tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post8650303919616768805..comments2024-02-29T04:02:48.619-05:00Comments on keeping feet: To answer a question.Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12937512054883534573noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-11286221396323900442008-05-13T18:57:00.000-04:002008-05-13T18:57:00.000-04:00Hooray for Ron Paul! (Sorry that's all I have to c...Hooray for Ron Paul! (Sorry that's all I have to contribute. :-))ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10982050095869237882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-49210580356457261062008-05-11T11:19:00.000-04:002008-05-11T11:19:00.000-04:00Yes he did: during the Indiana voting, he made it ...Yes he did: during the Indiana voting, he made it to over one million votes nation-wide. I do wonder if the numbers look a little more impressive because McCain supports have less reason to come out and vote now that he has it clinched. It was pretty obvious from near the start he wouldn't have enough support to win.<BR/><BR/>But after voting for Bush over Kerry last time, I am kind of sick of voting for the 'least of two evils'. <BR/><BR/><BR/>On a somewhat unrelated note: there is a movement that is trying to get members of congress to promise to not take money from special interest groups (among other things): change-congress.org One thing that is very refreshing about the group is that they are bipartisan: they are trying to get support from all candidates and voters. This wouldn't solve everything, but would help a lot!afferthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13283704920228330278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-7149687494776851692008-05-10T18:28:00.000-04:002008-05-10T18:28:00.000-04:00David- By "Whoever is in office will do this" I me...David- By "Whoever is in office will do this" I meant, of the people likely to be in office after this election. I realize Ron Paul has some radical ideas for making government smaller, and I respect his integrity in sticking to his set of ideals, even in the face of so much opposition.<BR/><BR/>And, by your comment earlier, I had a feeling you voted for Ron Paul. He did make a respectable showing in Indiana- even with a Republican nominee already decided! I was impressed.Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12937512054883534573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-1219531354238812742008-05-10T18:22:00.000-04:002008-05-10T18:22:00.000-04:00Joanna: I disagree with your assumption that every...Joanna: I disagree with your assumption that every president will make for a larger government. <BR/><BR/>I voted for Ron Paul. <BR/><BR/>A few notes about his voting record: He has never voted to raise taxes. He has never voted for an unbalanced budget. He has never voted to raise congressional pay. He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch. He voted against the Patriot Act. He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program. He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year. <BR/><BR/>I certainly do agree that our current president has expanded the government in large ways. I just don't think it <B>has</B> to be that way.<BR/><BR/>I am very happy that Obama has been open about his earmarks: that is clearly a step in the right direction. But not putting them there in the first place is an even bigger step. <BR/><BR/>Clinton at one point put out some list in reaction to Obama's list: I don't know what is on it, though. <BR/>Like Marie said, McCain's track record is a bit different than Obama's.<BR/><BR/>I am hoping that the support that Paul was able to generate this time around will show some people that there is a different way, and when America is ready, there will be someone who will be there to be that kind of leader.afferthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13283704920228330278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-33527262728227557222008-05-07T13:32:00.000-04:002008-05-07T13:32:00.000-04:00We placed our votes yesterday and I was so excited...We placed our votes yesterday and I was so excited. I am open to change and will be happy to have anyone in the office that can get our country back on track. This year I didn't feel as passionately about one particular person, but I think this was because we had so many GREAT choices this year. I won't say who I voted for, but I am confident that whoever gets in there is going to do an amazing job! Great post!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10635304837180578317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-85402477120718778682008-05-06T19:19:00.000-04:002008-05-06T19:19:00.000-04:00That is to say CAN'T understand it. . .That is to say CAN'T understand it. . .Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17421506990963764612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-28600126837944282842008-05-06T19:18:00.000-04:002008-05-06T19:18:00.000-04:00In re: to your not being certain about McCain's vi...In re: to your not being certain about McCain's view of earmarks, from his site:<BR/><BR/>"John McCain Will Stop Earmarks, Pork-Barrel Spending, And Waste. He will veto every pork-laden spending bill and make their authors famous. As President, he will seek the line-item veto to reduce waste and eliminate earmarks that have led to corruption. <B>Unlike Senators Clinton and Obama who have sought a nearly combined $3 billion in earmarks, John McCain has a clear record of not asking for earmarks.</B> Earmarks restrict America's ability to address genuine national priorities and interfere with fair, competitive markets."<BR/><BR/>I can understand if you don't want to support McCain because you want to withdraw from the war or something. But I don't understand how on earth you can justify a vote for Obama. I mean, I read your reasons, so I guess they are important to you. But I just can understand it.Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17421506990963764612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-56975376401255163722008-05-06T19:10:00.000-04:002008-05-06T19:10:00.000-04:00Digested your thoughts, have some of my own:1. Sp...Digested your thoughts, have some of my own:<BR/><BR/>1. Spearheaded the effort to thwart the Infants Born Alive Act, which would have made it illegal to kill a child after it's born even if intended for abortion. So now they still do that. Kill living newborns who somehow survive their abortion attempts, that is.<BR/>2. Voting record consistently to the far left of the Illinois state legislature.<BR/>3. Voting record consistently to the far left of the United States Senate.<BR/>4. No interest in joining or leading major centrist, bipartisan efforts on controversial issues like the Gang of 14.<BR/>5. Stayed for 20 years in a church with a raving lunatic as a pastor.<BR/>6. Called said pastor his spiritual mentor, put him in a ceremonial position on his campaign, and named his book after one of his speeches.<BR/>7. Hung out with a literal bomb thrower; called said literal bomb thrower someone within the mainstream of respectable Chicago society.<BR/>9. His wife and her numerous anti-American and bizarre comments.<BR/>10. Attended a madrassa as a child; when attending Catholic school, listed "Muslim" as his religion.<BR/>11. Supports homosexual marriage.Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17421506990963764612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-31658494902645694382008-05-06T13:15:00.000-04:002008-05-06T13:15:00.000-04:00Yes, I did vote today!Yes, I did vote today!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13099196066377456503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-58767469924255439102008-05-06T12:22:00.000-04:002008-05-06T12:22:00.000-04:00Heather- I'm so glad you've done your own research...Heather- I'm so glad you've done your own research, and went out to hear Bill Clinton. What counts is that you know why you're voting, rather than just following blindly. Way to go.<BR/><BR/>Matt W - Hope you're voting today in Muncie! Your last chance in Indiana!<BR/><BR/>David- I know where you're coming from. "More government" is not the answer to many, many questions- and oftentimes politicians just throw More Government at problems in hopes of solving it. One of Obama's main reasons for running is <A HREF="http://www.barackobama.com/issues/ethics/" REL="nofollow">resisting special interest groups and lobbyists</A>, for what it's worth, so he's at least stating he doesn't want anything to do with them. About the earmarks he requested: They all seem to fall under the categories of Education, Infrastructure, Health Care, or Public Safety. I don't know enough about the way these things are funded to know if they're appropriate or not, but I do appreciate that he's being upfront about disclosing the requests rather than secretly hiding pork to bills. I just looked, and couldn't find something similar on McCain or Clinton's Senate site, though I may be missing it. I don't know what amount is "normal" for a senator to try to earmark for his state.<BR/><BR/>And, on the deeper issue of government expansion & spending: Whoever is in office will do this, as has been demonstrated with the current president. The deficit's way up and government certainly hasn't shrunk, even with a Republican in the White House. So, I don't have hope that either party will cut the size of the government, but I do think they will have different priorities on what they put resources towards.Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12937512054883534573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-24664342049666104942008-05-06T11:43:00.000-04:002008-05-06T11:43:00.000-04:00I guess my comment would make more sense if you kn...I guess my comment would make more sense if you knew I am moving to Illinois next week. So, I'm excited to have him as my Senator :).Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13099196066377456503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-58021315156493878272008-05-06T10:23:00.000-04:002008-05-06T10:23:00.000-04:00I thought Illinois already was a state...(And here...I thought Illinois already was a state...<BR/><BR/>(And herein lies the most profound thing I can come up with in a political conversation.)Matt Moberlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18412881013249366988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-12547315148396581182008-05-06T09:22:00.000-04:002008-05-06T09:22:00.000-04:00There is one fundamental ideal of Obama that I jus...There is one fundamental ideal of Obama that I just can't agree with:<BR/>He believes that the federal government should pay for everything. http://obama.senate.gov/ press/070621-obama_announces_3/ (remove the space)<BR/>He personally requested <B>740 million</B> dollars of earmarks in the past three years alone. While things like replacing the projector in the Adler Planetarium is perhaps a worthy thing, is that how $3,000,000.00 of our federal tax dollars should be spent? <BR/>That is just one example, and it is very easy to think: 3 million is a very small amount compared to the federal budget. But fundamentally, he believes that change happens through government expansion and government spending.<BR/><BR/>While I like many of his idea (including many that you mentioned), when he talks about change, I just can't agree with the direction of the changes. The change I want in government is limiting government power, limiting government spending, and <B>most importantly</B> limiting the power that companies and special interest groups have over politics. None of these are changes that he seems to be willing to make. More government money will just attract MORE special interest groups and MORE companies to get ahead by manipulating the political system rather than by fairly competing.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>This is one of the reasons why America is great: people can disagree and still respect each other. If Obama does get elected, I respect him (or not) on how honestly he pursues the goals he has laid out in his campaign.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, may the best candidate win.afferthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13283704920228330278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-2221743410087083312008-05-06T07:53:00.000-04:002008-05-06T07:53:00.000-04:00Well said. Those are many of the same reasons why...Well said. Those are many of the same reasons why I like Obama. He's also from my future state of Illinois.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13099196066377456503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832486.post-50178665341285741302008-05-05T22:20:00.000-04:002008-05-05T22:20:00.000-04:00Thank you for your post. I got on both of their we...Thank you for your post. I got on both of their websites Saturday and did some further research. Clinton and Obama have similar work backgrounds as far as helping the underprivileged before moving on to something bigger.<BR/>I'm still going with my ditch "No Child Left Behind" Clinton campaign, but it was nice to hear someone else's views. There is so much to read and hear, that it's good to get someone else's take on things. Happy Voting tomorrow! I do know that whomever wins tomorrow, I'll be voting for in the big match up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com