Speaking of Alaska. I do not support Sarah Palin. The media is not her problem. Her lack of knowledge and curiosity is the problem. I am concerned that she could become President should something happen to McCain. She is pro-life and a creationist. My primary concern is not that Roe v Wade be overturned but the attitude of abstinence only education and policies. The best way to stop abortion is by contraception and abstinence but education is key. I am a scientist I cannot support someone who believes the earth is only 6000 years old. No way it goes against everything I have learned about the natural world. If averagejoe or sue or hank is a creationist I have not problem with that. They are not directing the scientific policy of America. I have a problem with the whole evangelical – fundamentalist Christian influence in out government. People I know with these beliefs take too much on faith and not just in the religious sense. They do not question they just believe what they are told about all sorts of things. America needs educated, informed, questioning, curious citizens. That is the only way to change things in this government

I am going to fold economy into this one. I have a huge problem with the lack of regulation promulgated by the republican party – from pet food to lead in toys, to melamine in milk to the economy. Granted in a free market if someone makes a bad product people will not buy it and it is self-regulating. But and this is a big but when government interferes in the free market economy with things like artificially low interest rates or with get out of jail free cards attached to safety regulation so that consumers cannot sue then the free market economy cannot work so there must be regulation. From the EPA to the FDA, to the SEC, etc etc republicans have scraped regulation and left us at the mercy of big money and big companies importing and selling and polluting and on and on.

Defense. We cannot have a big defense without a thriving economy — we can't afford it. We cannot solve the problems of this world – the ones that affect the whole world – global warming, famine, terrorism, aids, energy and others by war. We have to talk to the rest of the world. We can work all day on one of these world wide problems but if the rest of the world does not join in it will be for naught. And we cannot help solve the problems of the globe unless we can solve out own problems in America.

I just flat out disagree with your comments on socialism or communism or whatever.

I agree with you on NAFTA. I do not agree with al the tax cuts going to big business. I know they will make money and then they will expand and there will be more jobs – in China the way things have been going. There is a huge opportunity out there for jobs and the economy in energy and infractucture repair and development.

I can’t remember what else you wrote. I am writing this in word since the computer I am on is not on the internet. Any way as you can see we do not agree and there is very little chance we will ever agree but that is OK.

Why do I like McCain? My values match up more with what he wants to do than the things Obama wants to do. Neither of us are wrong. (I wrote the specifics 3 times but for some reason when I write that much it won't go through. So I condensed it to one line.) We must vote with our hearts and our percieved truth.

As far as the better of 2 evils, I hate when people say that.
Neither of these men are evil. Neither are Sarah or Joe stupid.(Neither is "W" or Cheney, nor was Bill Clinton evil or stupid. They did the best they could with what they knew and their hardest fight has been with the media) They just have different directions they would like to see the country go. If those values match your values then that is how you'll vote. I feel we have let the media get too strong in this country and they are now forming the opinions and influencing the decisions the average person with lies and distortions and electing our officials. I include in the list liars and distorters All the major news networks and talk show hosts on radio and TV. (I do find Fox less biased in their reporting of mainstream events.) I just hate the lies and nonsense. Here is an example

(I saw a commercial by a 527 today that said McCain and Palin will kill Roe v Wade. Could that really happen? Never in a million years. You could count on half of one hand the number of decisions like that that have been overturned. It doesn't happen. It was a lie. Could it have been a 2 edged sword and urge those pro-lifers on the fence or that weren't voting to vote. Sure.)
How did I make my decision?
Instead of wading through the murkiness of the gossip columnists and talking heads. I pretty much made up my mind the night of the question and answer period between them at that church. The name of the church slips my mind. Then formed my vote by their associations and their platforms and the platforms of the parties and how they and their parties voted on issues important to me
As far as McCain:
I believe in his economic plan. We must take care of the companies that are left here, unionizing and taxing them more will make them head to a country that will do this for them. They will just import their wares here at a much lower price. Also freedom to succeed is what has made America the richest and most influential country in the world. We have more opportunity and have created more success stories than any other country in the world in my opinion. In America if you work hard and you believe in yourself and you have an idea that can make you successful, you will be successful. In my opinion laziness and too many govt programs hurt and steal the dreams of the average person.
His energy plan. For the most powerful country in the world to import 60% of their primary fuel source is reprehensible in my eyes. This puts us at the mercy of the world and our enemies. We must drill in our country. We must quit importing oil from the middle east and venzeula. We must remain strong supporters of NAFTA and Canada. NAFTA isn't what most people think it is. They have demonized it when actually it isn't really a bad thing. We must have a comprehensive energy plan to create new sources. We can do this without being held hostage, like Nancy and Reid and Gore have attempted.
His defense plan. This is a huge deal maker for McCain in my mind. We can't afford to weaken our defense in this volatile environment no matter how good of a speaker Obama is or how big of a world unifier he thinks he will be, as I said look a Jimmy Carter's record. A 25% reduction in defense is putting our country at risk for an attack and greatly reduces our ability to defend ourselves or other interests in the world. Disarming our Nuke defense when others have it and expect others to follow suit is ridiculous and putting America in harms way.
I like Sarah Palin and what she has done and accomplished and I like her xeal and love of America and it's freedoms.
I also feel that there is a great deal of blame on "W" that isn't warranted. Until our Congress accepts their actions and the people vote them out our country is going to remain separated and lobbiests will continue winning. The he said / she said politics will continue. I like that McCain is liberal enough to reach across party lines. I don't think we can give Pelosi and Reid the power of a veto proof congress. (If you get a chance listen to the endorsements of George Soros, study his philosophies. This man is, and his groups are, the total backing of the Democrat Party.) It's like Obama clings to racists, communists, socialists and crooks. He even mention in "Dreams of My Father" that in college he sought out and hung with people that thought outside the norm of mainstream thinking and leaned toward the far far left side of political views and took up issues presented by activist groups.
I also think that Obama has too little experience.
These are some of my views. I won't go on because I don't know if this will transmit. I would welcome a back and forth communication here if The Rev wouldn't mind.
I hope your candidate doesn't disappoint either of us if he gets elected.

In 1986, when Father Ronald Reagan signed into law a bill substantially increasing the earned income tax credit, basically taking tax dollars and giving them to people who paid no taxes, was he, then, a filthy socialist for doing so?

In 1983, when conservative Father Ronald Reagan signed into law new legislation raising the income cap on payroll taxes, thus strenghtening Social Security….was he, then, acting as a socialist or communist agent?

If he was ….can't you see your own hypocrisy now calling Obama a socialist?

If he wasn't….please spell out the reasons why not.

You are missing the point of this whole thing. It's not whether Obama was set up, it's how he answered the question. The question you should be asking yourself is; did you like the way he answered the question. All the rest is "he said, she said". But NO, as usual the Left, not you, has turned this into another conspiracy. They live on conspiracy and creating havoc. Just watch and read their media.
I personally didnt like the way he answered it. However, I very work hard and sacrifice a great deal to make the money I do and I don't want more of it stolen from me. I am sure you do also, as do most of the people here writing these posts. However, here is what they will say-"he is only taxing the rich and big corporations." Think to yourself, who is going to have to ultimaltely pay for the price increases or job losses? Obama? The rich? No. The middle class. Remember if costs go up what happens? Companies will cut labor or increase prices of goods, basic economics. Look at the Auto and steel industries.
If you have a job and the owner drives a Benz and you drive a Hyundai do you want him to pay more tax because he is making alot of money? Some do. I would rather the owner pay his fair share and have the extra cash to keep the company strong, this way I keep a job. Again look at the steel and auto industries
From an economic standpoint our middle class is living the lives of the rich, compared to Europe Africa, Asia, Central and South America etc. Many have decided to live in mansions on a trailer park budget. If they didn't over extend themselves and lived well within their means, they wouldn't be in their predicament. I lived in a trailer park once and made about 60K per year. I lived an extremely worry free life.

In this election, to make a solid decision you will have to find the answers for yourself. Ask yourself the questions important to you and then look at the truths that glare at you in the face. If you do this you can make a good decision that is good for you.
You shouldn't have to defend your candidate for a lifetime of being in cahoots with terrorists and criminals and political activists that hate america. If these things are okay with you then vote that way.
You shouldn't have to defend your candidate for sitting in a pew listening to racial hatred for 20 years.
You shouldn't have to defend your candidates lack of experience. You shouldn't say "well look at Sarah Palin". Obama is going to be the Pres not the VP and he has less leadership experieince than her.
If you believe in weakening our Defense by 25% and that negotiation is the better way to handle our enemies. Vote that way. (Do you remember the Iranians holding our hostages for 444 days while Carter tried this tactic.) We must have a strong defense to be respected. Who cares if they like us, we need them to fear us. This is how you remain a superpower.
If you beleive that not drilling is a good thing because it protects wildlife and pristeen habitats. Then vote that way. If you realize that having our own resources availbale to us and NOT relying on the world to sell us 60% of our oil, which lets other countries determine our gas prices and ultimatley the ability for us to defend ourselves then vote that way.
If you think that our woes are the fault of Bush then vote that way, but look at what the candidate voted for. Bush was right in 90% of his decisions. The left and libs have villanized him and blame him for more than deserves.
If you want to pay higher energy costs because one candidate doesnt want to utilize our own resources then vote that way. if you like the way prices are now, then vote that way. (Remember the Dems told you that gas would go down 4 cents in 10 years if we drilled. George Bush lifted the off shore drilling ban and gas went down $2.24 cents per gallon in 2 months. Did Bush make the right decision? Of course.)

America has taken the role of the Father of the world. Militarily and monetarily. It's why we are safe and our poor are fat. We still live in the greatest country on earth.(Our dollar is the gold standard. So goes the dollar, so goes the world) We take care of disputes. We take care of the poor. We react in times of tragedy. All the while being told how horrible we are by other leaders in other countries and by our own media.` In this election, one candidate wants to make us the uncle living in grandma's basement, the other want to keep us the father of the world. It is safer being with the weak uncle or being with your father? Don't defend them investigate them.

One question,…..if Teddy was a progressive Republican, why does McCain say he is his hero? I find little in McCain's proposals which would fall into the progressive column.