He chose a white guy

[John-in-KC]

Obama comes across to me as an unabashed Socialist.

 

McCain comes across to me as a pragmatist. He's proven, time and again, he can and does get the deal done.

 

As for McCain's military service, I thank him that he kept the Code of Conduct. I've noticed among Presidents in my voting lifetime that those who have been to war understand the profigate waste of young life it means. They are loathe to do so randomly, and they do commit forces with a vision of "what right will look like at the end of the day."

 

Presidents in my voting lifetime who have not been to war have brought us Desert One, Cruise Missiles into caves, and war plans that disgregarded General Shy Meyer's dictum to be ready for the Three Days of War.

[NJCubScouter]

Glass ceiling in the Democratic party, John? I seem to recall that the Democrats nominated a woman for vice president 24 years ago. The Republicans never have. That is not to say that any given party should, or shouldn't, nominate a woman in any given year, including this one. I am just saying that your "glass ceiling" comment seems to be pointed in the wrong direction. I sincerely doubt that you will be seeing Condoleeza Rice on the Republican ticket this year, for a variety of reasons. Personally I don't think McCain's running mate will be female, but we will find out soon enough.

 

As for Joseph Lieberman, in no way, shape or form is he a "liberal." Democrats consider him a conservative, which is why (well, specifically because of his position on Iraq) he did not receive the Democratic nomination the last time he ran for re-election. Which is why he is now an Independent. I recall that his ideological leanings caused some tense moments at the 2000 Democratic convention, because a number of liberal Democrats were not too thrilled at this conservative who had been nominated for VP.

 

As for Obama being a "Socialist", unabashed or otherwise, I don't quite know what to say. I would ask which of his positions you think is "Socialist", but I am concerned that you might actually answer.

[John-in-KC]

Abortion, vice pro-life.

 

Distribution of income.

 

Redistribution of income.

 

"Peace in our time." IOW a proposed capitulative foreign policy.

 

The list goes on. He's a Socialist from where I sit.

 

BTW, I make something less than 60K a year. When Billary hit town, I was making about 35K. I found even then my taxes went up.

 

No, I don't trust the Democratic party.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

[GernBlansten]

The term socialism is used to refer to an economic system characterized by state ownership or worker ownership of the means of production and distribution.

 

I haven't seen any position that Obama is promoting that.

[OldGreyEagle]

it may be the evolution of words. I think the term "Socialism" has taken on the meaning that the government should take on all of society's ills and solve them. Hence the Welfare system, Social Security (even has the word "Social" in it), Medicare, Medicaid and Food stamps. I guess a lot on the list would fall under welfare, but I wanted to list the major examples. Perhaps the government should have some interest in the welfare of its citizens, but some states regard children as property of the state and its their right to remove them from parents for various reasons.

 

I beleive it was Obama who said the government was doing enough to curb teen age pregnancy, I didnt know that was one of their responsibilities. I thought that was the parents job, then the community. When you beleive that the government should fix societies ills, I can see why people would call that socialism, even if the term is mis used

[OldGreyEagle]

On a separte note, wasnt Biden the guy who had to drop out of a presidential primary race a few elections back because of plaugerism?

 

Is that forgotten now or was it ever true? And if it was true, why did he have to quit if now years later its ok?

 

it may never have been true, I remember he did drop from the race once the plaugerism accusation was made

[packsaddle]

I think the term is often used as a pejorative to cover for lack of ideas, perhaps knowledge. For some it is a way to link, conceptually, the target of the term to a famous socialist experiment, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. I hear the same kind of thing on the radio talk shows..."Obama (Clinton, etc. fillintheblank) is a Communist"..with no further elaboration - nothing further is needed.

My neighbor down the street, the one with the Confederate flag flown above the American flag, calls Obama a Communist. What he REALLY means is that Obama is a n-word but he's ashamed to say it openly, go figure. I heard one of my neighbor's sermons. His description of Jesus was as a perfect Communist. So...maybe he is an Obama supporter???? Naaaaahhhh.

 

OGE, are you opposed to the social programs you listed?

[OldGreyEagle]

Heck, Medicare feeds my family. I am a Medicare compliance Consultant and help hospitals correctly report the care they provided for proper reimbursement. Reimbursement BTW which does not cover the actual cost of most procedures, but thats another topic.

 

No, I am not opposed to the programs in general. However, I do disagree with their administration. I would like to think there is an account out there with OldGreyEagle as its title and its all the money I ever put in it sitting there waiting for me. Alas, all the money I have put in has already been paid out to others and there is a genuine threat that when my time comes, there will not be any left for me, and others of the same generation. Medicaid in theory is a great program, the state pays health care costs for the poor (economically disadvantged) but in most states it means the Emergency Room becomes the family physician for many while clogging up the system with illnesses which would better be served in a physician office but since physicians as independent bussiness can refuse to accept Medicaid or Medicare patrients they congragate in the Emergency Room and the hospital does not recover near the cost of the visit.

 

The system generally referred to as welfare is a great idea, but when a culture develops that encourages people to do nothing and receive the benefits of working then that is a problem. Unfortunately I dont have a solution but I still know a broken system when I see it.

[John-in-KC]

Medicaid is socialized (government owned and operated down to the level of the provider)redistribution of wealth.

 

Medicare is socialized (government owned and operated down to the level of the provider) redistribution of wealth.

 

I've noticed, in my lifetime, that the "doctor's office" is generally now a group practice with 15-20 physicians, more nurses, and a lot of staff onboard. I'm told by docs I know "we had to do it in order to make any money for ourselves."

 

Yes, Obama's a Socialist. I don't see him advocating out-and-out Capitalism.

[OldGreyEagle]

Actually the reason you see more mega-practices than single practioners is based on money alright. More money for the physicians, a physcian office can do the same test and get more money for it than a hospital doing the same test and the hospital's overhead is a tad more. The mega-practice can look and see if you are insured and take you over to their x-ray machine to get that chest film, if you are a self-pay or Medicare, or other undesirable, you get a script and go to the hospital for the film. The mega-practices may also have "surgi centers" which do procedures that a hospital could do on the insured and steer the uninsured to the hospitals. Then when the hospitals have financial difficulties the physicians claim the hospital was mis-managed. Of course the physcians skimming the cream has nothing to do with it.

 

Then, to get on track, how can any president tell independent bussiness people (Physicians) who they will or wont care for?

Provide health care to everyone who needs it? Do we have or want the resources to do so?(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

[TheScout]

All I know is when I read the federal constitution I don't see the word "health," "doctor," or "hospital" or anything similar in the listing of the powers granted to any branch of the federal government.

 

But I do see the 10th Amendment which says

 

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

 

It would seem that all such health matters would be a state of personal responsibility anyway.

 

There is no such thing as a good idea clause in the constitution. Just because something is a good idea does not mean it is constitutional.

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

Section 8 - Powers of Congress

 

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States

 

I can't find any rulings saying medicare is unconstitutional.

[TheScout]

If the General Welfare Clause was meant to allow the United States to spend money for any purpose, why did the writers of the Constitution bother to enumerate the rest of the powers in Article II Section 8. And why would the Elastic Clause be needed?

 

Madison wrote in the Federalist papers that this clause was only related to the other specifically enumerated powers.

 

Your interpretation would support a federal establishment of limitless powers. But we all know that is what you want to promote your warped agenda.

[OldGreyEagle]

I do not find merlyn's agenda to be warped, he wants the rules applied uniformly to everyone, and that means everyone. I do not beleive many of the things he does or understand many of the things he says, but that of itself does not make it warped, which is slightly inflammatory.

[acco40]

Most Presidential candidates choose a running mate to garner votes. If Obama did choose a female other than Hillary, he would likely loose her supporters. If he did choose Hillary, he would alienate many. If he chose a black male, he would risk the loss of votes by voters who may think the ticket "too black." So, what did he do? Pick a white male who has perceived expertise in an area where Obama is perceived to be weak - foreign policy.

 

I'll say one thing, Obama is sure driven. If elected, it will be the first time I would be older than the President of the United States.