If the election was held today

[NM Redskin]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Normally new voters are younger and lean more Dem. (They usually wisen up once they get decent paying jobs and look at their taxes)

Most decent paying jobs are under 100 grand, and Obama is lowering taxes for most Americans. More than McCain. Obama is raising taxes for the super rich, over 600k.

Obama and McCain Tax Proposals - washingtonpost.com

[saden1]

Originally Posted by BleedBurgundy

I think the real question is whether or not all of the Obama supporters actually turn up to vote. I have this idea of all of these college kids being all psyched for Obama and none of them actually putting down the joint long enough to hit the polls. Obama's supporters seem to be a louder, more fervent sort but I'm not sure that is going to translate into a victory. It will definitely be interesting...




EDIT- no insult to Obama supporters, just dealing in stereotypes to make a point. I think if any politician is counting on a "youth movement" to get them elected, they're grasping at straws in this country.

Turn out has always been a problem. I mean there are ~72 million registered Democrats and ~55 million registered Republicans and ~42 million independents registered. It's always about turn out which is why you'll never see Republicans agree to moving election day to a weekend instead of the first Tuesday of November.

[firstdown]

I believe the polling booth is rigged by Matty because everytime I clicked McCain it switched my vote to Obama.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I believe the polling booth is rigged by Matty because everytime I clicked McCain it switched my vote to Obama.

It's unnatural that McCain even gets that many votes.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by saden1

It's unnatural that McCain even gets that many votes.

I'm actually happy to see as many votes as there is for McCain. We all know the DC area is mainly dems...so mccain to be making this good a showing, that's a good sign for the election. (of course I understand this is a world wide website, but we all know the majority of people live in or around the DC area.)

[skinsfanthru&thru]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I believe the polling booth is rigged by Matty because everytime I clicked McCain it switched my vote to Obama.

Same here except when I selected mccain the vote total just didn't change.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by skinsfanthru&thru

Same here except when I selected mccain the vote total just didn't change.

Well it's a permanent penalty for voting Republicans to make up for 2000.

[12thMan]

I don't think there's any reason to believe that voters on either side won't turn out. The electorate has never been more energized. The Dems had record turnouts in nearly every Primary contest, and I think it will continue during the General.

I must say, Palin has energized the GOP base in a way that no one -- and I mean no one could have possibly imagined. And I think they will see a record turnout on their side as well.

[BleedBurgundy]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I don't think there's any reason to believe that voters on either side won't turn out. The electorate has never been more energized. The Dems had record turnouts in nearly every Primary contest, and I think it will continue during the General.

I must say, Palin has energized the GOP base in a way that no one -- and I mean no one could have possibly imagined. And I think they will see a record turnout on their side as well.

i don't know man, humans are a pathetically lazy and apathetic species on average. It's one thing to get juiced up for a convention or a speech or whatever other social event, not so much for the solitary drive down to the local voting station. Now if we ever get our shit together and institute online voting, then you'll see much improved turnout.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by BleedBurgundy

i don't know man, humans are a pathetically lazy and apathetic species on average. It's one thing to get juiced up for a convention or a speech or whatever other social event, not so much for the solitary drive down to the local voting station. Now if we ever get our shit together and institute online voting, then you'll see much improved turnout.

You're right, dude. But there's something about this year -- disagree with the candidates all you want, but people are engaged and eager to vote. Both sides are stepping up their ground efforts to get people to the polls. It's going to be crazy on Nov. 4th.

I would like to see us go to a system similiar to that of Oregon. After this election, I think we're going to see some changes in that direction.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by BleedBurgundy

Now if we ever get our shit together and institute online voting, then you'll see much improved turnout.

It's hard to believe this could ever get passed because the Republicans would be so opposed to it.

And yes, if online voting got passed, I would totally take advantage of it, but it would be a huge disadvantage for the Republicans, and there's that part of me that still thinks that people too lazy to get to a polling place during voting hours probably shouldn't be allowed to have a vote counted.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I don't think there's any reason to believe that voters on either side won't turn out. The electorate has never been more energized. The Dems had record turnouts in nearly every Primary contest, and I think it will continue during the General.

I must say, Palin has energized the GOP base in a way that no one -- and I mean no one could have possibly imagined. And I think they will see a record turnout on their side as well.

I agree, I think the primary was a preview of what's going to happen in November, and don't forget about how the Dems swept the 2006 general elections, I think that was quite the statement as well. But until November rolls around I'm cautiously optimistic.

[saden1]

You can't cancel out a baller, you can only hope to contain him.

[KLHJ2]

In no way am I claiming that this information is mine or that I know the original sender. My mother forewarded this to me earlier today and I believe that it provides a simple explanation on each candidates views. Of coarse you have to dig deeper into each issue to get a full understaning of why each candidate supports or opposes a certain issue. Some issues are not as simple as yes or no answers, but this email makes is seem like there are.

"This is a good summary of our candidates' views.


This came to me from a lengthy list of emails. Please pass it along to anyone you think may be interested in our future.

2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE COMPARISON TALKING POINTS
ISSUE JOHN McCAIN
BARAK OBAMA

Favors new drilling offshore US
Yes
No

Will appoint judges who interpret the law not make it
Yes
No


Served in the US Armed Forces
Yes
No

Amount of time served in the US Senate
22 YEARS
173 DAYS

Will institute a socialized national health care plan
No
Yes

Supports abortion throughout the pregnancy
No
Yes

Would pull troops out of Iraq immediately
No
Yes

Supports gun ownership rights
Yes
No

Supports homosexual marriage
No
Yes

Proposed programs will mean a huge tax increase
No
Yes

Voted against making English the official language
No
Yes

Voted to give Social Security benefits to illegals
No
Yes

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

MCCAIN
0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax.

OBAMA
28% on profit from ALL home sales. (How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.)

DIVIDEND TAX

MCCAIN
15% (no change)

OBAMA
39.6% - (How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.')

INCOME TAX

MCCAIN
(no changes)
Single making 30K - tax $4,500
Single making 50K - tax $12,500
Single making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 60K- tax $9,000
Married making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 125K - tax $31,250

OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts)
Single making 30K - tax $8,400
Single making 50K - tax $14,000
Single making 75K - tax $23,250
Married making 60K - tax $16,800
Married making 75K - tax $21,000
Married making 125K - tax $38,750
Under Obama, your taxes could almost double!

INHERITANCE TAX

MCCAIN
- 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)

OBAMA
Restore the inheritance tax

Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes.

NEW TAXES PROPOSED BY OBAMA

New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet. New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already) New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity) New taxes on retirement accounts, and last but not least....New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level of medical care as other third-world countries!!!







You can verify the above at the following web sites:


Election 2008: The candidates and your money - CNNMoney

Taxes: Election Center 2008 - CNN.com

RAW DATA: Fred Thompson’s Remarks at GOP Convention - America’s Election HQ

McCain, Obama Offer Different Visions on Taxes

Fact Checker Archive by Category

Fact Checker Archive by Category



Bob Beauprez
Catch all the latest in policy and politics at A Line of Sight www.bobbeauprez.com"

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Angry

In no way am I claiming that this information is mine or that I know the original sender. My mother forewarded this to me earlier today and I believe that it provides a simple explanation on each candidates views. Of coarse you have to dig deeper into each issue to get a full understaning of why each candidate supports or opposes a certain issue. Some issues are not as simple as yes or no answers, but this email makes is seem like there are.

Angry, are you kidding with this stuff?

Drilling isn't a yes or no proposition. And for record, Obama is for drilling -- which he always has been -- but not as the primary and sole solution to our energy dependence. His first and foremost concern with drilling is that we first explore the land leases that have been granted but haven't been tapped.

I guess I could go down the list and tick off each one, but what's the point? Then is becomes just another talking point.