Comments on: Presidential debate – Mortgages, taxes and Israel

By: David

David — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:34:17 +0000

Movie Fan,
While I agree with your descriptions of the candidates leadership style, I question your conclusion that Obama “demonstrates” a better leadership mentality.
My definition of demonstrating leadership is that someone has to have led for us to make that kind of judgement. I can find nothing in his record that shows that Obama has ever led on anything except his campaign.
He may very well be more inspiring than McBoring but when I follow someone into battle, and I am talking about any kind of confrontation not just military, I am more apt to follow someone who has demonstrated he will not falter when the going gets tough, will not leave me out in the cold because public opinion has shifted, and is willing to make compromises with the other side (when necessary) in order to accomplish the mission, that is the person I can feel confident in following. I do not see that in Senator Obama’s record, be it in the Senate or even in this campaign.
When it comes to leadership rhetoric Obama has it hands down. However, when we look past the words, and their delivery, we find a complete lack of substance. Initially I was drawn to Obama, from his 2004 speech (which was a great model of non-partisanship) up until the Democratic primary, but when I looked into his record and his background it all fell apart; where is the record of non-partisanship he spoke so eloquently of in 2004?
I have never been a big fan of McCain aside from my deep respect for the hell he went through for his country. But when comparing the substance of the records of these two men and on watching and listening closely to what they say while matching it against what they do and have done, I have decided there is no comparison. McBoring is the man I believe can lead this great nation. O’Blah Blah has just not shown me anything except that he is a great communicator.
PS
for those of you who are McCaniacs or Obamiacs please do not get offended by my play on the candidates names, it is not done to disrespect anyone.

By: movie fan

movie fan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:23:40 +0000

The candidates have a major difference in their leadership styles: McCain tends to say, “Follow me because the other guy can’t get it done” while Obama says, “Follow me because I can get it done.” Ideally, the candidates should say, “Follow me because i will help you get it done” … in any case, of the two of them Obama demonstrates a better leadership mentality

By: minty

minty — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:46:26 +0000

Similarly, on the question of whether Russia was evil, he responded that their actions are certainly evil. This is like the saying “don’t hate the player, hate the game” as if the two are completely separate. In fact we judge people by their actions why would we not extend the same to countries run by people?

Calling a nation whose cooperation we need in the war on terror evil is just a terrible idea and awful diplomacy. John McCain refused to call Russia an evil empire as well – and good for him. Let’s look at the transcript:

Brokaw: This requires only a yes or a no. Ronald Reagan famously said that the Soviet Union was the evil empire. Do you think that Russia under Vladimir Putin is an evil empire?
….
McCain: Depends on how we respond to Russia and it depends on a lot of things. If I say yes, then that means that we’re reigniting the old Cold War. If I say no, it ignores their behavior.

By: minty

minty — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:40:02 +0000

Well, in the event that McCain becomes President, I hope you all are right, and that I am wrong.
I fear President McCain will launch a preemptive war with Iran. His advisors, such as Randy Scheunnemann and Robert Kagan, are members of the same pro-war neoconservative groups that got us into this Iraq. I found his responses during debate as meandering and content-free as Obama’s were reassuring and focused.
Aside from that I find it outrageous to reward Republicans with another four years for what they have inflicted.
But I suppose we shall see. I was sorely disappointed four years ago. There are no guarantees that history will turn for the better.

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:51:13 +0000

It would seem that he wants to come down on both sides of an issue thereby giving himself more wiggle room.
David,
Yes, you hit the nail right on the head – he also wants to be all things to all people. He clearly lacks certitude and clarity on all the important issues and has from the beginning. The only thing he has said that made me take pause was when he defended Bristol Palin and told the press to back off and that children of candidates were off limits.