The “fundamental difference” between the vice-presidential candidates is not their view of the problems facing Americans, but how they see we should address the issues which are most critical to the people. Just in case you are not up to speed, here is a list of issues I think are most important and how the candidates stand on them… for now anyway.
Economy: The elephant in the room has started stomping around and knocking things over. Elected officials on both sides of the aisle have been too busy taking advantage of earmarks and other perks provided by lobbyists to do their job protecting the folks from corporate greed. Sub-prime mortgages, price gouging, CEO’s running their companies into the ground and walking away with a golden parachute have collectively put the economy in worse shape than it has been in almost 70 years. To me, Biden made the most profound statement of his beliefs when he described middle class America as sitting around the kitchen table wanting “help.” Obama/Biden promote bigger government (more programs) which means more taxes. They claim that taxes will not go up, but the programs they propose increasing will cost money and it has to come from somewhere. McCain/Palin plan to lower taxes. Neither plan works if the government doesn’t stop earmarks and protect the folks from greedy CEO’s.
Iraq: The government’s primary job is to protect the people. Most people agree that mistakes have been made in the war in Iraq. People are still divided on how and whether we should have gone in at all, but looking back at that question does us no good. The question is how and when do we get out? McCain/Palin say we finish the job and then leave a stable Iraqi government. Obama/Biden want to leave now, and claim that McCain’s plan has no end. However, everyone, including those who oppose the war, conceed that the surge is working and it can now be said that we are winning in Iraq. The war on terror continues, however, and how we handle Afghanistan and continue to persue Bin Ladin, as well as how we deal with Iran and North Korea (not to mention Russia) will be dictated by the next administration.
Moral issues: This may be the clearest topic of discussion. McCain opposes partial birth abortion and favors required parental consnt for abortions for minors. Obama supports unfettered abortion for all ages as a right of privacy. Marriage has been defined as a union between a man and woman since before recorded history. Obama would change that and supports homosexuality being taught in elementary schools and adoption by homosexual parents. Obama would allow gun control. McCain would not.
Truth be told, it’s really not that difficult to pick a side when the choices are so clear. One more thing – change is coming either way.
I totally agree 100% with your blog titled There… isn’t that clearer? and your comment on barryonline.com regarding Vote For God As president.
From another reader via email:
Good point on his “help” comment. I was very challenged with the attached news story. First do understand I do truly believe it is sad and very unfortunate.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/03/eviction.suicide.attempt/index.html
But …. First off I wonder what the bank was thinking giving a 30 year loan to an 86 yr old person. But this is where Palin was correct … how about some personal accountability.
· She received a personal line of credit and 30 yr mortgage on the same day. I could be wrong but I pretty much guarantee she didn’t tell the two lending institutions of the other transaction/s.
· She received a perfectly good loan. No ARM or balloon or anything. Which means she is responsible for these loans and there was nothing fraudulent from the lending institution other then possibly approving a loan her means couldn’t support.
· Then Dennis Kucinich who was a presidential candidate at one time is lobbying for the bailout for these types of situations.
· Fannie Mae is forgiving her loan outright. Which means we as tax payers just bought her house.
We have truly become a nation of giveaways and no personal responsibility!! You have to know we are going to see more of these types of situations where mortgage holders in a financial bind are going to do crazy things to try earn the sympathy of others.
A good friend sent me this, it’s long, but worth the read, gutaenared to make you mad!HR 40 IH111th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 40To acknowledge the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American colonies between 1619 and 1865 and to establish a commission to examine the institution of slavery, subsequently de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African-Americans, and the impact of these forces on living African-Americans, to make recommendations to the Congress on appropriate remedies, and for other purposes.IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 6, 2009Mr. CONYERS (for himself and Mr. SCOTT of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILLTo acknowledge the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American colonies between 1619 and 1865 and to establish a commission to examine the institution of slavery, subsequently de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African-Americans, and the impact of these forces on living African-Americans, to make recommendations to the Congress on appropriate remedies, and for other purposes.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.This Act may be cited as the `Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act’.SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.(a) Findings- The Congress finds that (1) approximately 4,000,000 Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United States and colonies that became the United States from 1619 to 1865;(2) the institution of slavery was constitutionally and statutorily sanctioned by the Government of the United States from 1789 through 1865;(3) the slavery that flourished in the United States constituted an immoral and inhumane deprivation of Africans’ life, liberty, African citizenship rights, and cultural heritage, and denied them the fruits of their own labor; and(4) sufficient inquiry has not been made into the effects of the institution of slavery on living African-Americans and society in the United States.(b) Purpose- The purpose of this Act is to establish a commission to (1) examine the institution of slavery which existed from 1619 through 1865 within the United States and the colonies that became the United States, including the extent to which the Federal and State Governments constitutionally and statutorily supported the institution of slavery;(2) examine de jure and de facto discrimination against freed slaves and their descendants from the end of the Civil War to the present, including economic, political, and social discrimination;(3) examine the lingering negative effects of the institution of slavery and the discrimination described in paragraph (2) on living African-Americans and on society in the United States;(4) recommend appropriate ways to educate the American public of the Commission’s findings;(5) recommend appropriate remedies in consideration of the Commission’s findings on the matters described in paragraphs (1) and (2); and(6) submit to the Congress the results of such examination, together with such recommendations.SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES.(a) Establishment- There is established the Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African-Americans (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the `Commission’).(b) Duties- The Commission shall perform the following duties:(1) Examine the institution of slavery which existed within the United States and the colonies that became the United States from 1619 through 1865. The Commission’s examination shall include an examination of (A) the capture and procurement of Africans;(B) the transport of Africans to the United States and the colonies that became the United States for the purpose of enslavement, including their treatment during transport;(C) the sale and acquisition of Africans as chattel property in interstate and instrastate commerce; and(D) the treatment of African slaves in the colonies and the United States, including the deprivation of their freedom, exploitation of their labor, and destruction of their culture, language, religion, and families.(2) Examine the extent to which the Federal and State governments of the United States supported the institution of slavery in constitutional and statutory provisions, including the extent to which such governments prevented, opposed, or restricted efforts of freed African slaves to repatriate to their homeland.(3) Examine Federal and State laws that discriminated against freed African slaves and their descendants during the period between the end of the Civil War and the present.(4) Examine other forms of discrimination in the public and private sectors against freed African slaves and their descendants during the period between the end of the Civil War and the present.(5) Examine the lingering negative effects of the institution of slavery and the matters described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) on living African-Americans and on society in the United States.(6) Recommend appropriate ways to educate the American public of the Commission’s findings.(7) Recommend appropriate remedies in consideration of the Commission’s findings on the matters described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4). In making such recommendations, the Commission shall address among other issues, the following questions:(A) Whether the Government of the United States should offer a formal apology on behalf of the people of the United States for the perpetration of gross human rights violations on African slaves and their descendants.(B) Whether African-Americans still suffer from the lingering effects of the matters described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4).(C) Whether, in consideration of the Commission’s findings, any form of compensation to the descendants of African slaves is warranted.(D) If the Commission finds that such compensation is warranted, what should be the amount of compensation, what form of compensation should be awarded, and who should be eligible for such compensation.(c) Report to Congress- The Commission shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Congress not later than the date which is one year after the date of the first meeting of the Commission held pursuant to section 4(c).SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.(a) Number and Appointment- (1) The Commission shall be composed of 7 members, who shall be appointed, within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, as follows:(A) Three members shall be appointed by the President.(B) Three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.(C) One member shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate.(2) All members of the Commission shall be persons who are especially qualified to serve on the Commission by virtue of their education, training, or experience, particularly in the field of African-American studies.(b) Terms- The term of office for members shall be for the life of the Commission. A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect the powers of the Commission, and shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.(c) First Meeting- The President shall call the first meeting of the Commission within 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, or within 30 days after the date on which legislation is enacted making appropriations to carry out this Act, whichever date is later.(d) Quorum- Four members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.(e) Chair and Vice Chair- The Commission shall elect a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members. The term of office of each shall be for the life of the Commission.(f) Compensation- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), each member of the Commission shall receive compensation at the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay payable for GS-18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each day, including travel time, during which he or she is engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the Commission.(2) A member of the Commission who is a full-time officer or employee of the United States or a Member of Congressshall receive no additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of his or her service to the Commission.(3) All members of the Commission shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties to the extent authorized by chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.(a) Hearings and Sessions- The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and at such places in the United States, and request the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents, as the Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may request the Attorney General to invoke the aid of an appropriate United States district court to require, by subpoena or otherwise, such attendance, testimony, or production.(b) Powers of Subcommittees and Members- Any subcommittee or member of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized to take by this section.(c) Obtaining Official Data- The Commission may acquire directly from the head of any department, agency, or instrumentality of the executive branch of the Government, available information which the Commission considers useful in the discharge of its duties. All departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the executive branch of the Government shall cooperate with the Commission with respect to such information and shall furnish all information requested by the Commission to the extent permitted by law.SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.(a) Staff- The Commission may, without regard to section 5311(b) of title 5, United States Code, appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel as the Commission considers appropriate.(b) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws- The staff of the Commission may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that the compensation of any employee of the Commission may not exceed a rate equal to the annual rate of basic pay payable for GS-18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code.(c) Experts and Consultants- The Commission may procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with the provisions of section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the highest rate payable under section 5332 of such title.(d) Administrative Support Services- The Commission may enter into agreements with the Administrator of General Services for procurement of financial and administrative services necessary for the discharge of the duties of the Commission. Payment for such services shall be made by reimbursement from funds of the Commission in such amounts as may be agreed upon by the Chairman of the Commission and the Administrator.(e) Contracts- The Commission may (1) procure supplies, services, and property by contract in accordance with applicable laws and regulationsand to the extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts; and(2) enter into contracts with departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government, State agencies, and private firms, institutions, and agencies, for the conduct of research or surveys, the preparation of reports, and other activities necessary for the discharge of the duties of the Commission, to the extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts.SEC. 7. TERMINATION.The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits its report to the Congress under section 3(c).SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.To carry out the provisions of this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated $8,000,000