RhodesNetwork

First of all, I want to take a minute to talk about the negative ads.  While it’s true that I’m an Obama supporter and that I argue that McCain’s ads are far more insidious than Obama’s, I have seen a disturbing trend as both candidates continue to go more and more negative.  I’ve been frequenting two web sites (PolitiFact and FactCheck) who are offering what I think is good information on how candidates and other supporting organizations have been misleading.

The key to this issue is this.  These kinds of ads are produced because they work!  If we as Americans choose not to pay attention to this tripe and choose to educate ourselves, these ads won’t work and won’t affect the poles thereby removing both campaigns’ motivation for producing them.  This is something we as Americans can influence.  So we need to get educated and vote in November.

Ok.  Now on to the second thing.  I just heard the news that Senator McCain is suspending his campaign because of this economic crisis and because “it has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the administration’s proposal.”  I recognize the importance of this issue and very strongly support the Senators’ return to Washington to be part of the solution.

But my gut reaction is that this does not in any way necessitate the suspending of campaigns nor the postponing of the debate.  To be even more blunt, I really think that Senator McCain is using this issue as a political tool to change the timing of the debate because the current economic crisis is harmful to his campaign.  In other words, I think this is a smokescreen.  I’m tired of political games.  To me, this is the same-old-same-old.  I’m done with Bush politics.  I want real change, and that’s not John McCain.

I wish I had more time.  I wish I had more time to expound on my ideas on this election season.  I really and truly think that Senator McCain pales in comparison to Senator Obama.

In the issue I think is most important today, Economics, John McCain subscribes to the trickle-down philosophy made “popular” by Ronald Reagan.  The idea is that making business cheaper for businesses will cause those businesses to create more jobs and reduce prices for their products.  The assumption this makes is that these businesses will go this route instead of keeping the profits!!  As an example, let’s look at the Oil companies and their record profits as the American consumer continues to struggle with gas prices that were under $1.50 / gallon eight years ago.  So is continuing the Bush tax cuts (that have been in place for years now…  How’s it going so far?) really a very good idea?

Of course, John McCain says that Barack Obama will raise taxes.  Wrong again.  Independent sources say that taxes will be cut for roughly 80% of Americans.  Who is it who stands for change?  And who is it who claims change while giving up his campaign to some of the same lobbyists who (arguably) are responsible for our current economic mess?

And don’t get be started on Governor Palin…

Alright, I’ll be brief.  She says she has executive experience including command over Alaska’s National Guard.  Then why is it that the head of that National Guard spoke luke-warm about Palin at first.  Suddenly he reversed course followed within days by (surprise!) a promotion directly from Governor Palin.

She’s not a fiscal conservative.  As both a Mayor and Governor, she turned surplus into massive debt.  And she hired a lobbyist to bring in the highest amount of earmarks (that’s “pork-barrel spending” kids!) per capita in any state in the US.

No, she didn’t say “thanks but no thanks” to the Bridge to Nowhere.  She supported it in her gubinatorial campaign and only flip-flopped after it became a political no-winner.  But she kept the $230 million.  I’m pretty sure that was an earmark.

She didn’t sell the jet on Ebay.  She listed it, but it didn’t sell.  She sold it to a campaign contributor.  At a loss.

Ultimately, regardless of what I have to say, please check out the candidates for yourself.  Check out their websites.  Read the specifics on each site about the candidates’ position on issues.  Watch the debates.  And most importantly, VOTE!!