I have as my forum handle suggests been a life long Democrat. I have a question or two and would like someone to explain something that I don't understand.
Why is Senator McCain being held accountable for everything that has not gone well in this country for at least the last 8 years?
I ask this question with the thought that 3 Senators are running for the top two offices in this land and only Senator McCain is being held responsible for the problems in this country, by the press, the media, and for the most part the majority of the posters on this forum.
The answer, as I understand it, is that per the press, the media and the majority of the posters on this forum is because he has been a Senator forever.
Why isn't Senator Biden being held to the same standards? Hasn't he also been a Senator for years?
Should the assumption also be made that Senator Obama shouldn't be held responsible for any of the problems because of his lack of experience being a U S Senator?
Everyone who reads this thread should understand that it's the Congress of these United States that makes and passes bills to the President for approval or veto. It is done by majority of the members not by individual.
Back to my question, why is Senator McCain being held to higher standards than Senator Obama and for that matter Senator Biden?
I have heard a lot of praise on this forum one candidate who by the posts, media and press seems to be squeaky clean. I find it hard to believe that anyone who is a Senator in these United State is squeaky clean.
I also wonder why so many are trying so hard to convince me to continue to vote Democratic unless there is something that needs to be overlooked.
This election and the aggressive support of one candidate reminds me of a used car salesman trying to sell a lemon.
I, at this point, realize that no matter who gets elected President, it isn't going to be a cake walk. The members of Congress are the ones who have to get off their collective butts and do what is right for this country not what is good for their party or what is going to fill their pockets the most. After the last 20+ years of watching our country go further and further downhill I certainly have no confidence in either candidate and how they are going to accomplish the change they are promising us.

Neither of the three Senators running can possibly be held accountable for any more than 1/100 of whichever votes taken by the Senate that may or may not have gotten us to where we are at the moment.

Much of what appears to be McCain being held more accountable than the others is the fact that he is of the same party as the President who presided over a lot of the disastrous national governance which has resulted in our current fiscal, foreign relations, and domestic problems as well as the intense political polarization of Congress. Further, until recently, McCain endorsed the actions taken by the Bush administration--words I'm sure he'd like to have back. His voting record shows overwhelming agreement with GOP-sponsored legislation.

The Obama campaign is trying to "connect" McCain with the hugely unpopular outgoing President--a smart political move. Of course, McCain is trying as hard as possible to distance himself from Bush and what has been done in the last eight years.

Maybe an approach might be to ignore the "you're connected--no I'm not--I'm more of an agent of change than you are" discussions and actually look at what both candidates are saying about the serious issues which one of them will have to address after innaguration day. That might be a more productive use of our time during the twenty or so days before Election Day. (That's if we don't vote early!)

One of my main concerns is I only hear I can make a better President than my opponent and both parties are ignoring the issues. ie: my tax cuts are going to be bigger than your tax cuts etc. When am I going to hear what is going to be done now and how is it going to be paid for. Both parties are guilty of sitting on their respective hands and hoping the financial problem will go away by November 4th. It is obvious what has been done to this point hasn't worked. I, as a voter, demand leadership and IMHO neither candidate is showing that.

Originally Posted by union1

One of my main concerns is I only hear I can make a better President than my opponent and both parties are ignoring the issues. ie: my tax cuts are going to be bigger than your tax cuts etc. When am I going to hear what is going to be done now and how is it going to be paid for. Both parties are guilty of sitting on their respective hands and hoping the financial problem will go away by November 4th. It is obvious what has been done to this point hasn't worked. I, as a voter, demand leadership and IMHO neither candidate is showing that.

For what it is worth..my take on this is that NEITHER candidate has a clue about what is going to happen financially in this country, and neither does our wonderful congress.

Financial problems will not go away before this November 4 or a few more after that frankly.

They are attacking this issue because it is a hot button right now.

In another post you said "This election and the aggressive support of one candidate reminds me of a used car salesman trying to sell a lemon"
I get into trouble on here for saying too much, but let me say that you are a very preceptive person.....THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS BEING SOLD. Nobody can beat him because nobody has anywhere near the money he has (AFTER the election, when the investigations are complete we will find where they came from)...nobody has the total support of an entire race (Please that is not racist but simply a political fact...check out ACORN)...that is why he will win and after he is in the White House we can find out about him !

I tend to agree with Bucco on this one. I don't think either candidate has a clue what to do to resolve the current crisis. It's not going to happen, but it sure would be fun to ask both candidates to be specific, just to watch them squirm.

Having said that they don't have a clue, I must admit that it may not be reasonable to expect that they should. The financial collapse that we're witnessing is the result of myriad factors in several sub-markets of the overall "financial markets". It took many years to reach the point of collapse. Both political parties, several Presidents, many members of Congress and lots of businesspeople can and should be blamed. There's another group that should also be blamed, as well...us, the voters-consumers-spenders-borrowers of the U.S.

Some very smart people studied what was happening and tried to take actions that few of us knew about or could even understand in an attempt to avoid the collapse that we're witnessing. No one wanted it to happen. But it did, and nothing the smartest of the smart did prevented it.

I think the most we can expect from the incoming administration and Congress is to begin to pass laws and authorize regulations that will set our national priorities right. It has to start with an example set by the government we elect. They must learn to live within the means provided to them. We can't enjoy every benefit, every entitlement, every public works project, unless we can pay for it. Our elected lawmakers must learn to tell the electorate "NO", even if it means that some of them will not be re-elected. Our representatives must learn to say the same thing to the special interest lobbyists.

If our government does nothing more than set that example for everyone, our country will be better for their efforts. Do I have high confidence that will happen? No, not immediately. But if the incoming "electeds" begin to steer the ship of state in that direction, that's about the most we can expect, I think.

Just an FYI...I already posted this but thought you would find it interesting Kahuana...

"After consulting with Barack Obama, Democratic leaders are likely to call Congress back to work after the election in hopes of passing legislation that would include extended jobless benefits, money for food stamps and possibly a tax rebate, officials said Saturday.

The bill's total cost could reach $150 billion, these officials said"

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081011/D93OHKO80.html

I don't know if you've noticed, but there are people hurting here in this country.

I don't believe that either candidate can fulfill what they say, that their being elected will somehow be the answer to America's problems. Big government and big spending will exist no matter which party is elected. The real goal of each party is to GET their respective representatives elected. Once in office, the President is at the mercy of The House and The House members only care about which votes that they take will get Them RE-Elected. Heaven help us!

We only get a choice between the "Tax and Spend Party" or the "Borrow and Spend Party". The money will get spent I assure you!

Perhaps the biggest choice we facing is for the Supreme Court seats to be appointed but the next president. Our choice will affect the laws of the land for the lifetime of the appointees to the Supreme Court. Liberal or conservative, It's Our Choice! We don't get to do the appointment, so we better be sure who we elect will represent the future laws of our land.

Perhaps the biggest choice we facing is for the Supreme Court seats to be appointed but the next president. Our choice will affect the laws of the land for the lifetime of the appointees to the Supreme Court. Liberal or conservative, It's Our Choice! We don't get to do the appointment, so we better be sure who we elect will represent the future laws of our land.
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Something very serious and very real to think about !!!!

Originally Posted by Bucco

Perhaps the biggest choice we facing is for the Supreme Court seats to be appointed but the next president. Our choice will affect the laws of the land for the lifetime of the appointees to the Supreme Court. Liberal or conservative, It's Our Choice! We don't get to do the appointment, so we better be sure who we elect will represent the future laws of our land.
__________________________________________________ _-

Something very serious and very real to think about !!!!

Now that it is mentioned, got to agree with both. that may very well be a big issue. would be nice to turn on tube and hear that being debated instead of mudslinging.