More Voters Panel and CVB reaction to Tuesday’s presidential debate

4 comments October 8th, 2008

Here are more Voters Panel and one Community Viewpoints Board comments to Tuesday night’s debate between the presidential candidates B. Obama and J. McCain:

“I’m an Obama supporter but I was very surprised that McCain did not attack him harder. With polls turning against him, and this format his favorite, I expected McCain to turn up the heat on Sen. Obama and he really didn’t.  I heard the same soundbites from McCain, a lot of empty platitudes without very many details and saw body language that seemed angry and frustrated. Sen. Obama looked presidential and I think he kept his cool much better than he did in the first debate, when McCain clearly landed some tough punches.  Time is running out on Sen. McCain and he didn’t to take some chances in this debate to change the game. I don’t think he did that.” — Wester Wouri “Tonight’s debate goes to Sen. Barack Obama. Especially on the topics of the economy.  Even on the topic of health care, I was able to relate to his message. Talking about his mother’s death from cancer was very powerful. On nearly every issue, Obama seemed to speak directly to the American people, showed more compassion and was more presidential.

“On the other hand, Sen. McCain’s campaign simply does not live up to the man.  McCain’s story is one our children will read about in history class.  Yet his campaign and his message seem to miss the mark. In this second debate he failed to mention the middle class again. McCain suggests he would appoint Treasury Secretary Meg Whitman, former CEO of Ebay, The day after the company fires 10% of their staff. Now wants the government to buy up homeowners mortgages. And he referred to Obama as “That One”. McCain is off message, erratic, and lakes the leadership this country needs in difficult times like these.” — Doug Burton

“Both candidates promoted excellent arguments for their positions and viewpoints, and often strongly delineated their differences. Obama was more forceful in foreign affairs and McCain more fully explained his economic positions.  As a middle American, standing on the corner of Main and Elm streets, I  was, however, somewhat disappointed in what I did not hear or receive from the two candidates from many of their responses. I wanted McCain and Obama to recognize that any reform and change must begin with me, and all the other average Americans, and that can only commence if they really took the time to fully understand what programs and policies we expect from our governments.  Both spoke of what they were going to implement, institute, abolish or continue, but do they really understand my needs and feelings?  I do not yet feel that connection, and I want to be included.

“Both candidates were ask to prioritize three important issues concerning health, entitlements, and energy, and their explanations were most convincing.  One important concern and issue, and maybe the most important, was missing.  How can we Americans be lifted up from our current stagnation and lethargy, and instilled with a sense of renewed patriotic vision and purpose?

“The candidates need to make the American citizens part of the solutions to our national problems, and not just the recipients of any reform or change. Tell us what we need to20sacrifice and to do in order to bring order and sanity to our present chaos and morass?  Don’t be afraid to confront us with harsh realities and blunt facts.

“We need inspiration and honesty from the two candidates in the few remaining weeks before the presidential election.  And that certainly would be prime examples of “reform and change”.

John Gustafson

“John McCain pointed out that Barack Obama will significantly raise income taxes and capital gains taxes in the midst of the most serious economic crisis we’ve faced in generations.  Raising taxes on investment and on small businesses, as Barack Obama proposes, will stop the creation of new jobs and force businesses to let employees go.  Barack Obama mentions that he would raise taxes on the big oil companies.  But the only oil companies he could tax more heavily would be American oil companies.  How can we decrease our dependence on foreign oil by punishing our own American oil producers?  Clearly, McCain’s economic policies are more likely to pull us out of any impending recession.  Obama’s proposals will prevent the economic recovery we all hope for and prevent energy independence.”

–Brian Maier (CVB)

Forget the stories that the election is over; McCain has even chance of winning

6 comments October 8th, 2008

The liberals in my business are at it again. Every MSM (mainstream media) outlet I read,  seems to believe the election is all over, and Obama is already the winner. Measure the windows for new drapes, Michelle.

Too soon, too soon, folks.  I remember that  in 1994, when my Republican friends were telling me they would pick up 50 seats in the House, the MSM dismissed the thought. Wouldn’t happen, they said. Just Newty propaganda, they said. But Newt was right.

Look, this is a close election. McCain is a comeback kid — his campaign was declared dead in the summer  of 2007, but McCain kept slogging on.

The McCain campaign and its talk show lackeys have just begun the sliming of Obama. The attacks will get worse, and they are counting on enough slime to stick to eke out a McCain win.

 When you add the sliming  to the fact that a certain percentage of whites — even liberal ones — will never, ever  vote for a black man,  I predict that McCain has a 50-50 chance of winning this election, bad economy or not.

For Obama, turnout — and where it comes from — is crucial. If newly registered young voters, and all black voters,, turn out in great numbers, Obama will win. If enough of them  stay home, he loses.

Voters Panel member gives debate opinion

Add comment October 8th, 2008

Every debate, I ask our Voters Panel members to e-mail in their opinions. Some arrive too late to make the paper, and I put those on this blog. Here’s Mary Nunez’s views:

Chuck,
Here they go again, blaming McCain for the last 8 yrs. Yes I agree everyone is ready for  change; but do they really want someone without experience? Look at their records and decide for yourself who the best candidate is for change. Look at who’s looked out for the American people, someone who is not afraid to deal with terrorists, that will continue the fight and claim victory. Someone who can stand up against his own party to get the job done.
There is much to be done in Washington, and who better than McCain to get us back on the road to a better future that doesn’t depend on foreign oil, to get our economy going and on the road to recovery.

Thank you,
 Mary Nunez

 

McCain’s liberal idea

1 comment October 8th, 2008

Is it just me, or do you think that John McCain looked like a really, really grumpy old man Tuesday night? I know he can’t stand Barack Obama, but did he have to refer to him as “that one?”

If you analyze what he said, McCain also switched from being a conservative back to being a liberal, which conservatives have suspected all along. After all, he’s been palling around with known liberals like Joe Lieberman and Russ Feingold for years.

McCain, in case you missed it, essentially offered to buy millions of  mortgages and let the cash-strapped homeowners who bought more house than they could pay for, off the hook.

 Now, I think that’s better than bailing out bad banks, but this is a liberal idea, not a conservative one. It’s so liberal that Obama didn’t even respond to McCain’s vow to do it.

That’s mavericky, I guess. “Tina” Palin would understand, you betcha.