" Actually, I do have a few questions.

1. How will he define the difference between companies that create "good" jobs and those who create other kinds of jobs?

2. What renewable energy sources is he going to invest in, and once they are invested in, what will the cost be to the consumer to convert our stuff to use it? Also, how can he determine the number of jobs this will create? Will these new energy companies be government sponsored?

3. On education, who will decide which teachers are "good" teachers? Also, what supports will be added and how will accountability be achieved?

4. On health care, how is he going to lower my premiums, specifically? Also, who is going to foot the bill for those on government health care when he lowers taxes for 95% of working Americans? Is he going to have to start cutting everything that isn't nailed down like Blago, or is he going to tax the heck out of the companies who employ us (making them less likely to give raises in order to protect their profitability) and sell us products (driving up prices in order to make up the difference)?

5. How is he going to force employers everywhere to increase paid sick days and family leave? At what point are employees responsible for working when their employers need them to? Further, what does an equal day's pay for an equal day's work mean exactly? Does that mean that everyone working the same number of hours gets the same paycheck no matter what job they work?

6. Concerning his plans to go through the budget line by line to pay for all of it, see my comments above concerning Blago.

7. On the topic of national security, when he sends the troops into battle with that clear mission and sacred commitment, will he also yank them back out at the first sign of trouble, negating their sacrifices?

8. Lastly, please define tough diplomacy and establish the rubric by which we will grade our moral standing.

I think that pretty much clears it up, and since you asked if there are any questions, I can only assume that you will answer them. "

" When I read Obama's plans, all I see is more and more government moving us closer and closer to full-on socialism.

Also, Connie, I did some research and I found that John McCain has a website with all of his positions too. I know, crazy. So apparently both candidates have websites with all of their positions and plans spelled out for anyone who is interested, AND according to your letter they both give speeches in which they hammer their selling points (McCain-lifetime of service to the country; Obama-change, change, change).

Good grief. I can take a little partisanship now and again, but to truly believe that someone who has never actually had to prove their plans work on any level can step in and cure every problem, big or small, is beyond niave. I will be voting for John McCain, not because I believe he will fix all of our problems, but because I think he will make progress in the right direction more often than not. "

" Here are some of McCains former flip flops.

He evidently challenged anyone to show where he has, when he was on The View. Biggest one in recent memory, would be not picking his own running mate. There is no way he picked her, he was instructed to announce her. These two manchurian canidates, are implanted republicans, through and through.

Of the 42, my favorite is his positions on government funding of contraception in africa, for aids prevention.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/12/
mccain-issues-a-challenge/

Take the one space out before mccain.

I tried tiny url, I know, but they never get put on. "

" What a bunch of hogwash! ...no lips intended. "

" Obama will solve all of America's problems?

Forgive me, Coonsey, my friend, but....

Someone, please, gag me with a fork!

Nothing personal, but when someone has their head stuck so far up a politician's butt, where you can't tell where one begins, & the other one ends, they are in the dark if they think they're view is the only clear path to a greater America.
And that goes for both sides of the aisle!

This letter may or may not be the proverbial pig with lipstick, but, this is perhaps being pig-headed with a VERY brown nose. "

" Good post, Soldier. Better be careful though, and maybe a little more sensitive, when addressing Connie. I hear tell she's still recovering from the fainting spell she had just after mailing this letter to the editor the other day.

Honest to God, it really does sound like she believes all the outlandish expectations she has for Moses, er, I mean, Obama. "

" I ditto all the questions Just a Soldier asked, plus, I especially liked the last paragraph of your letter and I hope the enemy all understand his point of view so they will cooperate in his accomplishing all that!
And if you truly believe all the stuff you wrote someone somewhere probably has some good resort land to sell you.
I would also like to know where he will get all the money to accomplish all these wonderful things and not raise our taxes.
Perhaps we should bow down to him as it sounds too wonderful to be true. "

" He will split the seas,Walk on water,
Bring all nations together and vote present, and be able to sell you any car you don't want. Why do people believe any politician's promises?
More taxes and more government. Thats what you will get no-matter who is elected. "

" Unfortunately, the headline is much to strong, but of course you dind't write the headline. The writer at the Times-courier did.

I think that Mr. Obama will try to do those things, but I suspect he will be thwarted by the entrenched lobbiests and members of congress. Mr. McCain says that he will reform Washington, but he will have the same problem that Mr. Obama has. Both Republicans and Democratics rail against the special interests, but what they mean is your special interests not my special interests.

In the end, no matter who wins, I predict business as usual. That's why I am not going to vote for anyone who is presently in office. let someone else have a chance at the goodies which I am sure they will gladly take. "

" Barrack Obama will also solve the Washington-Politics-as-usual by,

going along with it:

CNN) -- "Last year Sen. Barack Obama, submitted a laundry list of federal funding requests, known as earmarks, to the Senate Appropriations Committee: 112 earmarks totaling more than $330 million in taxpayer funds."

BUT IT GETS BETTER:

Obama (known as Captain Earmark)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama tried to direct more than $3 million in taxpayer funds to a Chicago museum whose chairman is one of the Illinois senators largest campaign fundraisers

The planetariums chairman, then and still, is Frank Clark, chief executive of ComEd, a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Energy. He has pledged to raise more than $200,000 for Mr. Obamas run for the White House.

Moreover, the Adler Planetarium is represented by the lobbying firm National Group LLP, co-founded by William Oldaker, who helped launch Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr.s political action committee in 2005. Mr. Oldaker, a partner with the Delaware Democrats son in another Washington lobbying and law firm, is no longer involved with Mr. Bidens PAC, Unite Our States

Two years earlier, Mr. Obama sought $300,000 for the Adler in another unsuccessful earmark request.

OVER THE COURSE OF OBAMA'S SHORT AND INEXPERIENCED POLITICAL CAREER, HE HAS GONE ALONG WITH THE GOOD-OLE-BOY WASHINGTON POLITICS AS HE REQUESTED ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS OF PORK-BARREL MONEY, KNOWN AS EARMARKS.

INCLUDING THE ALASKAN "BRIDGE-TO-NOWHERE", WHICH HE AND JOE BIDEN REQUESTED EARMARKS FOR- *TWICE*

NOW THAT'S CHANGE WE CAN ALL BELIEVE IN ISN'T IT CONNIE. "

" Here ya go Connie

http://www.atlah.org/broadcast/ndnr09-03-08.html "

" Seriously, Obama will solve all of America's problems? Maybe he is the Messiah? Connie, that's a dumb way to title your letter -- did you title it, or was the title selected for you by the JG/TC. That is what I want to know, because the title is as dumb as Doh's logic.

I gave McCain a chance to lay forward his case at the convention. Unfortunately, all I did hear from everyone was that McCain is a war hero. Hello? I already knew this. I really wanted to hear the candidates priorities and some specifics. Honestly, I was not impressed with McCain or Obama during their conventions -- Obama, however, did give more specifics and I agree with your general premise.

After all, McCain chief advisor already said this election was not about the issues but the person running. "

" It all comes down to what you vote for.
more taxes = healthcare for our children, college assistance, schools, roads and libraries - even historic sites and state parks!
less taxes = less of all of these things and more money in your pocket to spend on that high priced oil some want to drill more of.
When you vote for environmental issues and taking care of our next generation, like myself, McCain and Palin is a scary thought. What good are polar bears and coral reefs anyhow? "

" Ah, yes, the Reverend Manning - my main man, my favorite. Finally a voice of reason coming from Harlem. Praise the Lord! There's hope, and real change! "

" Come on guys give Commie manes a break. In commuter services building they try to be nice and just say She is not none as the brightest bulb in the building.
You know she is a little challenged,like a legend in her own mind. "

" I can make a lot of empty promises too, Connie.

But I can also promise to educate you on Barrack Obama's corrupt track record as a "community organizer":

GRIM PROVING GROUND FOR OBAMA'S HOUSING POLICY

"The candidate endorsed subsidies for private entrepreneurs to build low-income units. But, while he garnered support from developers, many projects in his former district have fallen into disrepair.

As a state senator, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee coauthored an Illinois law creating a new pool of tax credits for developers. As a US senator, he pressed for increased federal subsidies. And as a presidential candidate, he has campaigned on a promise to create an Affordable Housing Trust Fund that could give developers an estimated $500 million a year.

But a Globe review found that THOUSANDS OF APARTMENTS ACROSS CHICAGO that had been built with local, state, and federal subsidies - including SEVERAL HUNDRED IN OBAMA'S FORMER DISTRICT - deteriorated so completely that they were NO LONGER HABITABLE.

Grove Parc and several other prominent failures were developed and managed by Obama's close friends and political supporters. Those PEOPLE PROFITED FROM THE SUBSIDIES EVEN AS MANY OF OBAMA'S CONSTITUENTS SUFFERED. Tenants lost their homes; surrounding neighborhoods were blighted.

Some of the residents of Grove Parc say THEY ARE ANGRY THAT OBAMA DID NOT NOTICE THEIR PLIGHT. The development straddles the boundary of Obama's state Senate district. Many of the tenants have been his constituents for more than a decade.

"No one should have to live like this, and no one did anything about it," said Cynthia Ashley, who has lived at Grove Parc since 1994."

(The Boston Globe June 27 2008.) "

" Connie,you forgot a few things that Obama will do.

.Increase the capital gains tax so that if you sell your home for a profit you will give the government 28%.

.Increase the dividend tax on any interest from money invested in the stock market, IRA, mutual funds,college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, etc. from the current levels to 39.6%

.Allow income tax cuts to expire.

. Restore the inheritance tax which will result in lost small businesses, farm land, and homes that have been in the family for generations.

He also proposes new taxes on:

. Homes of more than 2400 square feet.

.Gasoline

.Consumption taxes on water, heating electricity, natural gas

. New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level of health care that other third world countries get. "

" Obama's going to do all this in eight years?? Yeah Right!! I agree more with elbert in that he will try to get these things done. The way the election's shaping up, neither man will have a mandate for change, and despite what Bush thinks a mandate is, it's more than 51.1% of the people.

I respect Just A Soldier's and the other McCain supporters here; I agree that the choice of Palin wasn't his personal choice but one of "this is the person you are picking" type. She may just win this thing for him. However, my vote has been made up for 18 months and unless something short of a history-changing event occuring between now and November, my money rides with Obama. I feel he will be a better leader and I'm willing to let him try it. "

" I love the right wingers on this website. They all act as if Obama is going to lose, that he acts like an egotistical madman, and what not.

Problem is, he is going to win, and win big time. Now, I could care less because Im not voting in the election (not like it's making a statement in this predetermined Democratic state), but the righties are no doubt delusional to think that McCain has a snowballs chance. "

" This is just an observation, notice how nobody talks about McCain's post-victory plans? They are either promoting Obama's platform or tearing it down. Obama will save the world or Obama will tax us to death. Obama is talking about the issues, where McCain is talking about being a war hero and how he'll be a reformer.

As for the headline, it is the typical JG/TC, heavily weighted, gutter-trash. It could have easily read, "Obama outlines his plans, McCain doesn't." "

" What do the people of Alaska know that we don't?
---
Hundreds of people protesting the policies of
Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin lined a busy Anchorage street on Saturday, waving signs and chanting "Obama!"
The protest came about two hours after Palin delivered a rousing speech at Anchorage's new convention center before leaving the state to return to the campaign trail.
The protesters, including supporters of presidential candidate Barack Obama and those who don't agree with Palin's positions on abortion, polar bears, Iraq and other issues, lined one side of the street near
Anchorage's main library building.
A much smaller number of mostly pro-Palin supporters were on the other side of the street, chanting "Sarah! Sarah!" "

" Pity the poor Republicans. They are so constantly fearful, so hate-filled, so ravenous, so dishonest, so larcenous, so enslaved to their ugly, advertising-fed little appetites for more meaningless junk and, above all, so frightfully, willfully stupid. Their hideous policies have just about wrecked the nation, and that's yet another reality they are desperate to avoid.
No wonder they have to watch a childishly transparent fascist propaganda channel just to make it through the day. Can you imagine? "

" Here's my prediction for the Electoral Count at the end of the day on November 4th. Obama takes Illinois by a landslide. McCain takes the other 49 or, according to BO, the other 56 or 57. Whatever. LOL. "

" After the entire national media made such a huge deal over the National Enquirer story of John Edward's extra-marital affair...I don't know why we are all supposed to be downplaying Palin having an affair too if she did.

Especially since the right wing spin machine is trying so hard to make her out to be America's mom...with a hunting rifle.

Internet blogger- "

" Will America tire of the Paris Palin scandals and antics over the next several weeks? "

" For anyone interested in comparing today to 10 years ago, and a lot farther. Borrow, rent, or buy the movie Wag The Dog. The special features point out various media political propagands going back to the spanish american war. It references many films, works, that have been pointing this out, for more than the last fifty years. It references many other countries governments political uses of what began right here at home.

The movie had unintended stark parallels to Clinton issues, but was based on a President, the office, not any one in particular. It was a satire on the possibility of staging a fictional war from hollywood, to take focus of the people off of personal issues a politician has emerge on the verge of election day. Its accidental coinciding with the Clintons, also could be seen to coincide with today and the last eight years.

It appears to be a timeless insight into the depths the spin doctors will go, to distract from what they choose to. Deciding what facts see the light of day, and blatantly ignoring truth for the sake of ratings and partnerships.

Footage of a young Carvell, and Stephanopolis, on Clintons campaign, finding some Bush Sr campaign impropriety footage, and News carriers not interested in running it. Are one of the many glimpses into some of the mirk, found in the special features.

If you want some parallels from the past to reference in the same stuff going on today, give it a look. Look at some of the older works listed in its special features, and see how true decades old insights still hit home today. "

" It's a shame that we have to rely on a rag like the National Enquirer to find out what our politicians are up to, especially the philanderers like Edwards and now Palin.

The National Enquirer's coverage of a vicious war within Sarah Palin's extended family includes several newsworthy revelations, including the resulting incredible charge of an affair plus details of family strife when the Governor's daughter revealed her pregnancy. Following our John Edwards' exclusives, our political reporting has obviously proven to be more detail-oriented than the McCain campaign's vetting process."

The National Enquirer promises more details next week. If this happens, watch for the entire right wing smear and spin machine, Fox go into overdrive. I have a hunch they are burning the midnight oil in anticipation of any new revelations about Godzilla from Wasilla on the horizon. "

" BLACK SUNDAY...
LEHMAN GOES BUST...
LIQUIDATE...
Feds Balk at putting up taxpayer money...
CEO hubris contributed to meltdown...
BANK OF AMERICA reaches deal to buy MERRILL LYNCH for $50B...
Abu Dhabi to 'wait and see' on troubled banks...
CHART: EU STOCK PLUNGE...

Lead features from the Drudge Report, and further proof that we need to continue with the Bush style of government with four more years?

Wake up and smell the coffee people! "

" In case anyone was still wondering whether John McCain is running the sleaziest, most dishonest campaign in history, today Karl Rove - the man who held the previous record - said McCains ads have gone too far, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said.

It's pretty bad when even the nastiest man in politics starts questioning your honesty. "

" Yes, too bad we're not all economic experts like Phil Gramm. He and his crooked GOP Congress said that awful, burdensome Glass-Steagall Act had to go so kleptocracy could run free. They even got Clinton to sign off. And less than a decade later, the American economy is in ruins.
I'm sure Phil would advise us not to whine about it. "

" To lefty: I hate to shatter your dream of the Messiah (coommunity organizer" coming to save the US, but what will happen is the "bradley Affect". If the polls are close to correct when the election happens Obama will lose in a landslide. IF you do not know what the "bradley affect" is look it up! "

" McCain Adviser Says Next President Must Raise Taxes
In a forthcoming book by Fortune columnist Matt Miller, The Tyranny of Dead Ideas, Sen. John McCain's chief economic adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, "makes it clear that the next President is going to have to raise taxes," according to Joe Klein.

Said Holtz-Eakin: "If you do nothing on the spending side, you're going to have to raise taxes whether you're a Republican, a Democrat or a Martian."

And then, do we remeber a famous previous pres candidate Bush stating "read my lips, no new taxes."

I'm all for less taxes but you all are fooling yourselves if you honestly think that cutting taxes during our fiscal nightmare will EVER HAPPEN! It's pretty much impossible. By either party. "

" Predatory fraudulent lending, manipulated energy prices, American torture, the end of habeas corpus, Katrina, the looting of Social Security, the $10 trillion national debt, poison toys from China, faked scientific data to cover up global climate change and deadly pollution, the hundreds of thousands of innocent people killed in a non-threatening country Bush and Cheney decided to invade the list of people the Republicans have cheerfully victimized is virtually endless.
Why should the American economy be any different? They have wrecked that, too. "

" Here's what Palin said in her interview with Charlie Gibson:

Palin: Let me speak specifically about a credential that I do bring to this table, Charlie, and that's with the energy independence that I've been working on for these years as the governor of this state that produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy, that I worked on as chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, overseeing the oil and gas development in our state to produce more for the United States.

Another big lie by Palin (or is she simply ignorant?), the actual number is 3.5 percent. A big difference, huh Palin fans?

Can this woman distinguish between fact and fiction?

VP material? I don't think so... "

" Becky: In the forty years since Johnson and the Democrat House and Senate began borrowing from Social Security (1968) to pay for the war, we have now nearly bankrupted the SSA, and our nation. One way to fix our tax policy is to completely change our tax system. Go to FairTax.org to see the way out of this mess. With over 66,000 pages of tax code, the current income tax system is broken and corrupt - and needs to be repealed. Americans have a right to see exactly how much money they're paying in taxes.

Most of the taxes we pay are hidden from view. For example, with few exceptions, American end consumers pay ALL taxes - and don't even know it. When you buy a product at retail, you're reimbursing the retailer for all taxes the retailer has paid, plus you're paying all taxes the manufacturer on the other side of the retailer has paid.

If we have a tax on our purchases, at least we'd know what our tax bill is - and everyone would pay them. By the way, this proposed tax system collects NO TAX on poor folks - zip, nadda, none at all. Now that's fair! "

" hey this letter is awesome, i love the new commercial with McCain saying he votes with Bush 90% of the time, thats all the reason you need not to vote for McCain if you ask me but this letter gave plenty more reasons "

" "IF you do not know what the "bradley affect" is look it up! "
---
And if you don't know what the "stock market crash" and the "Great Depression" are, look them up, by all means. You'll get a nice lesson in what Republican kleptocrat economic policies have done to us AGAIN. "

" I know that things need to change, but many democrats keep dragging us toward a socialist state, not a democratic one. I work hard for the money I make and I don't wish to give so much of it to support others, many of whom choose not to work. And I don't make a lot of money, but enough to not get any back.......... "

" And Obama votes with the libs 97% of the time. You know, that wonderful group who has brought us those great leaders, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. What is the approval rating for the Democrat-led Congress? 9%? "

" If you do not pay taxes then Obama will be good for you. It doesn't matter what we think anyway, the people in Chicago decide the Electoral college in this state. "

" No matter who wins, WE THE PEOPLE are into more problems trying to pay for utilities, food, taxes, insurance, schooling, gasoline, just to have roof over heads. Already we drive 12 year old vehicles and over 100,000 miles on them. Wornout clothes recycled into homemade quilts/shams and braided floor rugs. We have electric blankets for beds and house set on 68. We dip out the bathwater and flush the stool. After a bath I have washed the dog as well, and then flush stool. SAVING this has saved over $150 last year.
Electric water heater is insulated and saved $10 per month. Energy lightbulbs have helped. Enclosed front porch, $300
cost for windows, sliding doors, and cips had been over $300 month for heat,
now it is $89 on budget billing. AND that was just for heat.

NO fancy vacations for us, no fancy cars and new ones, no fancy clothes, but we look as good as anyone else.

MAKE A LIST, and then see what you can cut out,,,,,like 2 carton cigs a week,
2 cases beer, wine, bar hopping, slotmachine playing, BE SURPRISED HOW LITTLE NEED TO LIVE ON. "

" Harry Potter,here you go again with your mistaken information and half-truths.Fact:Edwards did have an affair,he admitted it.Palin was accused by "unnamed sources".There is no story because there is no validity. Karl Rove said both The McCain and Obama camps had gone too far. "

" Hey Question,You forgot to blame the Rebublicans for 9-11, the Kennedy assasination,the Titanic sinking ,the Holocaustand Cancer.LOL "

" thats sad martha lol "