John McCain Could Easily Win The Election

Barack Obama’s resume is thin compared to John McCain. He is a qualified for the presidency based upon his education, his comprehension of all matters in government, and his ability to make wise decisions. However, he seems to lack the ability to attack John McCain. To put it another way, he is too gentle in his campaign style.

Obama reminds me of another Illinoian who ran for the presidency twice and lost both times. Adlai Stevenson was noted for his intellectual demeanor and advocacy of liberal causes in the Democratic Party. He served one term as governor of Illinois and ran, unsuccessfully, for president against Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956.

Campaigning for the presidency requires an aggressive style. The public looks for a leader who is like them but is stronger in views and attitude. They want someone who has no hesitancy in taking a position. Barack Obama is a thoughtful person who speaks slowly and thinks through his views before speaking. This aspect of his personality does not lend itself to the rough and tumble life of a winning candidate.

John McCain has fought long and hard for his nomination. He was viscously beaten by GWB in 2000 with the use of innuendo. He was considered out of the running in the primaries this year by most pundits and most people. He is a tough hard fighter who appeals to the mid-section and the South of America. Unless Barack Obama changes his campaign style he will lose the election.

War With Iran Before January 20?

The question of an Israeli air strike on Iran was posed by Fareed Zakaria on his GPS program this past Sunday. If you have not seen his interview show it appears on CNN at 1 p.m. EST every week. Many of his guests are rarely seen on American television.

The topics this past Sunday included a discussion on the possibility of an Israeli air strike on Iran before the next U.S. president takes office. The theory being that neither McCain nor Obama would take kindly to this action during their presidency without a more definitive threat.

Today’s news includes an item from the AP that the U.S. plans to sell 1,000 bunker-buster bombs to Israel. The information reported is too sketchy to draw any conclusions about U.S. or Israeli intentions.

I found this quote on israelinsider.com, “Israel will have to reconcile itself with the nuclearization of Iran.” Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joseph Biden, quoted by Israel Army Radio Monday Sept. 1, 2008. Is this another signal that Israel will attack Iran before Jan. 20? My opinion is that Israel will attack Iran if the leadership is convinced tha their nation is subject to attack. It’s the Bush Doctrine which is the same as Israel’s Doctrine of Survival. It’s not new there. The first shots in the Six-Day War in 1967 were given by Israel to Egypt. The justification was the marshalling of troops by its Arab neighbors on all borders.

Joe Biden should be prepared to take a stronger stand against Iran for the sake of the United States. Israel would be a first step by Iran. A nuclear Iran would be a threat to a much wider area than Israel. Iran is already receiving help from Russia. What must Obama and Biden be thinking? Will this issue be discussed at the upcoming foreign affairs debate between Obama and McCain? I hope so.

Sarah “Barracuda” Is John McCain’s Soulmate

I have asked this question before. Is the United States prepared to go to war to defend all of the NATO nations against an attack from Russia or any other nation? Sarah Palin says “Yes”. Does anyone who heard her responses to Charlie Gibson not think that the response was based upon the views of John McCain?

Governor Palin is a pugnacious individual who thinks like John McCain. In that same interview with Charlie Gibson she equated oil drilling as a part of foreign policy. That was a repeat of comments previously made by McCain about energy independence.

The question is, do Americans want warrior types to lead this country? I am not prepared to confront Russia on its borders in areas that it views as part of its sphere of influence. Georgia, Ukraine, Poland and other nations all border Russia. John McCain, by his own admission, is a fighter. He even liked fighting with others in school. What will he do if Russia invades and occupies any of its weak neighbors? More to the question, what will America do if McCain is president?

What America need now is a peace maker. We need someone who will negotiate with the most difficult adversary. I doubt that John McCain is that person. Barack Obama is the alternative to a warrior. He says war is an option but that he is prepared to negotiate with everyone. Obama is correct.

John McCain Has Some Worthwhile Positions

Remember, I am an Independent. The reason is that I am listening to the man not the party. My choice of Barack Obama over John McCain is because I am more in agreement with him than McCain. However John McCain has some views that I think are correct. The list is short.

SCHOOL VOUCHERS

Teacher’s unions have long opposed vouchers but the reasons are vague. Apparently the unions feel threatened by the idea of choice. Competition is the part of capitalism that provides consumers with the best products at the lowest prices. Perhaps that is the issue for unions. After all if there are less students in a school someone will have to be laid off even if that someone is incompetent as a teacher. So McCain’s statement that the least effective teachers may have to find another form of work is correct in a competitive world.

I believe that parents should have the choice to enroll their children in the school of their choice and that includes parochial schools. Parochial schools are providing a service to the community by rescuing over crowding in the public schools. That being the case, they too should receive public support.

NUCLEAR GENERATED ELECTRIC POWER

The New York Times reported an astounding 77% of France’s electricity comes from its 58 nuclear power plants. T. Boone Pickens has pointed out in his TV ads that Iran is converting to nuclear power so that they can sell more oil. What’s stopping the United States from building nuclear powered plants? Stupid fear.

DRILL, DRILL, DRILL

T. Boone Pickens says it won’t solve the issue of energy but every little bit helps our energy independence. The fear of oil spills in ocean areas may limit our off shore drilling but where ever the oil is on land we ought to drill it out. The United States has enormous natural gas reserves that can help bridge the gap until new sources of energy can be developed. Pickens’ ideas should be taken seriously by both Obama and McCain.

Words matter more than fists – John McCain is a Fighter

There is no doubt that both Barack Obama and John McCain are two strong willed men. Each has a significantly different vision of where America should go in the early 21^st century. Their decisions could impact the entire century. After all appointments to the Supreme Court are for life. The longest-serving chief justice of the US, Warren Earl Burger headed the court from 1969 to 1986. Scalia was appointed to the current court September 26, 1986. The impact of Ronald Reagan’s presidency is still affecting behavior and discussions throughout the country and he left office in 1989.

Now we have John McCain running for president. He was born August 29, 1936. He just turned 72 years old. He most likely does remember WWII. His family has a history of military service. According to all accounts he followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, McCain graduate from the United States Naval Academy in 1958.

I thought I heard him use the word “fight” repeatedly throughout his acceptance speech. Reviewing the text I found he used “fight”, “fights”, or “fighting” a toal of 25 times. In addition he used the word “fought” 9 times. Compare that with Obama’s acceptance speech. Barack Obama used the word “fight” twice and the word “fought” twice. Giving up an early release as a POW, John McCain was a fighter who stayed in the Hanoi Hilton for five years.

The reality is that being president is more than being a fighter. The United States needs a leader with the wisdom and skills to negotiate a variety of situations. Will John McCain be ready to “fight” every nation in the world that does not bow to the United Sates views? Most of those situations are not related to fighting. They are about reaching a result in good legislation that will move our nation forward. Words matter more than fists. Barack Obama is the skilled orator and communicator.

Who Is To Blame For The Mortgage Mess?

Well actually many home buyers foolishly believed they could buy a home with little or nothing down and some how afford the payments even after the interest rates adjusted upwards. The banks accepted the applications and the real estate broker told them “don’t worry.” So those buyers went forward with those home purchases on blind faith.

The banks and mortgage brokers didn’t care because they sold the loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Those two government sponsored companies apparently did not review many of the loans that were made by the banks and mortgage brokers. The consequence is that “a record 9 percent, were either behind on their payments or in foreclosure at the end of June.” To believe that the people managing these enterprises did not realize the folly of their ways is equivalent to adults believing there really is a Santa Claus. To make matters worse the Federal Reserve did nothing to interfere with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Where were our congressmen? The Financial Services Committee of Congress headed by Barney Frank of Massachusetts has a web site that advises its responsibilities.

The Committee oversees all components of the nation’s housing and financial services sectors including banking, insurance, real estate, public and assisted housing, and securities. The Committee continually reviews the laws and programs relating to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and international development and finance agencies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The Committee also ensures enforcement of housing and consumer protection laws such as the U.S. Housing Act, the Truth In Lending Act, the Housing and Community Development Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, and financial privacy laws.

Actually this mess goes back to a Republican lead Congress as this situation came to light about two years ago. So what have the Democrats done to prevent the meltdown of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Apparently the answer is nothing. The cost to taxpayers will be in the billons. Who made money on this situation? The real estate brokers, banks, and mortgage brokers. I foresee new laws and regulations but they are coming after the animals have left the barn.

There is Something about Barack Obama

I was commenting on another blog about a month ago and wrote the following. I believe these words may be more accurate now than when I wrote them.

“OK so Barack Obama is “incredibly arrogant, haughty, full-of-himself, and entitled.” The alternative is what? John McCain stands for most of the ideas and values of the Republican Party. Rather than persue his “straight talk express”, John McCain has altered his positions to reflect most of George W. Bush’s views. Americans just might elect John McCain because they are more like him than Barack Obama.”