You are the employer. You have these resumes in front of you. You decide who is the most qualifed to run this nation ...
Obama: *Occidental College (Los Angeles) - 2 years studying Politics and Public Policy. *Columbia University (New York) - B.A. Political Science with a specialization in International Relations. *Harvard Law School - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude, Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Law Review.
Biden: *University of Delaware - B.A. in History and a B.A. in Political Science. *Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)
McCain: *United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899.
Palin: *Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester - Business Administration. *North Idaho College - 2 semesters - General Studies. *University of Idaho - 2 semesters - Journalism. *Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester. *University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism.
Here is [Barack Obama's] campaign manager David Plouffe's reaction to the first presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain:
This was a clear victory for Barack Obama on John McCain’s home turf. Senator McCain offered nothing but more of the same failed Bush policies, and Barack Obama made a forceful case for change in our economy and our foreign policy. While Senator McCain wants to keep giving huge tax cuts to corporations and said nothing about the challenges Americans are facing in their daily lives, Barack Obama will be a fierce advocate for tax cuts for the middle class, affordable health care, and a new energy economy that creates millions of jobs. While foreign policy was supposed to be John McCain’s top issue, Barack Obama commanded that part of the debate with a clear call to responsibly end a misguided war in Iraq so that we can finish the fight against al Qaeda in Afghanistan. John McCain needed a game-changer tonight, and by any measure he didn’t get it,”
Two negative ads recently launched by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who has spent more on advertising than any other candidate, either misrepresent his rival's records or include distortions, according to a CNN analysis of the commercials.
The ads come as the Republican air war has erupted into a series of attacks ads, just days before the Iowa caucuses on January 3, Wyoming caucuses on January 5, and the New Hampshire primary on January 8.
In one Romney television ad running in New Hampshire, the announcer calls rival Sen. John McCain "an honorable man" then goes on to ask "but is he the right Republican for the future?"
"McCain pushed to let every illegal immigrant stay here permanently..." the announcer charges. "Even voted to allow illegals to collect Social Security." Watch Romney's ad attacking McCain »
But the ad distorts the position of the Arizona Republican, who has narrowed Romney's lead in New Hampshire. McCain's compromise legislation introduced last summer, which was backed by President Bush, would have required illegal immigrants to return to their home countries and pay a fine for breaking the law before applying for legal status.
McCain also voted to allow illegals to receive past Social Security benefits only after obtaining legal status.
Romney, for his part, ordered a police crackdown on illegal immigrants two weeks before he left the job of governor of Massachusetts.
While Romney is strafing McCain in New Hampshire, his target in Iowa is former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
In the anti-Huckabee commercial, the announcer calls Romney and Huckabee "two good men," then asks "but who is ready to make tough decisions?"
"Mike Huckabee? Soft on government spending.... His foreign policy? 'Ludicrous,' says Condoleezza Rice," the announcer continues.
Secretary of State Rice, however, did not call Huckabee's foreign policy "ludicrous." Rice was responding to Huckabee's criticism of the Bush administration for what he called an "arrogant bunker mentality" on world affairs in the January/February issue of Foreign Affairs magazine.
McCain is fighting back by using criticism of Romney from editorial writers, which has the effect of making him seem less negative. Watch McCain's ad responding to Romney »
In the McCain ad, the announcer says, "As you hear Mitt Romney attack John McCain, consider these words from New Hampshire newspapers. The Union Leader says John McCain has 'conviction' and 'Granite Staters want a candidate who will look them in the eye and tell them the truth.' "
"John McCain has done that," the announcer continues, quoting the newspaper's editorial. "Mitt Romney has not."
While Romney's ads say a few nice words about Huckabee and McCain before ripping their records, the commercials could backfire on Romney. In races with crowded fields, negative ads have sparked voter backlash against squabbling politicians. The attacks wind up helping candidates who stick with a positive message.
That may be why Huckabee on Monday announced he had pulled a television ad his campaign had prepared to respond to Romney's criticism. Watch Huckabee explain why he pulled the ad »
He said he called his staff Monday morning and told them he wanted it pulled.
"I just decided that's not the way we want to run it," the former pastor said. "It's never too late to do the right thing."
Huckabee acknowledged that he expected "cynicism" from those who believe that by showing the ad at the news conference he is still launching the attack while coming across as a candidate who wants to stay positive.
But, Huckabee said, he expects that if he had not shown the ad, reporters would have asked to see it.
"Conventional political wisdom is that when you're hit, and it's beginning to do damage, the smart play is to hit back," Huckabee said during an event in Des Moines, Iowa. But he said, "that's not the way we want to run it."
"We have to decide we can change the kind of politics and the level of discourse," Huckabee said. "We've got to start somewhere, so we might as well start here and might as well start with me."
Huckabee said the commercial was sent to Iowa television stations and may air for a day before being pulled out of rotation. Huckabee also said he would not be surprised if the commercial was posted on YouTube.
Romney launched a television ad in Iowa Monday, titled "Everywhere," that emphasizes a positive message.
In that commercial, Romney says, "Everywhere my family and I go we hear that America's challenges are simply too big for Washington politicians. I've spent my life tackling big problems -- helping turn around business, the Olympics, and state government."
"Together we can grow our economy, stop illegal immigration, defend life and preserve the values that make America the hope of the Earth," Romney says. "It's time to turn around Washington."
Bloomberg Inches Yet Closer To Running As Centrist Independent.
It now appears as if the public, the media and the political establishment are being prepared for an announcement that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will launch an independent run for President.
On January 7, 2008, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is going to meet with Unity08, a high-powered bipartisan group of elder statesmen that is on the brink of finding a candidate to back, and there’s a possibility that they could join forces in a third party bid. This meeting with Unity08, including Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel and former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn, both of whom have been frequently mentioned as possible running mates, will be to pressure the major party candidates to promote national unity and reduce partisan gridlock.
A final decision by Mr. Bloomberg about whether to run is unlikely before February. Still, he and his closest advisers are positioning themselves so that if the mayor declares his candidacy, a turnkey campaign infrastructure will virtually be in place.
Bloomberg aides have studied the process for launching independent campaigns, which formally begins March 5, when third-party candidates can begin circulating nominating petitions in Texas. If Democrats and Republicans have settled on their presumptive nominees at that point, Mr. Bloomberg will have to decide whether he believes those candidates are vulnerable to a challenge from a pragmatic, progressive centrist, which is how he would promote himself.
The filing deadline for the petitions, which must be signed by approximately 74,000 Texas voters who did not participate in the state’s Democratic or Republican primaries, is May 12.
Advisers have said Mr. Bloomberg, a billionaire many times over, might invest as much as $1 billion of his own fortune (he spent about $160 million on his two mayoral races) on a presidential campaign.
But they warned that while they were confident of getting on the ballot in every state, the process was complicated and fraught with legal challenges, and that Mr. Bloomberg would begin with an organizational disadvantage, competing against rivals who have been campaigning full time for years.
Bloomberg does NOT want to be seen as “a rich Ralph Nader” — someone who is in the race but doesn’t really have a chance to win, although he could influence the debates and take votes away from someone else as a “spoiler.”
Next week’s meeting, reported on Sunday in The Washington Post, comes as the mayor’s advisers have been quietly canvassing potential campaign consultants about their availability in the coming months.
And Mr. Bloomberg himself has become more candid in conversations with friends and associates about his interest in running, according to participants in those conversations. Despite public denials, the mayor has privately suggested several scenarios in which he might be a viable candidate: for instance, if the opposing major party candidates are poles apart, like Mike Huckabee, a Republican, versus BarackObama or John Edwards as the Democratic nominee.
Forbes and other sources report his net worth at US$11.5 billion as of 2007. Bloomberg is among the world's richest people. He was ranked 34th by Forbes magazine in its list of 400 Richest Americans in September 2006. He was ranked 142nd in its list of the The World's Billionaires in March 2007.
As mayor of New York, Bloomberg declines to receive a city salary, accepting remuneration of $1.00 annually for his services.
On the major issue of abortion, Bloomberg is considered pro-choice. He supports abortion rights, stating: "Reproductive choice is a fundamental human right and we can never take it for granted, on this issue, you're either with us or against us."
Bloomberg supports governmental funding for stem cell research, calling the Republican position on the issue "insanity," while also supporting same-sex marriage with the rationale that “I think anybody should be allowed to marry anybody."
On June 19, 2007, Bloomberg left the Republican Party, filing as an Independent after a speech criticizing the current political climate in Washington.
Bloomberg's term as mayor ends on December 31, 2009. He is prohibited by term limits from being re-elected in November 2009; however, he can be elected mayor again after a four-year wait.
Less than one year from now, we will be electing a new President of the United States. The United States presidential election of 2008 is scheduled to be held on November 4, 2008.
Currently, I am undecided on who I feel is the best candidate for President. I want the person I feel is the most qualified and will do the best job in all areas under that person's control. I am a registered Democrat and lean towards that party.
Take this Quiz to see which Presidential candidate that is best suited for you. There are 20 Questions covering various topics from Individual Rights, Domestic Issues, Economic Issues, and Defense/International Issues.
MAKE SURE YOU CLICK ON THE QUESTION (STATEMENT) FOR EACH ONE. It will give you detailed insight on how to answer based on your beliefs. I thought I was convinced on many of my answers before clicking and then when reading the different sides, it really made me think even harder.
My results concluded with these were the top 5 candidates agreeing with my stances: Dennis Kucinich (Democratic) 53% (56% Social / 50% Economic) Chris Dodd (Democratic) 53% (44% Social / 58% Economic) Hillary Clinton (Democratic) 50% (63% Social / 42% Economic) John Edwards (Democratic) 50% (50% Social / 50% Economic) Joe Biden (Democratic) 50% (31% Social / 63% Economic)
Based on my personal and economic scores from the above quiz, my political philosophy is: Populist-Leaning Liberal
The above is not necessarily who I will vote for. It's just the results of an online quiz. But, I will vote for the Democratic candidate that is chosen.
I do have a problem with one candidate that is running. Rudy Giuliani, was a good mayor for NY. I lived in NY during his term as mayor (though I was not living in New York City). I am appalled by the popularity he achieved based from the 9/11 tragedies. It hurts me to know that he became famous when thousands of people he was supposed to be protecting, died. Yes, he did a good job in helping with the aftermath and the clean up. But I would only regard him as a hero if he was the person who prevented those deaths. What he did afterwards was something anyone in his position would have done (perhaps better). The cleanup was not an individual effort. It was a combined effort of many departments on the local and federal levels. I'm not knocking his other credentials as a candidate. He's a lawyer and a former Democrat that still holds liberal social views (c'mon... he's dressed in drag, had married his own second cousin and had extramarital affairs on another one of his three wives). I just feel his popularity is purely based on the wrong reasons.
In other words, please don't base your decision on popularity polls. Either watch the debates, read the papers or information online. Learn who these candidates are and what they stand for. Your lives will be seriously affected by this country's decision next November and let's not make the same mistakes that happened in the last two presidential elections.
If you need to still register to vote, do it now HERE.
