weeks remaining until Election Day, Americans face a choice they and our military will have to live with for years to come. Meanwhile our enemies continue to plan and plot to kill more of us.
Vote carefully.
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