[quote name='Liquid 2']I don't get it. You want me to say how
someone will be a better president than someone else without comparing the two?
The question itself inherently requires comparison.
"~Liquid 2"[/quote]
Ah, correct, I wrote the question wrong.
I want you to tell me why John McCain will make a good President without comparisons to Obama.
As in:
"John McCain's policy is this, and this is why it is good"
NOT
"Obama's policy is this, but McCain won't do that so McCain is better"
I'll break down Ruined's reply bit by bit:
[quote name='Ruined']Assuming your points, my main issues would be:
1. McCain will not turn America into a socialist economy, no redistribution of wealth. That model has proven a failure time and time again in the past, and it is unfair to those who have worked hard and long for their wealth.[/quote]
From what I understand, Obama doesn't follow a plan for the redistribution of wealth, as in a direct "take from the rich, give to the poor" mindset. Rather, that the rich pays higher taxes, while the middle-class pays less, but all of it goes directly to the government for redistribution to all through country maintenance (roads, programs, etc.)
While you and I might argue as to whether or not any of those programs are worthwhile, I'd say that those who make more should be paying more back to the country that gave them the opportunity in the first place, and each citizen can speak as to how that money is used through voting/congressmen.
[quote name='Ruined']2. McCain will not further cripple America's ability to tap into their own natural resources, and hence has a better energy plan. McCain is for offshore drilling & other measures to increase domestic supply as well as exploiting nuclear power more, Obama is for tire inflation to improve gas mileage and walking to work (most cannot even do the latter). Obama said offshore drilling won't do anything for 10 years; Democrats said the same thing 10 years ago, and if we had made the change back then we would not be in the problematic area we are today... The crisis today would not exist if it we had more supply. Remember prices don't work just on supply numbers, they work on perception. Right now the perception is that America is at the mercy of foreign oil since America has tied its own hands in drilling for domestic oil, thus perception is America is in big trouble as a result. The bottom line is gas prices will likely go down with McCain's energy plan while Obama's will keep things as they are.[/quote]
This plan however really only delays the inevitable, that a natural resource such as oil is no longer a suitable source of energy to meet the needs of our country. If we're going to dedicate our nation's funding to an energy source, a path that will take years to result in something fruitful, we should be taking the path to researching and developing a new source of energy for transportation, not oil.
While McCain does support renewable energy, I consider the $300 million payout to be more of a gimmick than the level of dedication we need to achieve it ($300 million is nothing compared to the amount a renewable energy is going to rake in. $300 million would be perfect to start the research up, but it's only awarded after you prove your results, which is useless because at that point money will be thrown at you).
[quote name='Ruined']3. Even if he did nothing to unite them, McCain would not further divide races - while Obama's mentors who preached hate will drive division even deeper than it is. Hate does not get love. Hate will just incite both races to be more angry and result in even more race relation problems.[/quote]
Under the assumption that Obama does believe in these hateful values (which he doesn't), when was the last time a Republican or John McCain voted to support any of the following:
Pro-Choice
Gay Rights (up to and including the recognition of Marriage)
Embryonic Stem-Cell Research
Admittedly, nothing on McCain's website is mentioning anything about race relations, but if anything, Obama IS driving a bit of a wedge into race relations, primarily because he is being critical of blacks who fail to own up to life's responsibilities, something that tends to get him in hot water but hell, the truth hurts. Quite honestly, a vast majority of blacks need a foot up their ass to learn that there is more to life than the "$$$$a" lifestyle, just as many rednecks need to understand that NASCAR is not "God's sport".
Regardless of race, the message is the same: You need to do more with your life than to pump out babies, whether you recognize them or not.
[quote name='Ruined']4. McCain would not institute National Health Care, meaning I won't have to wait 6 months to get critical surgery I need immediately, especially if private health care is prohibited (which often eventually becomes the case when a nat'l healthcare system is implemented). While National Health Care is not bad in all areas, studies in Canada showed on the average across the country it was very poor compared to private health care. Private health care is obviously much more expensive, but you get what you pay for. I personally want that option, even though I pay a ton of money for it.[/quote]
I actually agree with you on this. As much as I'd love to work on a Universal Health Care system for this country that is efficient and works, I can't escape that I'm a firm believer in Darwinism.
[quote name='Ruined']5. McCain has laid out some specifics of his plan, while Obama continues to run on generalizations. What exactly do all of the "Change"s that Obama speaks about so frequently entail? Based on Obama's checkered past radical affiliations, his idea of "change" might become a little scary. Also, we are talking President of the United States here, not class president. It should be about the issues that affect us daily, not a popularity contest.[/quote]
Both candidates have specific details on their plans on their respective websites, which, other than that, doesn't get much detail in their speeches or soundbytes, because each section is several paragraphs long and would take 1-2 hours to cover a single issue entirely. Read over both candidate's websites, and tally up which methods you agree with.
As for "change" being a little scary, we have a political system where we completely change the entire Executive branch of our government every 4 years. Post 9/11 or not, you have to admit that's a major self-imposed breach of security. And you're right, this is NOT a popularity contest, which is why I'm judging the candidates based on the issues they support/oppose, not the colorful people they have been affiliated with in their lives.
[quote name='Ruined']6. Finally, Obama being a muslim is irrelevant IMO. I don't know why this is brought up so much but it should not be a factor for anyone when voting. I assume we are talking because of 9/11 fears and the large amount of radical muslim leaders/groups that outnumber the normal muslim leaders who speak out against the radical muslim groups. But in Obama's case I don't see it as being applicable.[/quote]
Obama isn't a Muslim. His father was, but a parent's religious beliefs do not necessarily pass on to their children, particularly if the parent is not in the child's life after they turn 2. Obama and his family are Christians, but quite frankly I don't give two shits about a politician's religious affiliation, because as we've all seen from both parties, that amounts to jack-shit when controversy pops up every 2 weeks.
[quote name='Ruined']Anyway, I will watch the Hannity America expose tonight which is an hour-long special on Obama's shady history with this author. We'll see what other stuff they have dug up. Regardless of what is said about Obama thus far, Obama is definitely a more attractive and cool candidiate. But McCain has offered much more substance and to me is more convincing that he actually will know WTF to do if he gets the job.[/quote]
Feel free to bring it up in this thread as well, I'm certainly up for an intelligent discussion about it (though I strongly question the quality of intelligence we will get from HA).
~HotShotX