US Presidential Elections - Obama Vs McCain

[Raoul_Duke]

Anyone been following the American election campaign between Barack Obama and John McCain? What are your opinions on these two candidates and who would you like to see elected?

Personally I find the whole thing fascinating, the whole media circus they have going on over there blows me away. Fox News and their all out racist assault on Barack Obama is almost unbelievable

Check this out:

[anwarsadat]

As sad as I find it, I do not believe America will ever elect a black president.

The 'good 'ol boys' of the south and middle America will vote McCain.

God help the world with a president more nuts than GW Bush.

So many years of solitary imprisonment in North Vietnam and he'll have his finger on the nuclear button - Crikey.

Makes me cringe that he adopted a muslim (by birth) Bangladeshi girl and called her Bridget and raised her as an evangelist Christian.

Don't care about religion, but there is something wrong there surely.

[Raoul_Duke]

Originally Posted by anwarsadat

As sad as I find it, I do not believe America will ever elect a black president.

The 'good 'ol boys' of the south and middle America will vote McCain.

God help the world with a president more nuts than GW Bush.

So many years of solitary imprisonment in North Vietnam and he'll have his finger on the nuclear button - Crikey.

Makes me cringe that he adopted a muslim (by birth) Bangladeshi girl and called her Bridget and raised her as an evangelist Christian.

Don't care about religion, but there is something wrong there surely.

The guy's about 103 years old and apparently is "concerned about trouble on the Iraq-Pakistan border" Is this what we could expect to put up with for the next 4 years? ... assuming he lasts that long.

But then, I would say the issue is less to do with some racist southerners and more to do with the huge amount of liberal hating neocons, who will do literally anything possible to discredit Obama or any other Democrat for that matter. I still hold hope that enough Yanks can see sense enough to vote in Obama.

[dakara]

The whole World needs Barak Obama as the United States President.
George W Bush's [Dick Cheney's} tenure in office, has been a disaster, not only for the USA, but for the rest of us "second class" citizens of this Planet.
In particular, the war in Iraq is not only diverting vast sums of money from developmental projects, but also directly causing the death of innumerable innocent people.
As usual, the Politicians and Arms Manufacturers never suffer the consequences of their greed, but just sit back and enjoy their profits.
We are all far more at risk from terrorist attacks now, than we ever were prior to the G W Bush years, and the reputation of the USA has crumbled in the dust, which makes me very sad.
Obama is not a "Magician", and will have a difficult job turning things around, BUT, he WILL try, and hopefully succeed.

Voting for John McCain, is for more of the same old story that we enjoy [?] now.
Unfortunately, he just reminds me of "Lonesome George" the 150 [?] year old Galapagos Tortoise, transmuted by Weird Science. :boring

[vader100]

Being in the Armed Forces any American president that will get it's troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan is the one I want. GB will obviously have to follow.
So Obama it is then.

Also is Jack Bauer on standby? He might have the worst day of his life soon.

[NewMan]

I have to say, I don't know enough about the policies of each man to make a declarative statement, but I can certainly comment on the policies I know about.

1) Barack is planning the removal of troops from Iraq (not sure about Afghanistan). While this sounds like a good idea as a vote-winner, I have a terrible feeling that leaving this fledgling "US-style" democracy all alone in the Middle-East is going to cause them a lot more problems than they already have. A style of democracy that, if you'll forgive the sweeping generalisation, doesn't really have a chance to "cut it" in that region of predominately Islamic leaderships. The country is fractured, with no real military to speak of, and would be easy pickings for the likes of Iran, who could just walk in and take over in the name of "Islamic unity". Now, this is pure speculation at best, wild fantasy (partially stolen from a Tom Clancy novel - I forgot which one, Executive Orders, I think) at worst, but I don't see it as impossible. I should point out that though I don't believe we should have gone to Iraq in the first place, that fact that we've (and I mean the US and UK) started this job, should mean that we finish it, and we should stand behind the men and women risking their lives, regardless of the political reasons behind the invasion, and pulling troops out because it'll win votes is NOT how I believe we should go forward.

2) McCain appears to be an Evangelical nutbar, if you'll pardon my saying so. The policies I know about (banning abortions, etc) are all geared towards a Christian ideology. I thought the US Constitution was meant to secure a secular government, with no one religion being promoted over another. Now, with the Presidency constantly playing into the hands of the fundamentalist Christian Right Wing, and with a (current) leader who openly professes to have spoken to God on matters of State, and vetos scientific research because it conflicts with his own religious beliefs, is there really an option for another lunatic who believes he's right because he believes in God, and makes all his decisions based on his ideology? You can guarantee that under McCain, we'll end up following the US into further wars in Syria, Iran and various other "strategic" Islamic states, in the name of "freedom" and the "war on terror".

Anyway, my 2p's worth, go nuts and tear me a new one, I'm feeling feisty today.

[Miyazaki]

The USA as a country has gone backwards over the last 8 years. It has been humiliated, discredited and ostracised the world over, not least for their outrageous foreign policy.

If microchips gets in, then we can probably expect world war 3.

Originally Posted by Raoul_Duke

Anyone been following the American election campaign between Barack Obama and John McCain? What are your opinions on these two candidates and who would you like to see elected?

Personally I find the whole thing fascinating, the whole media circus they have going on over there blows me away. Fox News and their all out racist assault on Barack Obama is almost unbelievable

How are they being "racist?"

Originally Posted by dakara

The whole World needs Barak Obama as the United States President.
George W Bush's [Dick Cheney's} tenure in office, has been a disaster, not only for the USA, but for the rest of us "second class" citizens of this Planet.

How is that?

Originally Posted by dakara

In particular, the war in Iraq is not only diverting vast sums of money from developmental projects, but also directly causing the death of innumerable innocent people.

What 'development projects?' I would think it is up to Americans to decide on how to spend their own money.

The 'death of innumerable innocent people' were occurring long before the country was liberated.

Originally Posted by dakara

As usual, the Politicians and Arms Manufacturers never suffer the consequences of their greed, but just sit back and enjoy their profits.
We are all far more at risk from terrorist attacks now, than we ever were prior to the G W Bush years,

We were also 'far more at risk' of attack at the beginning of WWII. In the end though there was victory. Besides, the 9/11 attacks were planned long before Bush showed up.

Originally Posted by dakara

and the reputation of the USA has crumbled in the dust, which makes me very sad.

It's a matter of do as we say you should or otherwise we will not like you anymore. What country needs friends and allies like that. Besides, those that hate America or Americans don't need too much input for them to show their true colors of bitterness, hate and intolerance. The war is a very convenient excuse.

I would also think a country or a person should be much more concerned about doing the right over maintaining a certain 'reputation.'

Originally Posted by Games Guru

The USA as a country has gone backwards over the last 8 years. It has been humiliated, discredited and ostracised the world over, not least for their outrageous foreign policy.

If microchips gets in, then we can probably expect world war 3.

How has it been 'humiliated?' It has bravely freed two countries from oppression, brutality, torture and murder.

It has been 'ostracised' only by those who feel they have something to gain. A true ally, even in disagreement, would not go so far.

I see nothing glaringly wrong with their 'foreign policy' except for certain strategic decisions made in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[NewMan]

Originally Posted by tunococ

It's a matter of do as we say you should or otherwise we will not like you anymore. What country needs friends and allies like that.

Erm, isn't that EXACTLY what the US did to France when they wouldn't join their holy quest? To the ridiculous end that "french fries" were renamed "freedom fries"? Or is that irrelevant since, as we all now know - thanks to the intellectual powerhouse that is George W. Bush - "the French have no word for 'entrepreneur'"?

Originally Posted by tunococ

It has bravely freed two countries from oppression, brutality, torture and murder.

Yes, they're completely altruistic in their motives to rid the world of all those things (ironically, by applying exactly those things in their own Cuban TortureHouse)... It had nothing to do with oil or establishing a further presence in the area to bolster Israel. Scouts honour.

[Raoul_Duke]

Originally Posted by tunococ

How are they being "racist?"

Refering to a "pound" as a "terrorist fist jab" or referring to Obamas wife as "his baby momma" is not racist to you?

Are you serious?

[Miyazaki]

Originally Posted by tunococ

How has it been 'humiliated?' It has bravely freed two countries from oppression, brutality, torture and murder.

That might just be the funniest thing i've ever heard!

[Bilbob]

Originally Posted by Games Guru

That might just be the funniest thing i've ever heard!

I agree... that really is funny, do you think he was being ironic?

If not, can I ask why The Almighty US of A hasn't seen fit to 'save' Zimbabwe from the same?

Oh, it hasn't got oil...

Do you see?

[anwarsadat]

........Or why 100,000+ Bosnians died before the US took action over KOSOVO.