22 September 2008

Presidential Politics Quotes

“Oil and coal? Of course, it’s a fungible commodity and they don’t flag, you know, the molecules, where it’s going and where it’s not. But in the sense of the Congress today, they know that there are very, very hungry domestic markets that need that oil first,” Palin said. “So, I believe that what Congress is going to do, also, is not to allow the export bans to such a degree that it’s Americans that get stuck to holding the bag without the energy source that is produced here, pumped here. It’s got to flow into our domestic markets first.”-Energy Expert Palin

"Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he's president that he'll take on, and I quote, 'the old boys network in Washington.' Now I'm not making this up. This is somebody who's been in Congress for twenty-six years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign. And now he tells us that he's the one who's gonna' to take on the old boys network. The old boys network? In the McCain campaign that's called a staff meeting. Come, on!" - Barack Obama

"He is not somebody I could endorse, ever." - Ron Paul on McCain

"Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation." - John McCain

"I suppose the McCain campaign's hope is that when there's a big crisis, people will go for age and experience... The question is, who in this crisis looked more presidential, calm and un-flustered? It wasn't John McCain who, as usual, substituting vehemence for coherence, said 'let's fire somebody.' And picked one of the most experienced and conservative people in the administration, Chris Cox, and for no apparent reason... It was un-presidential behavior by a presidential candidate. John McCain showed his personality this week, and made some of us fearful." - Conservative writer George Will

14 comments:

Mark Miller said...

Can't you go back to picking on Palin again? Please? PLEASE?

Whenever the attacks are focused on her, he escapes scrutiny. The only way to advance our agenda is for conservatives to get jazzed enough about her to hold our noses and vote Republican. That's not going to happen if you stop reminding us how good she is and keep reminding us how bad he is.

Eight of our 43 presidents have died in office, and a potential President Palin could appoint 3 Supreme Court Justices. McCain would be the oldest ever sworn-in, so think about those 4:1 odds and focus on her.

I'm beggin' ya!

CityKin said...

Thanks for keeping some humor in this Mark.

But unfortunately for your side, the Palin rose is already losing its scent.

Randy Simes said...

The more the economy comes up in discussion...the more the McCain/Palin ticket looks like the bad choice.

5chw4r7z said...

Actually I think McCain does have a proven track record of taking on republicans and Palin has shown shes willing to fight anyone who doesn't agree with her.
What I find strange is as much as McCain is disliked (including me)that the two candidates are statistically in a dead heat.
Why can't Obama capitalize on all McCain's missteps?

Anonymous said...

Why is it that we are only offered these two weak choices as candidates for the presidency of the United States? Surely there are more qualified minds in this country, yet every 4 years we are asked to choose between the lesser of two evils.

I think the idea of splitting the responsibilities of the presidency into (2) distinct roles (one for domestic affairs and one for international affairs) makes more sense given the complex nature of the current global situation.

Anonymous said...

It's too bad Ron Paul doesn't stand a chance, because this is dead-on: http://bit.ly/20YQH6

CityKin said...

"Surely there are more qualified minds in this country, yet every 4 years we are asked to choose between the lesser of two evils."
Many smart people wouldn't stand a chance in politics because it pays too little or because they do not meet the cultural requirements ie: they are the wrong religion, they are too rich, too poor, too gay, too short, too elitist, too many daliances etc etc.. And in the case of some, such as Ron Paul or Ralph Nader, they are too uncompromising in a business that is all about trading and making deals. Neither of them knows how to smile much either.

Anonymous said...

"Many smart people wouldn't stand a chance in politics because it pays too little or because they do not meet the cultural requirements ie: they are the wrong religion, they are too rich, too poor, too gay, too short, too elitist, too many daliances etc etc.."

True. But we don't need another shoot-from-the-hip cowboy or Rolling Stone cover boy celebrity as our next president. We need an adult who thinks like an adult, and uses logic and common sense (rather than rash thinking or "politically correct" double-speak) to do what is best for our country. And yes, I said our country -- we've got enough woes here to deal with before we attempt to solve the world's problems -- it's hard to care about polar bears in the Arctic when you've got such abject poverty right here in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area.

CityKin said...

Have you read Obama's first book? Have you seen his indepth interviews with Charlie Rose? How about his reading his policy proposals for cities, transportation and international affairs. He is logical and a thorough thinker on these issues. Yes, he is also a polititian with all that entails, but weren't Lincoln and FDR savy politicians also?

Mark Miller said...

Speaking of humor...

Man in the Box - Obama

Anonymous said...

that is hysterical.

I have not swallowed the Obama Kool-Aid nor do I wet my pants every time the man's name is mentioned. That is the problem with too many of his supporters.

I wish there was more to his candidacy, but I'm afraid I've seen the emperor's new clothes...

Quimbob said...

That Obama can't close the deal is a good sign he shouldn't be handed the reigns to our foreign policy.
McCain's snap decision making shouldn't be compared to W's irresponsible shooting from the hip.
To make a good choice at this point, it would be great to know who these guys are going to pick for their cabinets. Palin is a non issue.
One of the funny things about this campaign is that Ron Paul (the only true anti-war candidate) was talking about the economy in a fundamental way since day 1. The Dems were doing their thing and the Reps were, as usual, stuck on homosexuality, reproductive rights and creationism. NOW the economy blows up & we have to run around putting out fires.
Unfortunately, Paul has a hard time communicating and certainly was not presidential.

CityKin said...

But Obama CAN close the deal.

... and you get a pretty good idea about their cabinet by looking at their VP pick. It shows that Obama is cautious. And it shows that McCain is reckless and beholden to the creationist wing of the party.

You can also look at their advisors, and Goolsbee on social economics is a pretty good hint at where Obama wants to go.

As far as the meme that Obama has no clothes, is an empty suit etc... all I can say is look at his consistency and steadiness through this campaign and I think you can see how he will govern.

CityKin said...

Conservatives who insist that electing McCain is crucial usually start, and increasingly end, by saying he would make excellent judicial selections. But the more one sees of his impulsive, intensely personal reactions to people and events, the less confidence one has that he would select judges by calm reflection and clear principles, having neither patience nor aptitude for either.

It is arguable that, because of his inexperience, Obama is not ready for the presidency. It is arguable that McCain, because of his boiling moralism and bottomless reservoir of certitudes, is not suited to the presidency. Unreadiness can be corrected, although perhaps at great cost, by experience. Can a dismaying temperament be fixed?
-George Will today