Does America really want a change?

[PhillyFan3]

John McCain

Plain, Simple, To The Point ... Saying things we want to hear out of our leader and the future leader of the free world :thumbs:

Great ending as well.

[Skinsfan]

D, anyone can cut and paste a trillion slogans, banners, youtube videos, stream videos, conspiracy blogs and one-sided facts to fill 42 pages of a thread! LOL I take less than 10% of what's been printed as "research" here to be just biased thoughts and bogus convictions! Posting hundreds of anti-Obama slogans isn't enough to change minds!

Atleast Skins does give his own opinion...kinda! :beer2:

I have seen and heard both sides! What I want to know from you guys is this....do you really believe McCain can make a difference to our country? Leave Obama comparisons out of your answer...please! I want to know how you think McCain can unravel the disaster of the last 8 years!! And guys be honest, if you think the last 8 years hasn't been a disaster every thread talking about govt on this site should be erased and taken down forever!

I want to know why I should vote for McCain! (again not why I shouldn't vote for Obama...just pure thoughts about McCain!!)

Maybe we as a forum can enlighten anyone who is afraid to step out and make a decision!

You should vote for Mccain because:

1) He supports free market capitalism

2) He is AGAINST raising corporation taxes

3) Main stream economists agree almost exclusively that raising corp. taxes during poor economic times is a recipe for disaster

4) The economy is in a cyclical downturn exasperated by the housing bubble bursting (a result of the overaggressive interest rate cuts by greenspan, not the white house or congress) and a rising oil bubble (created by wealth transfer from housing to oil). When gas was running up to $4 a gallon.... Mccain correctly called for more drilling, while the democrats took off for vacation without even holding a vote.

5) The core problem is that the repubs lost their way (as mccain mentioned last night).... they have become like dems... spending recklessly.... but it was MCCAIN that has been going against that reckless spending, even against repubs...

6) MAJOR POINT: Taking more money OUT of the economy is plain wrong. We need to encourage more success by lowering taxes, lowering spending, focusing on more EFFICIENT spending, encouraging job growht (i.e. LOWER corp. taxes)

7) A rise in corp. taxes will encourage more businesses to go overseas (china is actually paying relocation expenses to American companies if they expatriate. Increasing corp. taxes is a TAX ON EVERYONE. It is inflationary (prices rise) and increases unemployment. We are dealing with Econ 101, and even though he once said he doesnt necessarily understand economics, it is quite telling when it is HE that truly understands Econ 101, and not his opponent.

8) Mccain has the best plan for energy independence.... Actually, he is the only one with a plan, and the only one that has someone with any experience on it (Palin). His opponent's plan is to wait. Mccain's plan is to go after every possible source of energy available.... and use the tax revenue from this increased productivity to fund alternative fuels.

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The McCain Plan To Strengthen Our Economy

Economic Stimulus Plan

Cut The Corporate Tax Rate From 35 To 25 Percent.

A lower corporate tax rate is essential to U.S. competitiveness. America was once a low-tax business environment, but as our trade partners lowered their rates, America failed to keep pace, leaving us with the second-highest rate among the world’s advanced economies.

Cutting the corporate tax will expand the U.S. economy, creating jobs and opportunities for prosperity. A recent analysis of tax policy options estimated that a cut less than half this size could increase long-term growth by 0.5 percent, or $100 billion in a single year.

Lower corporate taxes leads to higher wages. Recent studies have shown that corporate taxes are in large part passed on to labor through lower wages. One study noted that a one percent hike in the corporate tax results in a 0.8 percent decrease in manufacturing wages.Accordingly, cutting corporate taxes can increase wages for American workers.

Allow First-Year Deduction, Or “Expensing”, Of Equipment And Technology Investments.

Expensing of equipment and technology will provide an immediate boost to capital expenditures and reward investments in cutting-edge technologies.

The additional investment stimulated by a change to expensing of equipment and technology will drive economic growth. A recent estimate of a modest expensing provision predicted a gain of 1.5 percent in long term economic growth.

The complexity of our tax code needlessly burdens American businesses and families with $140 billion in compliance costs. Allowing expensing will eliminate the need for complicated accounting for depreciation.

Establish Permanent Tax Credit Equal To 10 Percent Of Wages Spent On R&D.

The R&D tax credit will simplify the tax code, reward activity in the United States, and make us more competitive with other countries.

A permanent credit will provide an incentive to innovate and remove uncertainty. At a time when our companies need to be more competitive, we need to provide a permanent incentive to innovate, and remove the uncertainty now hanging over businesses as they make R&D investment decisions.

These Are Essential First Steps On The Path To Fundamental Tax Reform, Which Could Increase U.S. GDP By As Much As 10 Percent Over The Long Term.

McCain Tax Cut Plan

Cut Taxes On The Middle Class

Cut Taxes For Middle Class Families: Hard-working American families need lower taxes. John McCain will permanently repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) -- a tax that will be paid nearly exclusively by 25 million middle class families. John McCain will repeal this onerous tax, saving middle class families nearly $60 billion in a single year. Under McCain's plan, a middle class family with children set to pay the AMT will save an average of over $2,700 -- a real tax cut for working families.

Pro-Growth Tax Policy

Keep Tax Rates Low: Entrepreneurs are at the heart of American innovation, growth and prosperity. Entrepreneurs create the ultimate job security -- a new, better opportunity if your current job goes away. Entrepreneurs should not be taxed into submission. John McCain will fight the Democrats' crippling plans for a tax increase in 2011. Left to their devices, Democrats will impose a massive $100 billion tax hike, almost $700 per taxpayer every year.

Make It Harder To Raise Taxes: John McCain believes it should require a 3/5 majority vote in Congress to raise taxes.

Cut The Corporate Tax Rate From 35 To 25 Percent. A lower corporate tax rate is essential to U.S. competitiveness. America was once a low-tax business environment, but as our trade partners lowered their rates, America failed to keep pace, leaving us with the second-highest rate among the world’s advanced economies.

Reward Saving, Investment and Risk-Taking: Low taxes on dividends and capital gains promote saving, channel investment dollars to innovative, high-value uses and not wasteful financial planning. John McCain will keep the current rates on dividends and capital gains and fight anti-growth efforts by Democrats.

Allow First-Year Deduction, Or “Expensing”, Of Equipment And Technology Investments. Expensing of equipment and technology will provide an immediate boost to capital expenditures and reward investments in cutting-edge technologies.

Pro-Innovation Tax Cuts

Ban Internet Taxes: John McCain believes we must make a farsighted, robust, and fervent commitment to innovation and new technologies to sustain our global competitiveness, meet our national security challenges, achieve less costly and more effective health care, reduce dangerous dependence on foreign sources of oil, and raise the quality of education in the United States. John McCain has been a leader in keeping the Internet free of taxes. As President, he will seek a permanent ban on taxes that threaten this engine of economic growth and prosperity.

Ban New Cell Phone Taxes: John McCain understands that the same people that would tax e-mail will tax every text message -- and even 911 calls. John McCain will prohibit new cellular telephone taxes.

Establish Permanent Tax Credit Equal To 10 Percent Of Wages Spent On R&D. This reform will simplify the tax code, reward activity in the United States, and make us more competitive with other countries. A permanent credit will provide an incentive to innovate and remove uncertainty. At a time when our companies need to be more competitive, we need to provide a permanent incentive to innovate, and remove the uncertainty now hanging over businesses as they make R&D investment decisions.

Retirement Tax Cut

Lower Medicare Premiums: Seniors face a growing threat from higher Medicare premiums that tax away their Social Security and retirement savings. John McCain has proposed comprehensive, pro-market health care and Medicare reforms to reduce health care costs and control increases in premiums -- while delivering high-quality health care.

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CONT.


REFORMING WASHINGTON TO REGAIN THE TRUST OF TAXPAYERS

Wasteful spending in Washington has gone from irresponsible to indefensible. Right now, even the government reports that one-fifth of programs are receiving failing marks. John McCain will restore the trust that Americans have lost in their government spending their hard earned money wisely.

Eliminating Wasteful Spending

Stop Earmarks, Pork-Barrel Spending, And Waste: John McCain 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. Earmarks restrict America's ability to address genuine national priorities and interfere with fair, competitive markets.

Leadership, Courage And Choices: Reduced spending means making choices. John McCain will provide the courageous leadership necessary to control spending, including:
Eliminate broken government programs. The federal government itself admits that 1 in 5 programs do not perform.
Reform our civil service system to promote accountability and good performance in our federal workforce.
Eliminate earmarks, wasteful subsidies, and pork-barrel spending.
Reform procurement programs and cut wasteful spending in defense and non-defense programs.

Budgetary Reform To Give Tax Cuts A Fair Chance

Congress Has Unfairly Stacked The Deck To Spend More And Raise Taxes.
If a spending program is on the books, budgets assume that it is on the books forever -- and continues to grow -- even if the law says it expires.
If low taxes are on the books, budgets don't assume that they last forever. When they expire, those taxes are automatically raised.
John McCain will reform budgeting to treat equally spending and taxes and to stop damaging tax hikes.

Reforming Entitlement Programs For The 21st Century

Reform Social Security: John McCain will fight to save the future of Social Security and believes that we may meet our obligations to the retirees of today and the future without raising taxes. John McCain supports supplementing the current Social Security system with personal accounts -- but not as a substitute for addressing benefit promises that cannot be kept. John McCain will reach across the aisle, but if the Democrats do not act, he will. No problem is in more need of honesty than the looming financial challenges of entitlement programs. Americans have the right to know the truth and John McCain will not leave office without fixing the problems that threatens our future prosperity and power.

Control Medicare Growth: The growth of spending on Medicare threatens our fiscal future. John McCain has proposed comprehensive health care reforms that will reduce the growth in Medicare spending, protect seniors against rising Medicare premium payments, and preserve the advancements in medical science central to providing quality care.

Trade and Displaced Workers

Lower Barriers to Trade: John McCain believes that globalization is an opportunity for American workers today and in the future. Ninety-five percent of the world's customers lie outside our borders and we need to be at the table when the rules for access to those markets are written. To do so, the U.S. should engage in multilateral, regional and bilateral efforts to reduce barriers to trade, level the global playing field and build effective enforcement of global trading rules.

Competitive American Workers: John McCain understands that globalization will not automatically benefit every American. We must prepare the next generation of workers by making American education worthy of the promise we make to our children and ourselves. We must be a nation committed to competitiveness and opportunity. We must fight for the ability of all students to have access to any school of demonstrated excellence. We must place parents and children at the center of the education process, empowering parents by greatly expanding the ability of parents to choose among schools for their children.

John McCain will overhaul unemployment insurance and make it a program for retraining, relocating and assisting workers who have lost a job. The unemployment insurance system needs to be modernized to meet the goals of helping displaced workers make ends meet between jobs and moving people quickly on to the next opportunity. John McCain will reform the half-dozen training programs to approaches that can be used to meet the bills, pay for training, and get back to work. John McCain believes that we can strengthen community colleges and technical training, and give displaced workers more choices to find their way back to productive and prosperous lives.

Health Care Reform

Comprehensive Health Care Reform: John McCain believes health care reform should address the rising costs that threaten families' budgets, business competitiveness, and government programs by making the entire system responsive to the


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CONT.


Eliminate Wasteful Government Spending


Government Spending, Lower Taxes and Economic Prosperity

Enforcing Fiscal Discipline

As president, John McCain will work to ensure that money spent by Congress, and contributed by hardworking American taxpayers, is used wisely and prudently on legitimate national priorities, not squandered on wasteful pet projects and special interest earmarks.

American families rightly expect the government to wisely manage the dollars they send to Washington. As responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, the federal government must respect the bottom line, just as families do when balancing their own checkbooks.

As president, John McCain will not just talk about fiscal discipline, he will exercise it. The practice of excessive borrowing and deficit spending in Washington must stop. To do otherwise robs the American people of their right to responsible government, and places on future generations of Americans the burden of paying the bill for today's waste and indiscipline.

Ending Pork Barrel Spending


"The federal government spends too much money, squanders precious resources on questionable projects pushed by special interests, and ignores the priorities of the American taxpayer."

-Senator John McCain



Year after year, powerful members of Congress divert taxpayer dollars to special interest pet projects with little or no national value. This practice is especially egregious during wartime, when any federal spending wasted on parochial programs to satisfy special interests represents a failure by the federal government to properly steward tax dollars. John McCain has steadfastly fought to reform this broken system and end the self-serving largesse that defines the current budget process.

As president, John McCain will oppose spending money on projects that siphon away tax dollars collected to fund these important commitments. Setting priorities, and keeping them, is a crucial step toward fiscal restraint and an important priority for a McCain presidency. Every dollar irresponsibly spent by Congress is a dollar diverted from pressing national priorities including lowering the tax burden on working Americans, supporting the men and women fighting the war on terror, making good on the nation's financial commitments at home, including to senior citizens, and paying down the national debt.

Increasing Transparency

Accountability and transparency are the pillars of essential reform. Americans deserve to know how their elected representatives are spending their money. Members of Congress who request earmarks in legislation should be identified and their request should be fully described. Too often, wasteful spending is obscured or buried in hundreds of pages of legislation. Demanding transparency in the budget process will identify elected officials with their fiscal decisions and will ensure Americans know exactly how each of their hard-earned tax dollars is spent.

Making Tough Choices

As president, John McCain is prepared to make the tough, fair, and responsible choices that honor our promises to current beneficiaries and to our children. Every year these decisions are delayed makes meeting this responsibility more difficult and expensive.

Promises made to previous and current generations have placed the United States on an unsustainable budget pathway. Unchecked, Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare obligations will grow as large as the entire federal budget is now in just a few decades. Without comprehensive bipartisan reform to America's entitlement programs, the nation will be unable to meet the challenges of providing vital medical and social security assistance to future generations.

Leadership

America has a proud tradition of improving life for each generation. John McCain is a leader with the courage to do what's right. As president, he will be a common sense steward of the national treasury who we can count on to respect taxpayers and their money, meet priorities, and safeguard the freedom and prosperity of this and future generations.

Path to Lower Taxes

John McCain has always believed in the power of the American people, and the importance of keeping marginal tax rates low. But, tax cuts work best when accompanied by lower spending. Higher taxes and greater spending discourage entrepreneurship, foster wasteful tax-planning and slow long-term growth. Intelligently-formulated tax cuts and sensible tax reform will deliver much higher growth when they are accompanied by lower spending.

Opening Markets & Opportunity

America has proven that empowering free markets and free people is the bulwark of liberty and the surest means to prosperity. We have much to be hopeful about, but duty requires that we face the very real threats that endanger our prosperity. The United States has succeeded because we have been more willing to embrace and encourage change than our competitors. Advances in information technologies have made us better at discovery, quicker to find the new idea that works. Today, American firms spend more money each year researching new ideas and processes than they do on new buildings and machines. And we have opened our doors to the best and brightest from other countries to seek the American dream.

That willingness to change has brought us great wealth, but it has produced justified anxiety as well. Change can cause dislocation and fear, and the opportunities of economic growth are not always apparent to all Americans. These anxieties are exacerbated when those elected to govern spend more of our time on our own ambitions than their concerns. We face serious challenges, and many Americans worry that their government cannot be relied on to face them forthrightly. We have given them cause for that concern.

A global rising tide of economic isolationism is threatening our entrepreneurs. Opening new markets is a key to U.S. economic success. Today, despite all the defeatist rhetoric, America is the world's biggest exporter, importer, producer, saver, investor, manufacturer and innovator. Americans do not shy from the challenge of competition: they welcome it. Because of that, we attract foreign investment from all over the world. Our government should welcome competition as our people do, and not pretend that we can wall off our economy.

Neither should we fail to recognize that competition can lead to painful dislocations for some individuals. We must remain committed to education, retraining, and help for displaced workers all the while reminding ourselves that our ability to change is a great strength of our nation. Indeed, Washington must keep pace with this change and develop new approaches to ensure that our ideas are protected, our intellectual property rights are respected, and our economic outreach serves the American workers today and in the future.

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September 5, 2008


What They're Saying About John McCain's Address To The Republican National Convention


John McCain -- "The Maverick"

Boston Globe: John McCain Accepted His Nomination "With A Promise To Shake Up Washington." "Senator John McCain, returning to the themes that saved his once flailing presidential quest, last night accepted the Republican nomination with a promise to shake up Washington with a bipartisan strategy and patriotic flair, warning political stalwarts that 'change is coming.'" (Susan Milligan, "A Pledge Of Bipartisanship," Boston Globe, 9/5/08)

The New York Post: "John McCain Last Night Returned To His Maverick Roots." "Having comfortably shored up the Republican base with Sarah Palin, John McCain last night returned to his maverick roots - accepting the party's nomination with an appeal to the moderates and independents outside the party who've been the foundation of his political career." (Charles Hurt, "Rebel Reaches Beyond Party Lines," New York Post, 9/5/08)

The New York Post: "And, equally incendiary among many conservatives, McCain regaled Republicans with tales of so many of his efforts at reaching across the aisle on thorny issues - which drove his colleagues bonkers." (Charles Hurt, "Rebel Reaches Beyond Party Lines," New York Post, 9/5/08)

CBS' Jeff Glor: "John McCain Is A Republican Who During A Lot Of His Speech, Sounded Like An Independent, Stressing Above All That He's A Reformer." (CBS' "The Early Show," 9/5/08)

CNN's David Gergen: John McCain Saying He Will Be "Your Warrior In Washington Worked For Him." "One, the recounting of his days in that prison. I don't think he's ever done it in quite so much detail before a large public audience. And it was moving and it helped set up very nicely the character point that Alex was making a few moments ago. People do vote to a significant degree upon the character of the candidates. And here, he was able to really underscore the argument. First I was a warrior overseas, now I'm going to be your warrior in Washington. And I thought that worked for him." (CNN's "CNN Election Center," 9/4/08)

Fox News' Juan Williams: "And when he spoke about bipartisanship, again he said, 'I have the scars.' And I think that was a shot at Senator Obama, saying, you know, 'I really have been in the pits battling for immigration reforms and scarred by his own party.'" (Fox News' "American Election Headquarters," 9/4/08)

The New York Times' David Brooks: John McCain's Passion For Change "Led To The Crescendo Of Raw Energy That Marked This Convention's Conclusion." "Through it all, he communicated his burning indignation at the way Washington has operated over the last 12 years. He communicated his intense passion to lift government to a plane the country deserves. He did note that he has fought to change the Republican Party during its period of decay. And he diagnosed that decay Thursday night (to the tepid applause of the faithful). And this passion for change, combined with his proven and evident integrity, led to the crescendo of raw energy that marked this convention's conclusion." (David Brooks, "A Glimpse Of The New," The New York Times, 9/5/08)

The Washington Post: Sen. McCain Offered Himself As An "Imperfect Servant Who Will Never Surrender In His Fight To Change Washington." "Sen. John McCain of Arizona completed a long and often improbable journey to the Republican presidential nomination Thursday night, offering himself as an 'imperfect servant' who will never surrender in his fight to change Washington and the country." (Robert Barnes, "'Change Is Coming,' McCain Says," The Washington Post, 9/5/08)

The Washington Post: John McCain "Burnished His Reputation As A Truth-Teller In Congress." "He burnished his reputation as a truth-teller in Congress, telling delegates he had 'fought corruption, and it didn't matter if the culprits were Democrats or Republicans. They violated their public trust, and had to be held accountable.'" (Robert Barnes, "'Change Is Coming,' McCain Says," The Washington Post, 9/5/08)

The Wall Street Journal: John McCain Pledged To "Rise Above Washington's Acrimony." "Sen. John McCain claimed the Republican party nomination he has sought for almost a decade by pledging to rise above Washington's acrimony as president and strike a new tone by reaching across partisan divides." (Gerald Seib and Laura Meckler, "McCain Vows End To 'Rancor,' Betting On Maverick Appeal," The Wall Street Journal, 9/5/08)

The Wall Street Journal Editorial: John McCain "Remains A Formidable Contender Because He Can Credibly Claim To Be A Reformer." "Yet Mr. McCain remains a formidable contender -- in part because of his opponent's weaknesses, but also because he can credibly claim to be a reformer who often fought his party's worst instincts, notably on spending and immigration." (Editorial, "The McCain Change," The Wall Street Journal, 9/5/08)

CNN's Anderson Cooper: John McCain "Offered More Specifics Than We Heard" From Barack Obama. "But certainly from John McCain, we heard in his acceptance speech, a lot of specifics, arguably more specific than we heard in Barack Obama's acceptance speech. After several nights, where many commentators said were lacking in specifics." (CNN's, "CNN Election Center," 9/4/08)

CNN's Campbell Brown: John McCain Spoke About The Economy "In A Very Personalized Way." "Yes, I think you're right. And there was all this talk I think before the speech about how much he needed to focus on the economy because that's perceived by many to be his weakness. And I thought when he went through it at the beginning, he did it in a very personalized way or a way in which he tried to say to people, telling people stories individually, I feel your pain, I connect with you, I hear you, which had been one of the criticisms going into those." (CNN's, "CNN Election Center," 9/4/08)

The Wall Street Journal Editorial: "Moreover, Mr. McCain Is Proposing A Policy Agenda That Really Would Shake Up The Status Quo." (Editorial, "The McCain Change," The Wall Street Journal, 9/5/08)

The Wall Street Journal: John McCain "Spoke Bluntly And At Length Of The Economic Concerns Of Middle-Income Americans." "Substantively, Sen. McCain, whose strength as a candidate is his national-security experience and expertise, spoke bluntly and at length of the economic concerns of middle-income Americans -- directly taking on the theme Sen. Obama increasingly has made the centerpiece of his campaign." (Gerald Seib and Laura Meckler, "McCain Vows End To 'Rancor,' Betting On Maverick Appeal," The Wall Street Journal, 9/5/08)

Rich Lowry: John McCain Is "Exactly Where He Heeds To Be." "But as a basis of the fall campaign, it puts McCain exactly where he needs to be - Johnny the Fighter, on a last mission to protect the people's interest in Washington." (Rich Lowry, "The Right Themes," New York Post, 9/5/08)

The Denver Post Editorial: "As McCain Left The Stage, He Left A Republican Party That Was Not Only United Behind His Candidacy But Suddenly Thrilled By It." (Editorial, "McCain Reaches To The Middle," Denver Post, 9/5/08)

NBC's David Gregory: "Senator McCain Emerges From This Convention The Head Of A More United And Enthusiastic Republican Party." (NBC's "Today," 9/5/08)

Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol: "I Would Say They Have Come Out Of These Two Weeks In Pretty Good Shape Going Into The Final Two Months." (FOX News' "On The Record," 9/4/08)

John McCain Energizes

FOX News' Megyn Kelly: "Intense Reaction" From The Crowd. "I'll tell you, watching this crowd during John McCain's speech, they had an intense reaction to him, Brit. They were very focused on every word he said. You got the sense that they wanted to love him. It wasn't the kind of love that may have been there initially, but they were rooting for him, and I tell you what, as the speech went on, he got them." (Fox News' "American Election Headquarters," 9/4/08)

The New York Post: John McCain "Had The GOP Faithful On Their Feet." "McCain had the GOP faithful on their feet when he vowed to wean America off foreign oil." (Carl Campanile, "Fierce War Cry For McChange," New York Post, 9/5/08)

The Denver Post Editorial: John McCain "Brought The Crowd In St. Paul To Its Feet." "But toward the end of his speech, as he implored delegates and Americans to stand up and fight with him to fight 'for what's right for our country .. for our children's future' McCain brought the crowd in St. Paul to its feet." (Editorial, "McCain Reaches To The Middle," Denver Post, 9/5/08)

John McCain's Powerful Life Story Of Serving This Country

Boston Globe: John McCain "Spoke Movingly" About His Life Story. "McCain spoke movingly about his years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, and how it changed him from a selfish and brash young man to a mature 'servant' of his country. 'I've never lived a day, in good times or in bad, that I don't thank God for that privilege,' he said." (Susan Milligan, "A Pledge Of Bipartisanship," Boston Globe, 9/5/08)

Larry Sabato: "The strength of that speech was the biography part of it because it's so powerful, that story about his time in the prisoner-of-war camp. I thought he was also very credible again in his role as a maverick. That's the real John McCain. Look, do you know, this is the first time ever that I can remember or know about in history that a party nominee condemned in part his own party? He went after congressional Republicans in particular for overspending. That was all very credible." (FOX News' "America's Newsroom," 9/5/08)

The New York Post: John McCain "Ended In A Patriotic Flourish." "McCain, sounding Churchillian, ended in a patriotic flourish. He mentioned the word 'fight' or 'fighting' 24 times, with activists so fired up, they drowned out some of his lines. 'Fight for what's right for our country . . . Stand up, stand up. We're Americans and we never give up,' he said." (Carl Campanile, "Fierce War Cry For McChange," New York Post, 9/5/08)

Rich Lowry: John McCain "Joined His Traditional Theme Of Patriotic Service To A Message Of Change." "McCain joined his traditional theme of patriotic service to a message of change and work-a-day populism given new oomph by his pick of the GOP's new popular hero, Sarah Palin. He buttressed these themes with his personal narrative, of sacrifice in Vietnam and of service to country rather than party in Washington." (Rich Lowry, "The Right Themes," New York Post, 9/5/08)

The Rocky Mountain News Editorial: "Most Memorable, Deeply Felt And Authentic Moments Of His Speech Occurred When He Spoke Of His Love For His Country." "Without a doubt, though, the most memorable, deeply felt and authentic moments of his speech occurred when he spoke of his love for his country and dedication to the concept of service. And the reason is obvious: his utterly compelling life story, defined by captivity and torture in Vietnam." (Editorial, "McCain Brings Back The Maverick," The Rocky Mountain News, 9/5/08)

Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol: John McCain "Moving" At The End. "McCain's life speaks for itself, in the sense that the eloquence at the end of the speech was not eloquence in a way, it was just the facts of what had happened, narrated by McCain in a pretty straightforward way. It wasn't an artificially eloquent way, but it was moving." (FOX News' "On The Record," 9/4/08)

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McCain and Obama clash on U.S. economy

Sep 5, 2008

Presidential rivals John McCain and Barack Obama, back on the campaign trail after their party conventions, clashed over the ailing U.S. economy on Friday as unemployment hit its highest monthly rate in nearly five years.

Hours after accepting the Republican nomination, McCain and running mate Sarah Palin opened a two-month sprint to the Nov. 4 presidential election in Wisconsin and Democrat Obama headed to Pennsylvania to tout their cures for the economy.

A new report showed the U.S. jobless rate unexpectedly shot up to 6.1 percent in August, adding to public worries about an economy that opinion polls show was already the top concern for American voters.

"Americans are hurting and we must act to create jobs," McCain said in a statement, promising to enact a jobs program and retrain workers for a changing market.

He rapped Obama's tax proposals, which include a large tax cut for lower- and middle-class workers but would increase taxes for the wealthiest Americans. "The American people cannot afford a Barack Obama presidency," he said.

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September 5, 2008


Statement By John McCain On Today's Jobs Report

U.S. Senator John McCain today issued the following statement on the jobs report:

"Americans are hurting and we must act to create jobs. Unfortunately, while millions of Americans are gathering around the kitchen table and questioning how they can keep their homes, pay their medical bills and afford their children's education, Washington has failed to act. As I promised last night, I will fight for those that lost their jobs, savings, and real estate investments. Some Americans have been left behind in the changing economy, and it often seems your government hasn't even noticed. We must prepare every worker for the jobs of tomorrow. We will use our community colleges to help train people for new opportunities in their communities. As President, I will enact a Jobs for America economic plan that creates jobs, helps small businesses, expands opportunities and opens markets to American goods. Washington must stand beside the American people, not in their way.

"Sadly there are those who believe that to grow this economy we must raise taxes, impose costly new mandates and isolate America from the global economy. When our economy is hurting, the last thing we should do is raise taxes as Barack Obama plans to do and has done. The American people cannot afford a Barack Obama presidency."

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John McCain speech draws record TV ratings

LOS ANGELES-A record 38.9 million U.S. TV viewers watched John McCain accept the Republican nomination for president on Thursday, slightly more than the 38.3 million people who tuned in for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's speech, Nielsen Media Research reported.

McCain's tally was also higher than the 37.2 million Americans who tuned in to hear Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's address, Nielsen said on Friday.

In his speech, McCain, 72, touted his credentials as a reformer and portrayed himself as the real agent of change in the race against Obama as he accepted his party's presidential nomination in an arena filled with supporters waving blue "Country First" signs.

But the reception inside the convention center in St. Paul was more muted than for Palin's fiery acceptance speech on Wednesday, which directed repeated barbs at Obama and drew roars from the crowd.

McCain trails Obama slightly in most national opinion polls as they head into the Nov. 4 presidential election, but on Thursday he promised the Republican faithful he would win.

"I don't work for a party. I don't work for a special interest. I don't work for myself. I work for you," McCain said in a speech that included only passing criticisms of Obama after a four-day convention marked by scathing attacks on the Democrat.

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September 5, 2008

Statement By John McCain On "Stand Up To Cancer" Event


U.S. Senator John McCain today released the following statement on the networks' prime-time special event, "Stand Up to Cancer," which will air tonight. The campaign also released information on how John McCain will support the efforts to win the fight against cancer through a comprehensive, public-private strategy. John McCain will outline his plans in a video that will be shown during the prime-time special.

Statement by Senator John McCain on "Stand Up to Cancer" Event

"I applaud ABC, CBS and NBC coming together tonight to air an unprecedented one-hour program titled 'Stand Up to Cancer' which will bring prominent individuals from the worlds of TV, film, music, sports, science and journalism with the singular goal of raising awareness and funds to win the fight against cancer.

"Despite achieving many life-saving advances, the war against cancer is an ongoing struggle that continues every day. Nearly 1,500 Americans die every day from this devastating disease. The doctors and researchers engaged in the heroic battle to win this fight are counting on a sustained national commitment to find new treatments and cures.

"As President, I will lead the effort for stronger and more coordinated public and private research efforts. I have worked in the past to double NIH funding, and will also work for greater focus on healthy living, early detection, and ensuring access to quality and affordable care for all Americans, especially those who are denied coverage because of a devastating disease like cancer. This is a fight we must and will win as a nation."

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WTF IS GOING ON HERE IN THE STATES?

It appears that most on the left (alot of young and naive individuals) are more interested in planning a funeral instead of voting for the best candidate as our next:

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

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ICYMI: "Yes, Palin Did Stop That Bridge"


September 10, 2008

"My Senate colleague Barack Obama is now attacking Gov. Sarah Palin over earmarks. Having worked with both John McCain and Mr. Obama on earmarks, and as a recovering earmarker myself, I can tell you that Mrs. Palin's leadership and record of reform stands well above that of Mr. Obama." -- Sen. Jim DeMint


"Yes, Palin Did Stop That Bridge"
Sen. Jim DeMint
The Wall Street Journal
September 10, 2008

"But, you know, when you've been taking all these earmarks when it's convenient, and then suddenly you're the champion anti-earmark person, that's not change. Come on! I mean, words mean something, you can't just make stuff up." -- Barack Obama, Sept. 6, 2008

In politics, words are cheap. What really counts are actions. Democrats and Republicans have talked about fiscal responsibility for years. In reality, both parties have a shameful record of wasting hundreds of billions of tax dollars on pork-barrel projects.

My Senate colleague Barack Obama is now attacking Gov. Sarah Palin over earmarks. Having worked with both John McCain and Mr. Obama on earmarks, and as a recovering earmarker myself, I can tell you that Mrs. Palin's leadership and record of reform stands well above that of Mr. Obama.

Let's compare.

Mrs. Palin used her veto pen to slash more local projects than any other governor in the state's history. She cut nearly 10% of Alaska's budget this year, saving state residents $268 million. This included vetoing a $30,000 van for Campfire USA and $200,000 for a tennis court irrigation system. She succinctly justified these cuts by saying they were "not a state responsibility."

Meanwhile in Washington, Mr. Obama voted for numerous wasteful earmarks last year, including: $12 million for bicycle paths, $450,000 for the International Peace Museum, $500,000 for a baseball stadium and $392,000 for a visitor's center in Louisiana.

Mrs. Palin cut Alaska's federal earmark requests in half last year, one of the strongest moves against earmarks by any governor. It took real leadership to buck Alaska's decades-long earmark addiction.

Mr. Obama delivered over $100 million in earmarks to Illinois last year and has requested nearly a billion dollars in pet projects since 2005. His running mate, Joe Biden, is still indulging in earmarks, securing over $90 million worth this year.

Mrs. Palin also killed the infamous Bridge to Nowhere in her own state. Yes, she once supported the project: But after witnessing the problems created by earmarks for her state and for the nation's budget, she did what others like me have done: She changed her position and saved taxpayers millions. Even the Alaska Democratic Party credits her with killing the bridge.

When the Senate had its chance to stop the Bridge to Nowhere and transfer the money to Katrina rebuilding, Messrs. Obama and Biden voted for the $223 million earmark, siding with the old boys' club in the Senate. And to date, they still have not publicly renounced their support for the infamous earmark.

Mrs. Palin has proven courageous by taking on big spenders in her own party. In March of this year, the Anchorage Daily News reported that, "Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens is aggravated about what he sees as Gov. Sarah Palin's antagonism toward the earmarks he uses to steer federal money to the state."

Mr. Obama had a chance to take on his party when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid offered a sham ethics bill, which was widely criticized by watchdog groups such as Citizens Against Government Waste for shielding earmarks from pubic scrutiny. But instead of standing with taxpayers, Mr. Obama voted for the bill. Today, he claims he helped write the bill that failed to clean up Washington.

Mr. Obama has shown little restraint on earmarks until this year, when he decided to co-sponsor an earmark moratorium authored by Mr. McCain and myself. Mr. Obama is vulnerable on this issue, and he knows it. That is why he is lashing out at Mrs. Palin and trying to hide his own record.

Mrs. Palin is one of the strongest antiearmark governors in America. If more governors around the country would do what she has done, we would be much closer to fixing our nation's fiscal problems than we are. Mrs. Palin's record here is solid and inspiring. She will help Mr. McCain shut down the congressional favor factory, and she has a record to prove it. Actions mean something. You can't just make stuff up.

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We'll Protect Taxpayers From More Bailouts
By JOHN MCCAIN and SARAH PALIN
September 9, 2008
Wall Street Journal Page A25

The bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is another outrageous, but sadly necessary, step for these two institutions. Given the long-term mismanagement and flawed structure of these two companies, this was the only short-term alternative for ensuring that hard-working Americans have access to affordable mortgages during this difficult economic period.

We are strong advocates for the permanent reform of Fannie and Freddie. For years, Congress failed to act and it is deeply troubling that what we are now seeing is an exercise in crisis management rather than sound planning, and at great cost to taxpayers.

We promise the American people that our administration will be different. We have long records of standing up to special interests and providing the leadership to change government and make it more accountable to the American taxpayer. In our administration, every agency and department will undergo rigorous oversight and review. We will require the highest standards of accounting, reporting and transparency ever demanded in government.

Enduring reform of Fannie and Freddie is a key first step. We will make sure that they are permanently restructured and downsized, and no longer use taxpayer backing to serve lobbyists, management, boards and shareholders.

Treasury has broadly followed the McCain plan, outlined months ago, and gets at the short-term heart of the problem. That plan reinforces the federal commitment to meet our obligations and get this mess behind us. It replaces management and board members. It requires that shareholders take losses first. It puts taxpayers first in line for any repayments. And it terminates future lobbying, which was one of the primary contributors to this great debacle.

Along with the commitment of taxpayers' dollars, we should make market reforms to help ensure that we do not face this problem again. We will make sure the marketplace understands its obligations. Homeowners must be able to understand the terms and obligations of their mortgages. In return, they have an obligation to provide truthful financial information, and should be subject to penalty if they do not. Policies must be in place to ensure that homeowners provide a responsible down payment of equity in the initial purchase of a loan. In the future, Fannie, Freddie or any government organization should never insure a loan when the homeowner doesn't have enough of his or her own capital in the investment.

Lenders who initiate loans will be held accountable for the quality and performance of those loans, and strict standards must be required in the lending process. Every lender must be required to meet the highest standards of ethical behavior, with recourse if they do not perform.

Reforms are necessary now to make mortgage lending and banking organizations more transparent. We will require greater disclosure, so that complex derivative instruments and excessive leverage can't put the marketplace, and the financial security of your home, at risk.

We will push the nation's top mortgage lenders to provide maximum support to help cash-strapped, but credit-worthy customers. Lenders should do everything possible to keep families in their homes and business growing.

Fixing Fannie and Freddie, and reforming our mortgage and financial markets, is critical to getting the housing market and the entire economy moving again. A great deal of the savings and wealth of American families is wrapped up in the value of their homes. A house has traditionally been the wealth-building course to retirement. The housing industry employs millions of Americans. One of us, John McCain, said over two years ago, "If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose."

Fannie and Freddie's lobbyists succeeded and Congress failed. Under our administration this will not happen again.

In the first 100 days of our administration, we will look at every agency and department and expenditure of the federal government and ask this simple question: Is it serving the needs of the taxpayer? If it is not, we will reform it or shut it down, and we will spend money only on what is truly in the interest of the American people.