Obama surges in key swing states
Democrat Barack Obama widened his lead in three big battleground states, boosted by his performance in the first presidential debate, worsening economic jitters, and increasing skepticism about GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, according to new polls released this morning.
Obama's surge is particularly pronounced in Pennsylvania, where he led Republican John McCain by 49 percent to 43 percent before Friday's debate, but leads by 54 percent to 39 percent in the new Quinnipiac University surveys.
In Florida, Obama's edge grew from 49 percent-43 percent to 51 percent-43 percent. And in Ohio, his lead increased from 49 percent-42 percent to 50 percent-42 percent.
While more than 80 percent of voters in each state said the debate didn't change their minds, Obama was the clear winner by 13 percentage points to 17 percentage points, the polls found. The pre-debate surveys started Sept. 22 and ended at 8 p.m. Friday, an hour before the debate, while the post-debate polls were conducted on Saturday through Monday, Quinnipiac said.
Obama has been surging over the last month, now crossing the 50 percent threshold when he had been trailing in the three states in polls released Sept. 11.
"It is difficult to find a modern competitive presidential race that has swung so dramatically, so quickly and so sharply this late in the campaign. In the last 20 days, Sen. Barack Obama has gone from seven points down to eight points up in Florida, while widening his leads to eight points in Ohio and 15 points in Pennsylvania," Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a statement. "Sen. John McCain has his work cut out for him if he is to win the presidency and there does not appear to be a role model for such a comeback in the last half century."
Quinnipiac notes that no one has been elected president since 1960 without winning at least two of these three states, which combined have 68 of the 270 electoral votes needed to secure the White House.
UPDATE: Another series of battleground state polls out this afternoon also show Obama gaining ground and taking the lead in Missouri and Virginia.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. surveys show Obama leading McCain 54 percent to 43 percent in Florida among registered voters, up from a tie at 48 percent two weeks ago; also ahead 54 percent to 43 percent in Minnesota, up from 53 percent to 41 percent a month ago; up 50 percent to 45 percent in Missouri, flipping McCain's edge three weeks ago; leading 54 percent to 43 percent in Nevada, up from 49 percent to 44 percent last month; and ahead 54 percent to 42 percent in Virginia, reversing McCain's lead three weeks ago of 50 percent to 46 percent.
Obama's leads among likely voters are slightly smaller in the CNN polls. But the results among registered voters could be more telling in a year when many first-time and new voters cast ballots during the primaries -- people who wouldn't necessarily qualify as likely voters.
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Can you smell what Barack is cookin'? >;)
NO MATTER WHAT, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE. IF THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WINS YOU WILL WANT TO BE PROUD THE REST OF YOUR LIFE FOR HAVING PARTICIPATED.
I'm early voting for Obama in Florida! Hope over fear! Veterans for Obama!!
If the folks polled say the debates did not change their minds then why would you claim otherwise? The swing probably occurred because of the financial crisis, not the debates. Furthermore, it is probably not Sen. Obama's policies that earned him the votes so much as it was Sen. McCain's misfortune to be associated with President Bush and the status quo. Ironically, historians will note that reforms such as The Sarbanes-Oxley act and the Community Reinvestment Act coupled with corruption in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under the Democrat Party's watch is what stimulated/exacerbated the credit crunch. Sen. Obama's election may be a fait accompli given the current financial crisis...but let's not fool ourselves, the debate on Friday fell on deaf ears.
Cited poll (press release) has absolutely no numbers of voters (just percentages) and no margin of errors, and this is worthy of reporting?
Hopefully, the American people have seen through the lightweightedness of Palin as the VP candidate. After W, I didn't think we could stoop any lower, but apparently we can.
I have a prediction to make, "With less than 1week remaining in the race, Palin removes herself for personal reasons. McCain replaces her with Romney. Than they go on to win the election !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "" How much you want to bet ??
Great Job Barack, please liberate us from McSame and Caribou Barbie. We've had ENOUGH of the senseless international politics.
Just for the record. I am a businessman. The blame game should be attached to you the media for having done such a dishonest job of presenting the facts for this very important election. Obama is not Roosevelt, nor is he Kennedy. The changes that will become law from this man and the single party system that you have created are truly something to be feared. And I am fearful. Frankly I know more about Sarah Palin than I do about Barack Obama. What does a community organizer do? Who is Acorn? Why when we all know that the base cause for this financial meltdown was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Creatures of the Democratic Party includingObama why hasn't this been given the credibility that it deserves.
Keep working hard DEMS. Get out and help any way you can. Knock on doors, phone banks spread the word. I have also printed out President Obama's policies from his website (www.barackobama.com) especially the tax policies and I have left it with my hairdresser, my husband's barbershop for their customers to read. Whatever works please do it.
Please get the word out so we can elect President Obama and VP Biden.
Good luck obama its the final lap everyone stand up for obama.
My perception is that Obama hasn't so much surged as McCain has self-destructed. This is due to his disgraceful politicization and ineffectiveness during the financial crisis, his poor performance in the debate, the increasing clarity of just how poor a choice Sarah Palin was, and the relentless negativity of his campaign when what people want is something positive to grab on to.
THE WALL STREET BAILOUT IS A TRAP:
YOU DID THE RIGHT THING people by stopping this 700 billion dollar bailout of Wall Street with your money. It's a trap set by the Bush McCain administration years ago to spring on you, and the World just before the November elections. It will cripple our economy for years to come by taking away money from important social programs like health care reform, education, and social security.
What ever congress does to try and fix our stunning economic catastrophe needs to be done very carefully. Congress needs to take their time, and be sure of what they are doing. Whatever is done needs to be sharply focused at helping, and protecting the best interest of the ordinary Americans. In particular the vast American middle class. 700 billion dollars is a lot of the peoples money to spend to bail out a bunch of corrupt Bush loan sharks.
When have you ever known any government plan, or project to only cost what the government said it would. Remember the war in Iraq. Bush and his so-called advisers said it would only cost you about 80 billion dollars. But we now know that the war in Iraq will cost you, and your children, and your grand children over a trillion dollars, and still counting.
So if 80 billion can end up costing you over a trillion dollars. How much could 700 billion end up costing you. Any math wizards out there. I come up with 9 trillion...:-(
My fellow human beings, just as I warned you ahead of this catastrophic economic meltdown, I must now warn you that what is ahead has the potential to be even more catastrophic than what we are going through now. The worlds geopolitical landscape has been booby trapped by the Bush McCain administration and their republican allies in congress. These booby traps are poised to spring at any time.
Fortunately the Worlds Nations have been blessed with many excellent leaders (except the US) who have been careful, wise, strong, and self-restrained in dealing with the provocations, and antagonism's of the Bush, McCain administration.
Barack Obama and the democrats are your best hope now. Tell your family, friends, and everyone you know to support them as best you can, and vote for them like your life, and the lives of your loved ones depends on it. Because it does. You will not survive 4 more years of Bush McCain.
JACK SMITH - WORKING CLASS...
This is a liberal rag filled with s%#t. Blame the Repubs. but we have a Dem house and their numbers are in the single digits. What does that tell you. Let's vote in Mr. Puppet. I can't wait to see what you're going to do if the smug Nobama gets in and drives this country right into the ground. Another Hitler? He loves the power and you're all fooled by his eloquent words. Sound familiar???????
I came to this country in 1996 when Clinton was being elected for his second term. I did not know which party Clinton belonged to and did not care. Help Wanted signs were everywhere. I got my first job at $10/hour and was happy, striving to achieve $15/hour one day and buy my own place. Now I am making $50/hour and I don't feel well off at all. Basics are covered, but not more than that. I am afraid as hell to lose my job.
Republicans spent the late 90s attacking Clintons from every direction. It seemd that it was their greates priority back then. When they got the power themselves they did not produce smaller government, lower spending, honor and/or dignity in the WH or Congress. They have produced huge deficit spending, larger government, long list of elected and unelected officials in jail, under investigation or resigned in disgrace, not to mention the ineffective and wasteful foreign policy. Plus they gave us the strictly partisan House or Representative under Tom DeLay.
Give me one good reason I should vote for McCain? Because he was a POW 30 years ago? He is a consummate politician belonging to the discredted party and ideology. I am voting Democrat until Republicans clean up their act. Then we'll see.
People are coming around. It's taken 8 years but people are coming around. Thank God. People are standing up and describing the president for what he truly is ...a high functioning moron. Chances of Palin being president in the next 4 years if McCain gets in are probably 50/50. Yikes ! In her interview yesterday she could not describe one periodical from which she gathers her information about the world. Geez, my 5 year old would cite the NY Times, and Highlights at least. Does anyone in their right mind truly think that this women would make a good president. It truly scares the blank out me. Go Obama Go. Never underestimate the brilliance of the american electorate to do the right thing and right this countrys path. Ms. Palin can try againin 4 years after she reads periodical or two. And John, I truly used to like you , now your just mean, I feel for you for not holding to your own esposed principals. Go away and dont come back.
jd - I don't think it will matter even if Palin is replaced. McCain's problems right now are the economy, Palin and himself. Have you seen how he's been acting the last two weeks? I think his actions recently has been just as damaging to his campaign, as Palin's actions have been. He doesn't seem to handle pressure very well. If McCain loses Palin, he might get someone like Romney, except the problem is he's still got McCain on his side.
Echoes of 4 years ago, wait just wait
Hey mary !! your out of your mind !!! you need to check yourself in !!!
RE Hhaall, The democrats or the media are not responsible for the downfall of the republican party. Koolaid drinkers like you who voted for them are.
99% of Polls are misleading and that's why I'm comfortable that John Mccain and Sarah Palin will win the general election.The citizen who nearly gave his life thanks to his early release from Hanoi Prison and courageously fighting for Americas freedom as a dedicated individual naval officer is a beacon for Americas generation.Like everything else there is a root cause like the economic crisis trace way back to the Clinton administration and the Democrat Party.Defeating the Islamist terrorists worlwide and protecting the homeland from another 9/11 attack is the Bush Administration successful hallmark.There are more Democrats whose fingerprints are all over this financial meltdown than their Republican counterpart.
It's not real. Obama is not gonna win. No way, no how. His support is softer than a tissue, just like the depth of his resume
DO NOT FORGET HOW THIS STARTED!
In 1995, President Bill Clinton's HUD agreed to let Fannie and Freddie get affordable-housing credit for buying subprime securities that included loans to low-income borrowers. The idea was that subprime lending benefited many borrowers who did not qualify for conventional loans.
Fannie and Freddie "made no progress in civilizing the market," said Sandra Fostek, a senior regulator at HUD.
William C. Apgar Jr., who was an assistant HUD secretary under Clinton, said he regrets allowing the companies to count subprime securities as affordable.
"It was a mistake," he said. "In hindsight, I would have done it differently."
Allen Fishbein, who was Apgar's adviser at HUD and is now at the Consumer Federation of America, said the agency failed to use its regulatory power by refusing to credit Fannie and Freddie for loans that were "contrary to good lending practices."
"They chose not to put the brakes on this dangerous lending when they could have," Fishbein said.
- Washington Post
THESE WERE CLINTON PROGRAMS! STOPPING THEM IN THE LAST 6 YEARS WAS LIKE TRYING TO SLAM THE BREAKS ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER.
KEEP THE FREE MARKET SYSTEM - STOP SOCIALISIM
MCCAIN / PALIN
DEMOCRACY IS SAFE ONLY UNTIL THE MOB LEARNS HOW TO VOTE MONEY FOR ITSELF OUT OF THE NATIONAL TREASURY. EVERY GREAT DEMOCRACY IN HISTORY HAS DIED THE SAME WAY: SOME POPULIST POLITICIAN STARTS PROMISING TO REDISTRIBUTE MONEY BECAUSE IT IS SOMEHOW "FAIR" TO TAKE MONEY FROM PEOPLE WHO WORK AND GIVE IT TO PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WORK. WHEN THE ECONOMY COLLAPSES THE DICTATOR IS STANDING IN THE WINGS, READY TO MOVE IN . OBAMA IS THE SINGLE GREATEST THREAT TO THIS REPUBLIC IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION. HE WILL EXPLOIT THE ADMITTEDLY TERRIBLE RECORD OF GEORGE BUSH IN ORDER TO GET POWER, BUT ONCE HE GETSPOWER THINGS WILL BE WORSE. PLEASE BELIEVE ME BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. ECONOMIC CHAOS IN GERMANY LED TO THE FALL OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLICANS TO ADOLPH HITLER AND HIS "HOPE AND CHANGE" CAMPAIGN. THE CUBANS HATED BATTISTA, BUT THEY ENDED UP WITH CASTRO. (OBAMA STILL KEEPS A PICTURE OF CHE GUEVARA IN HIS HEADQUARTERS, DOESN'T THAT TELL YOU SOMETHING?) PLEASE, AMERICA, DO NOT SELL OUT YOUR BIRTHRIGHT FOR A FEW DIRTY DOLLARS FROM A MARXIST PIG.
Right on Mary....don't vote for BAMBI!!!
If Obama wins so does Hollywood and the liberal media. We, the average American, lose.
It doesn't bother liberals that Obama has associated with anti-American radicals or that he belonged to a black seperatist church for twenty years. Even Bill Clinton didn't know how to respond when asked "What's the difference between David Duke and Rev. Wright." How about his involvement with leaders from Freddie and Fannie. Still doesn't bother liberals, you know the tolerant people, that should be digusted by the company Barack keeps. Liberals do have a double standard and we have to suffer for it.
Hey mary !! your out of your mind !!! you need to check yourself in !!!
These are very pathetic peope - Republicans. Eight years of Bush administration, including six of almost complete Republican rule and four of absolute Republican rule (2002-2006) in the country and they still blame Clinton. How about John Quincy Adams?
Bush could have provided some leadership by announcing the existence of axis of evil in the form of greedy wall streeters, greedy lenders and greedy irresponsible borrowers. Then Bush could have battled it with a new doctrine of preventive strike at unregulated financial markets. I think his crafty administration could easily sell it to the American people directly by making a series of scary statements back when it mattered.
1. National Security Advisor: "we don't want your 401k's to go up in a mushroom cloud;"
2. Vice-President (quoting a major newspaper): "simply stated, there is no doubt that housing bubble has become too big;"
3. President: "we have learned that Fannie and Freddy have recently sought significant quantities of CDOs on Wall Street;"
4. Secretary of State (brandishing toxic security): "we need to take over Fannie and Freddy before it is too late"
5. Deputy Secretary of Defense: "don't worry, we will be greated as liberators and their assets will pay for themselves"
6. Secretary of Defense: "absence of evidence does not mean evidence of absence."
Voila! Case sold! Mission accomplished!
PERCEPTION SEEM OUT OF KILTER
The list of those in Congress who enjoyed Fannie's and Freddie's beneficence includes Democrats and Republicans, and is deep and wide, although, Dems received almost three times the amount received by Reps.
TOP RECEIVERS of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Campaign Contributions:
Dodd, Christopher - Dem. $165,400
Obama, Barack - Dem $126,349
Kerry, John - Dem $111,000
... NONE OF THIS IS RELEVANT NEWS?
Andrew I agree with you, but I also see that the reason he put her in that position to start with was not just for the base repub's. But to try to put someone who is on the same level that many Americans are. I think that we need to face the fact that a majority of Americans can relate to her because she is as stupid, unread, without any regard for societies future as they are...... Quoting her "she a 6 pack kinda gal" that my friend says it all........ She is a product of Americana !! face it ! embrace it! so maybe we can fix it..
Hate to tell you Republican Koolaid drinkers, but the McCain/Palin ticket is going down hard. You can spin things however you want about who started the housing crisis, but Republicans have controlled the senate for 13+ of the last 16 years and they've had the presidency for the last 8. At some point you have to take the blinders off and get your heads out of your kiesters. Fortunately, America is finally waking up to what a disaster our stupidity hath wrought. Hopefully there is still time to repair our economy and our image and become a nation worthy of leading the world again.
I love how all of you supposedly "tolerant" leftists bash the woman in this campaign, a minority according to your train of thought.. You guys spend your lives pretending to be something you're not, and everyone knows it. It's comical that you think that you are fooling everyone, you're like children that try to hide in plain sight.. I also love that in your infinate wisdome you call Palin a "lightweight". If she's a lightweight, than Obama isn't even a featherweight. HE HAS DONE NOTHING WITH HIS LIFE OF ANY SUBSTANCE! Actually let me correct that, he's done plenty, if you consider pushing radical left wing garbage down the throats of the impresionable youth of Chicago, doing something. He is most definitely NOT qualified to be the president. He doesn't even have the most basic understanding of how an economy works, and neither does any liberal, which is why we are in the situation we're in.
It's also funny that you perverts have mocked Bush for years because he stumbles durring speeches but not one of you has the intilectual honesty to say that Obama is just as bad when there is no teleprompter in front of him. He stumbles and bumbles through his words as bad as anyone I've ever heard.
Liberalsim is the most hollow and vapid political persuasion that has ever existed. If it weren't for the overwhealming ignorance of the population, you'd have been shamed out of existance decades ago.
You imbiciles are so blinded by your hatred for Bush and this country that any lefty that came along who holds the same level of contempt as you do, was going to get your support.
wow nomoremarxisminamerica, you really enlightened me with all those big words, wow
Obama supporters, Listen to your supreme leader, "It's not about Democrat and Republican!"
Obama is all hat and no horse!
BDC, "Political Intelligence" is an oximoron!
I'm surprised they even let Jiga-Boos run for President. GO MCCAIN!
@Alex (post #15):
If you felt better making $10/hr in 1996 than you do now making $50/hr, I think that says more about your money management skills than anything else. At $50/hr, if you aren't feeling comfortable, then you need help.
Please go to Dave Ramsey's website and purchase his book The Total Money Makeover right away. Stop blaming the government and look in the mirror.
Liberalism bad! Bush/McCain good! Ok, I think I got it now, thanks. Very convincing - but you may want to try fewer insults next time if you really want to sway peoples' opinions.
Jeff Luttazi wrote:
"Cited poll (press release) has absolutely no numbers of voters (just percentages) and no margin of errors, and this is worthy of reporting?"
Did you even check the link provided in the article to the Quinnipiac press release? The numbers of people polled and margin of error are right there.
From September 27 - 29, Quinnipiac University surveyed:
* 836 Florida likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percent;
* 825 Ohio likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percent;
* 832 Pennsylvania likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percent.
JP
In your eyes when was the last time our nation was worthy of leading the world? When Jimmy Carter detsroyed our economy and was a considered irrelevant around the world. Was it when people around the world were laughing at Bill Clinton because he couldn't keep it in his pants. It was during the Reagan/Bush era when we ended the cold war and the wall dividing Germany came down.
Another misleading fact is how liberals like to define Republicans as the party of big business and money. But, if you look at the facts( I know liberals hate that word)you'll see that it's the Dems are the party of wealth and snobbery. It seems the Republicans now represent the average American that still believes in the American dream. The Dems only believe in entitlement programs and government handouts. Our country is doomed. Our ancestors died in vain.
As Ronald Reagon asked when he was running for president - Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Answer - no #@!% ^&*#! way. Guess who I'm voting for. The Republicans ran a presidential campaign in 2003 that was based on scare tactics. They demeaned another man who served our nation well in Vietnam. George on the other hand, a man who spent his Vietnam years running fly missions over the Gulf of Mexico, a man who repeatedly used his father's influence along with the money of other well connected individuals to accomplish I don't know what - was eminently more qualified. Now we have a Republican candidate who has earned the respect of many, primarily because of his Vietnam War experience and years of political service in Washington. On the other hand there is Obama who is a well educated man with strong values, a deep knowledge of and repect for our constitution, and proven track record of working for those who have little in the way of finance or opportunity. First black man ever elected president of Harvard Law review. Got into Harvard based on his academic credetials (didn't even designate race on his entrance application to get a leg up - geez what an elitist!). Yes he pulled himself up by his boot straps to pursue his dreams. Nothing was handed to him. He has tremendous energy and a proven passion for serving the people of this nation (community organizer, teacher, state senator, and member of congress). Barack is a born leader who comes along rarely. Even if he were a Republican I would vote for him because his is a person whose values and views I largely share. Not because John McCain is someone who is to be disliked or demeaned because of his party affliation. I am not black, I am not a democrate, I am not a republican - I am an American!
These uplifting polls will only drive the average liberal voter to complacency. Academic studies have shown that in inclement weather Republicans are a more dedicated voting blok. Democrats stay home. Same as in this scenario. The more the polls read that it's a runaway for Obama the more likely liberals will stay home - "why bother?".
Republicans and right-leaning Indpendents will go to the polls.
Even more so, the Bradley Effect will kick in. Like it or not.
Hey boston.com! The update you put up has incorrect numbers. Those numbers are way different than what CNN is saying in cnn.com. typo???
JD, what a stinging rebuttal. Is that the best you can do?
Lets talk about Obama and his connection to Al Gore and Jeff Fisher
Unless Obama is a clear winner on all the exit polls by a large margin, you'll see the Diebold voting machines (which the code in the software allows negative numbers) giving the victory to the Republicans by a small margin.
its amazing that the Boston Globe still censures the truth.
Well HBO already exposed BayPoint School in the Emmy winner global showing movie RECOUNT
Who are you??? elen
Well said
nomoremarxisminamerica, isn't that enough for you!!!
Thank you Boston globe
I am in Philadelphia blogging on the Phillies game.
The Phillies are going to win game one
Google Jeff Fisher Al Gore
Whoa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To Mr. #36
Perhaps your advice as to money management should be sent to Bush and his friends in Washington. I am fine in spite of the best efforts by the economic geniuses who have ruled this country for the past eight years. I blame the government where the blame is due. It is due in this case. Some wise @#$!'s above blamed Clinton and Carter. Whatever their faults were, Bush is a rare character.
I agree with comments suggesting that it's unhappiness with Bush that's fueling the drop in McCain's ratings (though 800+ voters hardly seem like an adequate sampling), despite much publicized political gambles and finger pointing on both sides.
The fact of the matter is that it's also helping Obama, who continues to *say* the right things (apparently, his mere use of the word "middle class" during the debate is a demonstration of leadership?), not to have to defend how he intends to fund his proposed policies ($800b in new spending while cutting taxes for 95% of Americans...including those who don't pay income taxes, now that's impressive) and his shaky (and short) record and affiliations.
He has dismissed associations with anyone in his life who could potentially be politically damaging (even his wife has stopped speaking?) and the media are all to quick to dig no further. His support for the Global Poverty Act has also escaped scrutiny even though the next President will have significant influence over the U.S.'s commitment and cost to Americans. Like healthcare for children and affordable housing for all Americans, few would argue that helping the world eliminate extreme poverty isn't a noble cause. I'm proud when Americans generously give as much as they can afford whenever and wherever disaster strikes leaving devastation here and abroad.
However, it's how to go about it that's up for debate. We're watching the fallout from the federal govt. intervening in the financial markets in an attempt to make housing more affordable for everyone (it's working - my house is worth 10% less than it was 6 months ago). The Global Poverty Act, which -while the initiative in Congress doesn't allocate funds - would tie the U.S. to aggressive (even if altruistic) requirements or else be sued by other UN nations...potentially, increasing our current spending by over $800b. What happened to fixing things at home first? Could individual Americans give more generously? Perhaps. But, legislating charity is not the answer and this measure dangerously holds us to someone else's standards with stiff penalties for failing to meet those goals.
Every time Republican voters are given a microphone, they simply offer more proof that they are unhinged wingnuts. Freddie and Fannie responsible for the crisis? No one with so little grasp of the economy has any right to an opinion. Obama "left-wing?" Ever even heard of the University of Chicago? He certainly is to the right of Hillary, and the biggest danger (not certainty) of an Obama presidency is that he may fail to deliver real solutions by focusing on namby-pamby, middle-of-the-road, bipartisan nothingburgers.
Oh, and please shut up about Obama's pastor until you've explained the fact that Palin's pastor is a witch hunter.
Once again, I have yet to hear why Obama has surged. It certainly has NOTHING to do with hi, his achievements or his plan.
This is a big F-U to GWB...even though we have a dem-controlled congress. My only hope for the future of the USA is this--- TERM LIMITS.
THoren58 - what a moronic statement. To assume people will vote solely to say they were a part of history is absurd. Let's hope people are more intelligent than that and vote based on facts, policy, track record and which candidate will actually do something to better this country. If they follow your lead, we are all screwed.
David - in answer to your question - the last time the US was a world leader was CLEARLY during the Clinton era. Our economy was doing well, we had strong, stable relationships with our European allies and others around the globe, we had an actual SURPLUS -- can you imagine that - a surplus?? Amazing.
In short, we weren't the insular, brutal, hated, hunted, isolated, resented, indebted, uneducated, under-funded mess that we are today. We are much more than we've become under this moron of a president, and we can be so much more than McCain can possibly offer. We have to get our heads out of the sand, stop fearing our friends and neighbors again and start leading. People will not follow a moron like Bush or a warmonger like McCain. They simply DO NOT GET IT.
Ellen, that's where you are wrong - do your research...he had help from another socialist/radical Saul Alinsky. Obama has done absolutely nothing on his own, his track record (though we know no liberals are interested in the facts) only shows his MANY affiliations with radicals. You want that as your next President??? By all means....and do us a favor, 4 years from now let us all know how you are doing - oh wait, you'll still be blaming the Bush Administration.
JP
Your wrong about MCain's reputation around the world. He is actually highly respected by world leaders. Obama seems to appeal to the liberal types in Europe. Also, some leaders in the Middle East are hoping Obama wins. They are already comparing him to Jimmy Carter. We're screwed.
Obama supporters need to stop comparing all Republicans to George Bush. It's not fair, but I understand why you do it. The young and uninformed will fall for that comparison every time.
The reason why there was a surplus during the Clinton years is because the Repubs controlled the house and senate. Bill Clinton was put on a tight leash(he probably enjoyed it). I also think people forgot about all of the controversies surrounding the Clintons. Remember White Water? How about all of the deaths and suicides that happened to key players in the Clinton administration. Let's not forget about Bill Clinton and his lack of respect for woman.
Bill Clinton was overrated, but I understand why Dems love him. Mainly because he is the only Dem elected president since Jimmy Carter, and we know how that went. I'll give him credit for one thing. He wasn't afraid to cross the aisle and work with Republicans. Obama has never done that throughout his political career, never. He's just a windbag.
Are there really people on this board saying we should be fearful of Obama because he's the next Hitler? The next Castro? Crazy! The dude is a harvard law alum, law professor and senator. It's not like he's been in the hills leading the revolutionary guerrillas. Amazing how folks get themselves all full of half-baked ideology. Especially when the last president we had:
1. presided over the largest expansion of the federal government in history
2. forcefully sought to expand the power of the executive branch and remove it from any sort of balance and oversight with congress and the supreme court
3. instituted a domestic surveillance plan that rivals anything good old JEHoover ever had
4. has waged a campaign of social conservationism that has sought to insinuate government authority in a whole host of personal and lifestyle choices, from abortion to gay marriage (so much for libertarian principles)
5. got us involved in not one but 2 foreign wars that have nation building as their essential components
And these folks are worried about Obama? Criminey! And even, even, with all that said, would any of us really be so hyperbolic to call Bush the next Hitler? Please. Everyone take their blood pressure meds and just calm down
Unhinged wrote:
The reason why there was a surplus during the Clinton years is because the Repubs controlled the house and senate. Bill Clinton was put on a tight leash(he probably enjoyed it). I also think people forgot about all of the controversies surrounding the Clintons. Remember White Water? How about all of the deaths and suicides that happened to key players in the Clinton administration. Let's not forget about Bill Clinton and his lack of respect for woman.
Low dosages of Haldol have been shown to reduce confusion in the elderly. We balanced the budget in the '90s because Clinton raised taxes on the wealthy in a bill that was opposed by every Republican. If you believe that raising income cannot reduce a deficit you should try to be as quiet as possible in public to avoid those funny looks.
Well Sean in West Roxbury,
A qualude may be in order for you. You forgot to credit your 1-5 "Sean Doctrine" to....YOU. It's a self proscribed theory through your eyes only. If only you had put down the New York Times long enough to do a little research you may have been able to enlighten us!
Your opinions draw a broard stroke. Please, pick a specific issue and we'd be happy to respond in rebuttal
Hey Posted by Marcus. Please read below.
In 1995, President Bill Clinton's HUD agreed to let Fannie and Freddie get affordable-housing credit for buying subprime securities that included loans to low-income borrowers. The idea was that subprime lending benefited many borrowers who did not qualify for conventional loans.
Fannie and Freddie "made no progress in civilizing the market," said Sandra Fostek, a senior regulator at HUD.
William C. Apgar Jr., who was an assistant HUD secretary under Clinton, said he regrets allowing the companies to count subprime securities as affordable.
"It was a mistake," he said. "In hindsight, I would have done it differently."
Allen Fishbein, who was Apgar's adviser at HUD and is now at the Consumer Federation of America, said the agency failed to use its regulatory power by refusing to credit Fannie and Freddie for loans that were "contrary to good lending practices."
"They chose not to put the brakes on this dangerous lending when they could have," Fishbein said.
I'd suggest that John McCain is the reason John McCain's campaign is collapsing.
The plunge in the polls began as the public learned that Sarah Palin was lying about opposing the bridge to nowhere. Then as the economy started to tank big time, McCain was firing someone presidents can't fire, then admitting that was a mistake. Then he barged into delicate negotiations and did litttle to help. Then the Sunday shows were filled with his surrogates decalring victory for the way he saved the bailout. Then, of course it tanked too. Toss in the flip flop over debating and the blaming Obama for phoning it in when McCain spent most of the time on the phone, the taking credit and aattacking Obama while claiming now is not the time for politics.
America has seen 2 weeks of McCain handling a crisis and it is not pretty. Plus he's 72 and just destroyed his country 1st argument by chosing a cute incompetent as his number 2, who also makes a summer of blasting Obama for inexperience look like a cynical lie. There is only one person to blame for all of this, and that's McCain himself.
does anyone in America think , let alone critically. America has been force fed for so long by the media that white skin privilege and racism will be americas destruction. i am a born American and i don't want to see what is about to happen if we get Mccain and palin , i quess we will have to get our reading list of books approved by dear old glamor girl sarah palin . GOD HELP US ALL
"Bring Back Bill Clinton"..................it's funny that PWT like you have decided to support McCain, just to keep the black dude out, yet it's people like you (the POOR and UNEDUCATED) that will suffer the most if McCain wins...........and don't deny that you're a part of that sector - your blue collar language alone has pretty much exposed you.......
So rock on dude, rock the fu$! on.........
OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is to this blogger:
So wait a minute, I got the message about your reviewing blogs before posting in order to approve and keep things civil, yet you posted the "jiga-boo" comment post?????
Are you kidding me?
I wonder about Mr Obama's loyalty to this country. He has a problrm with placing his hand over his heart in respect for the flag, he doesn't like to wear alapel pin of our flag. He said that he lives a life of questionable truths. He has a 20 year history of radical friends including Rev. Wright's hate spewing messages. I'm told that his father was on record as an Arab. How does Obama pass off as a black man? The way I see it he's more white than black, and if his father was Arab, He would be a dark skinned, white, Arab/American. Why the masscarradeand deceit?