Mark Stapleton Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 Why is is bad? Linkage to the most corrupt body in politics..the UN for one. Losing control over where and to whom our moneys goes, and on what terms it must be used. 800 BILLION dollars...Enough said. I don't know about that, Craig. You might think the UN is corrupt but how about the US Congress? As for the $800 billion, I don't know if I would endorse the costings of Lawrence Kudlow, especially if he is a former Reagan advisor. A second opinion might be in order. In any case, the money could be well spent. Extending health insurance, green energy plans, and an infrastructure bank sound like great ideas to me. The US needs to reduce oil consumption rapidly, and a co-ordinated strategy is required. If you are an opponent of profligate spending, then look at US military defence spending for fiscal year 2008: http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/200...ding/index.html $623 billion for just one year--more than the rest of the world's military spending combined. All this and not an enemy aircraft in sight. Mark, that 800 billion just the cost of the UN give-a-way over a period of years. As for the US Congress...of course they are corrupt, but nowhere near the UN. Wait untill you see the true cost of his social programs in addition. Defense spending is about the only true reason for the Federal Government. Most everything else is fluff better left to the States. I think the other initiatives sound good, although I haven't read much about them. The real policy detail will emerge when the Presidential contest starts, I guess. If you have access to the 'true' cost of his planned initiatives, I'm all ears.
J. Raymond Carroll Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 Defense spending is about the only true reason for the Federal Government. Most everything else is fluff better left to the States. The federal government handles basically ALL aspects of America's relationship with the outside world. There is more to foreign policy than having bigger bombs or bigger armies or starting bigger wars than your neighbors. Obamamania! Europe Can't Get Enough of 'The Second Coming of J.F.K.' http://www.observer.com/2008/obamamania-eu...nd-coming-j-f-k
John Simkin Posted February 20, 2008 Author Posted February 20, 2008 Obamamania! Europe Can't Get Enough of 'The Second Coming of J.F.K.'http://www.observer.com/2008/obamamania-eu...nd-coming-j-f-k The UK is very impressed with Obama. It is great to have a US leader who is articulate and clearly intelligent. we are also hopeful that it will address the important world problems of global warming and the failed US foreign policy.
Craig Lamson Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 Defense spending is about the only true reason for the Federal Government. Most everything else is fluff better left to the States. The federal government handles basically ALL aspects of America's relationship with the outside world. There is more to foreign policy than having bigger bombs or bigger armies or starting bigger wars than your neighbors. Obamamania! Europe Can't Get Enough of 'The Second Coming of J.F.K.' http://www.observer.com/2008/obamamania-eu...nd-coming-j-f-k As I said...most... I'm sorry but you are wrong. Bigger bombs and bigger armies are the very backbone of foreign policy.
Craig Lamson Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 Why is is bad? Linkage to the most corrupt body in politics..the UN for one. Losing control over where and to whom our moneys goes, and on what terms it must be used. 800 BILLION dollars...Enough said. I don't know about that, Craig. You might think the UN is corrupt but how about the US Congress? As for the $800 billion, I don't know if I would endorse the costings of Lawrence Kudlow, especially if he is a former Reagan advisor. A second opinion might be in order. In any case, the money could be well spent. Extending health insurance, green energy plans, and an infrastructure bank sound like great ideas to me. The US needs to reduce oil consumption rapidly, and a co-ordinated strategy is required. If you are an opponent of profligate spending, then look at US military defence spending for fiscal year 2008: http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/200...ding/index.html $623 billion for just one year--more than the rest of the world's military spending combined. All this and not an enemy aircraft in sight. Mark, that 800 billion just the cost of the UN give-a-way over a period of years. As for the US Congress...of course they are corrupt, but nowhere near the UN. Wait untill you see the true cost of his social programs in addition. Defense spending is about the only true reason for the Federal Government. Most everything else is fluff better left to the States. I think the other initiatives sound good, although I haven't read much about them. The real policy detail will emerge when the Presidential contest starts, I guess. If you have access to the 'true' cost of his planned initiatives, I'm all ears. I'm glad you like them, are you willing to pay for them? Don't you think that policy should be a concern during the primary process? No one has access to the true cost and we won't until the policy is place.
David G. Healy Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 Obamamania! Europe Can't Get Enough of 'The Second Coming of J.F.K.'http://www.observer.com/2008/obamamania-eu...nd-coming-j-f-k The UK is very impressed with Obama. It is great to have a US leader who is articulate and clearly intelligent. we are also hopeful that it will address the important world problems of global warming and the failed US foreign policy. yeah but, where's the beef? How is he (or anyone else for that matter) going to get all the US/coalition troops out of IRAQ in 2009? Dump it on the UN? Come on.... Yes indeed Obama is "articulate and clearly intelligent", he clearly can deliver a speech (did he write any of these speeches?)! My question concerning Obama and the war? Who advises him (campaign staff member) on US military matters? If say, a Colin Powell [type] was in the background somewhere Obama may have a policy as to how to deal with the IRAQ war-U.S. military matters... If Obama (likely) wins the nomination of the democratic party, when the presidential tv debates begin, they'll deliver tv audiences unheard of.... As for John McCain (likely winner of the republican nomination) he has to resell the war in IRAQ, if he can't do that, Obama walks into the Whitehouse with or without a solid plan to get out of Iraq...
Ron Ecker Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 Are the American people ready for a black president? Yes, but the Clintons aren't. If you get my drift. As for McCain, he's the most brilliant choice for the Republican nomination since Bob Dole.
Ron Ecker Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 According to a report in last week’s Sunday Times, the Republican Party are about to mount a smear campaign against Barack Obama in an attempt to make sure Hilliary Clinton gets the nomination. I think it's already started. You may have missed this: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=...mp;pageId=56626
Mark Stapleton Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 (edited) I'm glad you like them, are you willing to pay for them?Don't you think that policy should be a concern during the primary process? No one has access to the true cost and we won't until the policy is place. Of course policy is important. I wouldn't claim otherwise. I'm hoping more detailed and fully costed policies will be put on the table, but it looks like that won't happen until the one on one race for the White House starts. Maybe not even then. As for the cost of social programmes, the article cited in John's post suggested that the policies would be funded, or at least partly funded, by increasing taxes on the >97K group. With a little hard work and a few important changes, I think America will become a socialist workers paradise. Those more wealthy Americans who might be forced to pay higher taxes can console themselves with the thought that they will at last be legally entitled to smoke a genuine hand rolled Cuban cigar. Viva Obama. Edited February 20, 2008 by Mark Stapleton
John Simkin Posted February 20, 2008 Author Posted February 20, 2008 Are the American people ready for a black president? Yes, but the Clintons aren't. If you get my drift. As for McCain, he's the most brilliant choice for the Republican nomination since Bob Dole. I thought he was a good choice as he was popular with independents. It was always going to be difficult for the Republicans to come up with a good candidate after the disaster of the Bush presidency. Ron, what do you think the Christian Right will do? Will they vote for McCain or will they they try to persuade a Third Party candidate?
Mark Stapleton Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 I'm sorry but you are wrong. Bigger bombs and bigger armies are the very backbone of foreign policy. Only if your country is a war-mongering rogue state hellbent on global hegemony.
Ron Ecker Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 Ron, what do you think the Christian Right will do? I wish they would get Raptured. Failing that, I hope more of them get caught tapping their feet in airport toilet stalls. Beyond that, I don't know what they will do.
Christopher Hall Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 (edited) Are the American people ready for a black president? Yes, but the Clintons aren't. If you get my drift. As for McCain, he's the most brilliant choice for the Republican nomination since Bob Dole. Well put. I think that you are on the money on both counts. Edited February 20, 2008 by Christopher Hall
Craig Lamson Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 I'm sorry but you are wrong. Bigger bombs and bigger armies are the very backbone of foreign policy. Only if your country is a war-mongering rogue state hellbent on global hegemony. Really? Is that why Russia and China for example have a huge military presence and continue growing it?
Len Colby Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 All, Here is a link to the complete text of the bill http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s110-2433 Craig, Please cite the portions that will mandate that the US spend 0.7 % of its GDP, give the money to the UN or make the US subservient to that body. Len
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