I think I'm likin' the way you're thinkin', Andrew_.

I thought this might be of interest to all the Bush bashers out there.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Since Barack Obama incessantly makes the case that a John McCain administration would equate to another Bush term, it's worth looking at just how much Sen. Obama himself is in agreement with the unpopular president.

Does that mean that he, too, would be a repeat of President Bush? If one were to apply his logic, maybe so.

Here are 20 reasons why:

1. Abstinence: Bush expanded community-based abstinence education during his term, including a $28 million budget increase for 2009 in an effort to "Teach both abstinence and contraception to teens." Obama concurred in April when he said: "We want to make sure that, even as we are teaching responsible sexuality and we are teaching abstinence to children, that we are also making sure that they've got enough understanding about contraception."

2. Affirmative action: Bush said of the 2003 University of Michigan affirmative action case: "I strongly support diversity of all kinds, including racial diversity in higher education. But the method used by the University of Michigan to achieve this important goal is fundamentally flawed" -- because it depended solely on race. Bush has said other factors, such as socioeconomic status, should be considered, which would include poor white students.

Obama now agrees with that view. "Inside Higher Ed" referred in May to "Obama's suggestion that he may be ready to change the focus of affirmative action policies in higher education -- away from race to economic class. ... In his debate in Philadelphia with Hillary Clinton, he said in response to a question, that his own privileged daughters do not deserve affirmative action preferences, and that working-class students of all colors do."

3. Budgets: Obama voted for Bush's budgets, which included 19 spending bills.

4. Capital punishment: Like Bush, Obama supports capital punishment. He spoke out in opposition to the recent Supreme Court decision that denied the death penalty for child rapists. And in his 2006 memoir, Obama said, "I believe there are some crimes -- mass murder, the rape and murder of a child -- so heinous that the community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage by meting out the ultimate punishment."

5. Education: Obama supports charter schools, as does Bush, and merit pay for teachers, and he voted in favor of supporting the president's 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

6. Economics: Obama told reporters that he agreed with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Bush's bailout package, then voted for the $700 billion plan. And despite routinely criticizing "the Bush tax cuts," Obama is now offering tax cuts of his own (although only for the 95 percent of taxpayers earning less than $250,000 a year). What a concept!

7. Energy: In signing the $12.3 billion Energy Policy Act of 2005, Bush said it "promotes dependable, affordable, and environmentally sound production and distribution of energy for America's future." Obama voted for the energy plan and called it a "first step toward decreasing America's dependence on foreign oil."

8. Faith-based initiatives/fatherhood: Bush is well known for his commitment to the faith-based community -- with initiatives for the poor and on fatherhood -- and he expanded the ability to allow faith-based providers a seat at the funding table. Obama, who has railed against Bush's efforts, has still found a way to embrace them, saying he would "expand" faith-based initiatives. He used his Father's Day speech to echo the president's Fatherhood Initiative.

9. FISA: Of the Senate bill passage that rewrote intelligence laws to grant immunity to telecommunications companies that participated in the Bush administration's wiretapping program, Bush said: "This vital intelligence bill will allow our national security professionals to quickly and effectively monitor the plans of terrorists outside the United States, while respecting the liberties of the American people."

Obama, who supported it, after opposing FISA last year, said: "Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track down terrorists before they strike, while respecting the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people." Almost identical, huh? Are we sure they don't share the same speechwriter? But Obama did take heat for his change of heart, as The Washington Post reported that: "The Illinois senator's reversal on the issue has angered liberal groups." Guess you can't please everyone.

10. Gay marriage: Both Obama and Bush agree that marriage is and should remain between one man and one woman. As far back as 2004, Obama said: "Gays ... should not marry." And in a 2007 Senate debate, he said: "I agree with most Americans, with Democrats and Republicans, with Vice President Cheney, with over 2,000 religious leaders of all different beliefs, that decisions about marriage, as they always have, should be left to the states. ... Personally, I do believe that marriage is between a man and a woman."

11. Global AIDS: Obama has said the U.S. must "lead the global fight against the AIDS virus." And earlier this year, he encouraged lawmakers to "Use whatever works with AIDS, including teaching abstinence." Obama has given Bush kudos for his efforts to combat global AIDS and the record amount of funding ($15 billion over 5 years) the president has earmarked for the fight. Obama said in September, "I think President Bush -- and many of you here today -- have shown real leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS."

12. Health care: While they don't share similar views on universal health care coverage, Bush and Obama agree that the problem with health care is "about affordability" and there is a need to address minority health concerns with more coverage and targeting. That is why Bush expanded community health care centers, covering the uninsured and targeting urban areas, to the tune of $1.5 billion for 1,200 centers "coast to coast."

13. Middle-class tax cuts: While he hasn't voted for such cuts, Obama is pushing his biggest economic initiative yet: tax cuts for the middle class. "We've got to help the middle class," Obama said Tuesday. Perhaps unbeknownst to him, Bush has already been there, done that. In signing the 2001 Tax Cut Bill, Bush said: "Tax relief is an achievement for families struggling to enter the middle class. For hard-working lower-income families, we have cut the bottom rate of federal income tax from 15 percent to 10 percent. We doubled the per-child tax credit to $1,000, and made it refundable. ... Tax relief is an achievement for middle-class families squeezed by high energy prices and credit card debt."

14. Minority homeownership: Obama adopted the Congressional Black Caucus principles "to increase minority homeownership" as it is "one of the best wealth-creation vehicles for minority families." These principles were developed as part of Bush's vision to expand minority homeownership to 5.5 million new homeowners by 2010. "Across our nation, every citizen, regardless of race, creed, color or place of birth, should have the opportunity to become a homeowner," Bush said.

Similar comparisons can be drawn for their positions on small businesses and on businesses owned by women and minorities.

15. National security: Obama voted yes on preauthorizing the much ballyhooed Patriot Act, sought by the Bush administration.

16. Offshore drilling: Bush has consistently pushed for drilling offshore, while Obama, who until recently opposed it, now says he's for it. In Nashville, Tennessee, he told an audience: "We're going to have to explore new ways to get more oil, and that includes offshore drilling."

17. Racial profiling: Obama's campaign literature states that he will call for a ban on racial profiling, even though Bush issued a directive that banned racial profiling in 2001. In his order, Bush said to the attorney general: "I hereby direct you to review the use by federal law enforcement authorities of race as a factor in conducting stops, searches and other investigative procedures. ... I further direct that you report back to me with your findings and recommendations for the improvement of the just and equal administration of our nation's laws."

18. Religion: It is widely known that Obama is a person of faith. He has said: "I am a proud Christian who believes deeply in Jesus Christ." Bush, who shares the same faith, has been just as much, if not more vocal, about his faith. He once told The Washington Times that he doesn't "see how you can be president without a relationship with the Lord."

19. Supreme Court ruling on gun ban: Despite his past endorsements of some gun control measures, Obama's reaction to the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutional right of individuals to own handguns mirrors the administration's. Obama now says: "As a general principle, I believe that the Constitution confers an individual right to bear arms."

20. Welfare reform: An Obama ad this summer said he "passed a law to move people from welfare to work" and "slashed the rolls by 80 percent" (though all states had to as a result of the Clinton administration's mandate). Obama said in 2004: "Go into the collar counties around Chicago, and people will tell you they don't want their tax money wasted by a welfare agency." In 2003, Bush successfully called on Congress to reauthorize and expand on welfare reform efforts, "to make welfare even more focused on the well being of children and supportive of families."

So, although he has been ranked as the most liberal senator by the National Journal and obviously hasn't voted with Bush as often as Sen. McCain has -- based on his voting "record" -- Obama's "rhetoric" still sounds a lot like, well, Bush. McCain might want to take that into account the next time Obama talks about another Bush term.

BTW, for people who seem to forget the hatred that has been thrown from the left, here's an article that serves as a useful reminder:

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/12/crush-the-obamedia-narrative-look-whos-gripped-by-insane-rage/

What ever happend to the quality of character that enabled an educated, fair and free thinking individual to be able to rise above the hate and pettiness that surrounds us all.

I suppose that's just one more of our freedoms that we can put on the list that our society and the human race  has lost.

So sad, so very sad.

The media knicker-wad over McCain allegedly 'inciting' hatred in his supporters is such a pathetic joke.  They pretend DK, DU & HP just don't exist, that BO never catered to them.  Horsepucky.

Notice how Chicago REPUBLICANS aren't saying a word on this?  They ALL have worked with the same "terrorist" for DECADES since he is a feature of Chicago politics.  Everyone there has crossed paths with him, and in fact, he is so well respected for his RECENT deeds that even the local GOP figures won't say a word about him.  So, get your facts straight and get over the spin/rhetoric, please.

McCain's CURRENT associations make it impossible for him to address this, which is why the attack dog is so charged.  Ignoring McCain's Keating 5 history (um, association with CONVICTED felons anyone) or Palin's decades-long SECESSIONIST ties so trump being on the same CHARITY fund-raising board, that these attacks are laughable.

re: "killing babies"  - support free, available birth control and modern sec education to teenagers and the abortion issue will disappear for ALL sides.  Can't we agree on that?

re: widening gap - are YOU working harder for less money than you were a decade ago?!  I'm one of the only people I know who ISN'T, but that is a matter of choice for me and my wide career options.  But two parent working families are now the NORM, students are buried in financial aid debt at a level they weren't 10 years ago, almost everyone's health care benefits SUCK and the prices for everyone have become outrageous, people are deciding between gas and food (due to the falling dollar), and Chicago (for example) has lost almost as many homes to foreclosure as New Orleans lost to Katrina, etc. etc. etc. 

To ignore these trends is selfish denial in its most extreme state.  It's fine for you to choose to bury your own head in the sand about the stuggles of the American people these days, but don't pretend your head isn't in the sand.  We see what's happened, AND the sand in your eyes. 

What do blogs on the right or left have to do with PALIN actively inciting racial hatred on the campaign trail?  Aren't you smart enough to filter the candidates actual actions and words from the spin of second rate blogosphere drivel?

Obama is NOT a Muslim.  Just look at his ACTIONS.  They are FAR more "Christian" than those of his opponents.  Obama isn't even mentioning the Keating 5 scandal or McCain's clearly increasing senility on the campaign trail.  He's not raising the specter of FEAR that McCain's medical records remain hidden, indicating something to hide, etc.  He's taking the high road.

Palin is clearly an opporunistic bigot who will do anything asked of her for this opportunity.  Despite SAYING she's devoutly religious, she clearly does not behave as a good Christian woman would under these circumstances, does she?  She spreads lie after lie and seems to have no moral conviction against doing so.

Which is these person's ACTIONS speak louder than their words?

Oh, and is Joe Biden taking the low road right now?  No, he doesn't seem to have been told to take the attack dog route by the point man on his ticket...hmmm...I wonder why. 

The MSM turned into 24 hour infotainment thanks to Ted Turner.  Though I love CNN, news networks used to be loss leaders that defined the difference between a major network and a cable channel.  As soon as the new becames ratings driven, it became about money, and attractive anchors, and tabloid driven journalism 24/7.  If it bleeds it leads became the standard not the exception.  And because of that we've got divisive "non issue" (gay marriage, PUHLEASE!) campaigns, "red" and "blue" states (when the country is predominantly "purple", and a fourth estate that has the same agenda of promoting fear for profit as the politicians have had for thousands of years.

So, the most powerful positions in the world have become American Idol: White House (re: Palin) and a Christian man who is the very epitome of the American Dream (Obama) is being called racial epithets at GOP campaign rallies.

Don't take that post too literally... Dr Guy and I have been sparring throughout this thread and I was just having a bit of fun with him.  Being a pacifist who respects/values life, I do not condone or like what William Ayers did, nor was I comparing violent extremist acts to drinking... though sometimes the two go hand in hand.

I guess you'd have to read through 'Joe user is Joke User' in the internet forum here to appreciate the association between us, where I was coming from regarding the drink.  It's a long, but fun read and makes many references to Dr Guy being drunk, etc, and my reference to drinking here was more to take a shot at him than to make a point.

You can do the same with McCain.  Don't confuse the political expediency of positions needed to win the White House for what their true positions are once in power, for EITHER man.  Bush ran on a platform of promoting unity, no-nation building, fiscal responsibility, transparency, ethics in the White House, etc. etc.  and he clearly LIED about each and every one of them.

I look at the ACTIONS of these men, over decades. 

One man has worked himself from single parent POVERTY to the most coveted positions at Harvard and is now a stone's throw from being the most powerful man in the world, which he clearly takes seriously and humbly, nominating as his running mate a man who compliments his strengths and weaknesses. 

The other has sold out every idea he used to admirably stand for over the past 8 years just to have his one last chance at the big ego-trip and will do anything, even nominate an unqualified gimmick as a running mate, just to get there.

Um, you're posting a link from a forgotten comedienne and, um, Madonna (who cares?!), as somehow the equivalent of Palin, Malkin, O'Reilly, Coulter, Hannity, et al, political commentators and candidates with national daily stage/major network exposure?! 

dup. deleted.

[insert support for intelligent voters here] 

You might try reading the whole thing.  

Your spin is most impressive.

I don't think many of the participants on this thread even know about DailyKos, Democratic Underground, or Huffington Post where the left regularly wishes for the painful deaths of political opponents and dance in glee (their own words) when it is discovered that some prominent conservative has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

What happens is that the mainstream media tends to be a lot more aggressive at "reporting" right-wing kooks.  Left-wing kooks, after all, happen to be the base of the Democratic party these days.

McCain has the guts & moral clarity to do the right thing & publicly remind his own supporters that Obama is a decent man, one who should not incite fear in the hearts of man, and what does the mainstream media do?  Ignore it & squawk about 'inciting hatred'.  It shows me clearly which candidate has a wealth of human decency in his heart & mind and confirms for any with open eyes the dishonesty & bias of the mainstream media.  McCain didn't have to do that, he could have just played to it & gone on.  When has BO corrected his own supporters or disowned anything they've said (when he wasn't forced to, that is, and then only in a minimal weasel way)?

He only tried to tame the crowds several days after it started, after he was receiving a lot of bad press about it. And what happened when he told them to chill and be respectful? The crowd BOOED him!

And yes I know Brad hates huffpo, but I think this is a really good article about the whole "omg he's a Muslim = evil, dangerous, terrorist!" bullshit. Is Muslim the new Queer? So what if he is/was Muslim? Does that somehow discount him from being able to hold office? Are you trying to say that ALL Muslims are bad, dangerous, terrorist/terrorist sympathizers? Talk about generalization. What if he was a Jew? Or a Buddhist? Or *gasp* an Atheist? Is anyone who's not a Christian suddenly banned from being president? It's ridiculous.

It would appear then that Obama is really not so new and different. Is it your contention that Obama doesn't really mean what he is saying as a candidate and therefore BSing and pandering to the American electorate?