New Election 2008 thread

[ZenLunatic]

I'm so against Obama and apathetic for McCain, that it annoys me to look at either of them.

 

so does that mean McCain will eventually get your vote?

[sweetheart-mine]

I'm so against Obama and apathetic for McCain, that it annoys me to look at either of them.

that's how i felt in '04, only turned around:

 

i was so against bush and apathetic for kerry that it annoyed me to look at either of them.

[ZenLunatic]

Obama declines public financing so McCain has to also. So where does all that money now go?

[mfwahl]

Obama declines public financing so McCain has to also. So where does all that money now go?

I was just wondering that myself. I've been looking online but didn't see anything about that. That's a very important question.

[uncle wilco]

so does that mean McCain will eventually get your vote?

i'm still pondering my options and will never endorse mccain regardless of whether or not he'd get my vote.

 

i'll likely vote for a 3rd party candidate since my state (kansas) hasn't gone for a democrat presidential candidate since LBJ in 1964. so historically, i'd be relatively safe in not supporting mccain and having to worry about barack carrying kansas.

 

...but with the cult of barack, you never know what might happen. i'll check the polls closer to the election to see which way kansas is leaning and make my final decision then.

[ZenLunatic]

I was just wondering that myself. I've been looking online but didn't see anything about that. That's a very important question.

 

Its like $190 million taxpayer money. I hope it goes to something good and useful.

[ZenLunatic]

i'm still pondering my options and will never endorse mccain regardless of whether or not he'd get my vote.

 

i'll likely vote for a 3rd party candidate since my state (kansas) hasn't gone for a democrat presidential candidate since LBJ in 1964. so historically, i'd be relatively safe in not supporting mccain and having to worry about barack carrying kansas.

 

...but with the cult of barack, you never know what might happen. i'll check the polls closer to the election to see which way kansas is leaning and make my final decision then.

 

Obama will win anyways. I predict it wont even be close.

[MrRain422]

i'm still pondering my options and will never endorse mccain regardless of whether or not he'd get my vote.

 

i'll likely vote for a 3rd party candidate since my state (kansas) hasn't gone for a democrat presidential candidate since LBJ in 1964. so historically, i'd be relatively safe in not supporting mccain and having to worry about barack carrying kansas.

 

...but with the cult of barack, you never know what might happen. i'll check the polls closer to the election to see which way kansas is leaning and make my final decision then.

 

Do you think an Obama-Sebilius ticket could swing it?

[fatheadfred]

Obama will win anyways. I predict it wont even be close.

 

Don't underestimate the competitive scheming of Karl Rove and the GOP. There is still a lot of time left. A mulititude of variables could swing this the other way, the candidates' behavior, events in US or abroad. More importantly, Uncle Wilco's influence on VCers.

[mfwahl]

Do you think an Obama-Sebilius ticket could swing it?

The polls I've seen say no, that he wouldn't carry Kansas even with her on the ticket. At this point I'm thinking Jim Webb would be a good choice to help him pick up the prized "bitter" vote. I wonder what the key voting bloc (soccer moms, Nascar dads)will be called by the media this election.

[JUDE]

For all of anti-drilling anti-nuclear proponents, I was just wondering

 

1.Can we stipulate to the fact that America is an Industrialized nation that has a great need for some sort on energy?

2.That the current meteoric rise in gas prices is having a real/adverse effect on a good portion of the population?

3.That our current push for biofuels is having an adverse on the price of food, compounded by the fuel costs associated with food production/bringing food to market.

 

 

I guess I

[ZenLunatic]

For all of anti-drilling anti-nuclear proponents, I was just wondering

 

1.Can we stipulate to the fact that America is an Industrialized nation that has a great need for some sort on energy?

2.That the current meteoric rise in gas prices is having a real/adverse effect on a good portion of the population?

3.That our current push for biofuels is having an adverse on the price of food, compounded by the fuel costs associated with food production/bringing food to market.

 

 

I guess I

[uncle wilco]

Do you think an Obama-Sebilius ticket could swing it?

she's not even liked that much in her own adopted state of kansas (she's originally from ohio and michigan).

 

so, no.

 

i still can't figure out how she is being given any consideration besides the fact she is from a political family and therefore, well connected.

 

her dad was a former governor of ohio.

her husband is a federal magistrate judge and the son of a former u.s. representative.

[EL the Famous]

I guess I

[uncle wilco]

Don't underestimate the competitive scheming of Karl Rove and the GOP. There is still a lot of time left. A mulititude of variables could swing this the other way, the candidates' behavior, events in US or abroad. More importantly, Uncle Wilco's influence on VCers.

ha, ha

 

yeah, i'm sure that's a serious concern around here.

[IRememberDBoon]

I hated those low, disgusting 90's! I hated those budget surpluses! I hated the longest economic boom in U.S. history! I hated nearly full employment! I hated peace and prosperity! Thank GOD Supreme Court Justices O'Connor, Scalia, Rehnquist, Kennedy and Thomas restored honor and integrity to the White House by cancelling the Florida election, so that we Americans could return to the glorious days of high unemployment, record budget deficits, world hostility, and perpetual war and fear! Yay, President Bush!

[mfwahl]

For all of anti-drilling anti-nuclear proponents, I was just wondering

 

1.Can we stipulate to the fact that America is an Industrialized nation that has a great need for some sort on energy?

2.That the current meteoric rise in gas prices is having a real/adverse effect on a good portion of the population?

3.That our current push for biofuels is having an adverse on the price of food, compounded by the fuel costs associated with food production/bringing food to market.

 

 

I guess I

[JUDE]

IAnother interesting development in the oil world is some of the anger over high prices is finally shifitng to commodities speculators. Depending who you listen to, speculating currently accounts for $40-$70 of the $140/barrel price. While commodities markets do have a function, over the past five years there has been a troubling increase in investment by people who actually don't deal commodities. All sorts of financial institutions and investors are increasing demand for gas by buying futures which they plan on selling to buy more to sell, etc. So a large portion of the "demand" for gas is non-existent; it's from investors who are looking for money not actual gas. If we go by OPEC's calculations (speculators account for $70 per barrell) and imagined speculators were not driving the market, gas would be $70/barrell or around $2.78 per gallon.

 

Since you brought up the speculators, is it really hard to imagine that if more drilling/production was approved it might have the result of lowering the trading price of crude futures. Futures trading is more about modeling and forecasting than supply and demand, by adamantly refusing to alter the future supply (drilling/production) you are allowing the traders to always bet high, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[Good Old Neon]

i'm interested to see the response to this based on some earlier comments about the ability for change in realtion to sex ed vs. abortion. and, just to cinch up earlier discussions, there has plenty of demonizing or, at least, demoralizing for those of religious faith on this board.

 

 

As an atheist, I

[fatheadfred]

ha, ha

 

yeah, i'm sure that's a serious concern around here.

 

We're glad you're in the discourse. It's much better to learn about a dissimilar political philosophy from a person rather than a talking head.

[mfwahl]

Oil Tool

Here's a pretty cool tool to easily see how much the people representing you in Congress receive from the oil and gas industry and how often they vote on their side. In general, as you would imagine, the more they get, the more they vote with oil.

 

Edit: Now that I've looked at different zip codes it seems a lot of Democrats are getting more money from oil but voting with them less, compared to Republicans. Oil probably figures everyone has their price.

[fatheadfred]

Electricity is renewable via sun, solar, and water. Cars, residential, shipping. Save the oil for air travel.

 

Instead of goddamn tax on oil, we pay for the use of plug ins at workplaces, bars, restaurants, parking meters, etc. any location that sees 1 hour or more parking. However, I noticed a mention that batteries do not work in cold weather. Any truth to this? Cuz trains still run in the winter, your car (usually) starts in the winter, etc.

[ikol]

Neither is building 40+ nucluer plants. That will take decades anyways. Just seems we are replacing one bad thing with another. Although we do what we can to make things better, the change that needs to come is in our lifstyles. Thats the way we need to think.

 

Except nuclear power isn't that bad. Sure, there's the waste, but it's easily containable, and there are ways of reusing the waste. It's not the only alternative source of energy, but it's the best option with current technology.

[MrRain422]

Oil Tool

Here's a pretty cool tool to easily see how much the people representing you in Congress receive from the oil and gas industry and how often they vote on their side. In general, as you would imagine, the more they get, the more they vote with oil.

 

Edit: Now that I've looked at different zip codes it seems a lot of Democrats are getting more money from oil but voting with them less, compared to Republicans. Oil probably figures everyone has their price.

 

Sweet.

 

Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL)

Accepted $40,850 from the oil and gas industry since 2000.

Supported the industry in 44% of selected votes.

 

Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)

Accepted $70,000 from the oil and gas industry since 2000.

Supported the industry in 33% of selected votes.

 

Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL04)

Accepted $9,000 from the oil and gas industry since 2000.

Supported the industry in 0% of selected votes.

[ZenLunatic]

Except nuclear power isn't that bad. Sure, there's the waste, but it's easily containable, and there are ways of reusing the waste. It's not the only alternative source of energy, but it's the best option with current technology.

 

It maybe the best option at this point with our technology but it definitely isnt a good one. Just because it is better than car emissions doesnt mean its the solution. For future we should invest and look into greener options. I dont like hearing about a plan to create 40+ nuclear plants in the next 20 or so years. We will eventually posion ourselves that way instead of through cars.