I like the fact that people have perked up a bit around here. It was getting too quiet.

I think people are so polarized they've forgotten that there's no "black or white" no 100% right and 100% wrong.

I also think people have forgotten how to compromise, work and live together constructively.

Well, either we'll learn to put Nation and the greater good before any other concern or we'll all end up on the garbage heap of history as a colossal fail.

Okay John, I took a look at his bio and I retract the lack of depth or experience in comparison to Obama. Two reasons I would not vote for him, or any other candidate, are 1) he's a minister and I don't think that works for me and 2) his stance on abortion. He believes that abortion is only okay when the mother's life is in danger. I believe that rape and incest are pretty good reasons as well. I also believe that it is a woman's choice and even though the reasons may not be good ones, that is between her and the Maker.

well said Tom.

sorry to hear about you affiliation, hopefully it will pass.   I can agree with you regarding abuse and fraud, and we draw the line where. Do you believe in means testing for benefits?

I vote for people not parties and usually split a ticket. This is all I have to say is it is fun reading this thread but here is my thoughts. True there are many more not in my shoes than there are like me. As a retired person on SS I know no more then you all do from news and reading.

It really doesn't matter if I like Obama or not or think the world is going the right way. Hell we all know it isn't but saying that how could I vote for the  Republican party when they want to slash Social Security and at lease Obama always says no to doing that. There is still over a year pefore a vote is needed so I will listen and see at least who sounds like they will try and protect me.

I know many of you aren't where I am in life and from my heart I do feel sorry for what will most likely not be available to you. However I can't afford to lose what I have in the way of SS. To my real thinking I don't know if there will ever be a right person for any of the Gov. jobs anymore.

For the record for anyone to throw Herman Cain into this mix must be looking for anyone but Obama as clearly there are better people then him available. He is a Pizza guy with all the BS needed.

Thought I'd pass along some advice my broker gave me today.

I called my stockbroker this morning & asked him what I should be investing in as I feel interest rates are going to be rising as they did during the late 70's early 80's. So I told him I thought we ought to be looking to getting out of bonds & looking for a safe haven to invest. Should we move to precious metals, foreign currency or what?

This is what he said: "If Obama is in office much longer, canned goods, water and ammunition are your best bet."

Gary Johnson in 2012! 

On the subject of pork, here's the figures reported for 2010 from the CAGW (Citizens Against Government Waste) website.

$5,048,602,943.00 Democrat

$2,639,932,600.00 Repulican 

$2,357,889,025.00 By Multiple parties

    $13,549,180.00 Independent

There was also 81 anonymous earmarks worth $6.5 billion with no identifiable requester.

Yep, that hope and change is really working.

If I have to choose between one or the other, I'll take hope.

I've had enough change, thank you.

Just wanted to let you know, I received my 2011 Social Security Stimulus package today. It contained two tomato plants, cornbread mix, a prayer rug and 10 coupons to Mickey D's. The directions were in Spanish and lot of other languages everything but English. You also get free round of Golf on a public course with a copay of 20.00 dollars


Hope you get yours soon.

Good stuff folks, keep it coming, vent, rationalize, support, tear down, it's all part of a very important public debate that is needed in this country.

Dave, I threw Cain into the mix, .. because he is not.. a politician, he was a very successful businessman, and job creator, not just a pizza guy, He won the Florida straw poll, and really the only one talking 'straight' to this country... lastly he is far and away the best platform speaker of the lot of them... except perhaps Newt.

I'm not saying He's my choice, but If i had to choose between him and BarryO, Its not even close.

3 and a half years is plenty of time to change this country, just look at the past..... 3 and a half.

this is an interesting youtube for Elizabeth Warren in which she discusses why the wealthy should pay more.

blackbox military, need to know basis.

John, while it may feel like 3 1/2 years, hell it feels like a decade to me, Obama has only been in office for 2 years and 9 months.

lol... well I guess subliminally, I'm adding in the Hope and Change campaign summer and in a wishful thinking manner, wishing the election was sooner ..

Regardless, I see no reason whatsoever why over the next year almost every sector of our economy and lives is going to start trending upwards after they have made it clear they plan to double down on the same failed policies that have put us 4 trillion MORE dollars in debt than we were to start with.

Road construction, bridges?  How is that going to help the baker, the suit factory, the artist, the plumber, and the policeman?

What are all the construction workers going to do after they finish the bridges? FFS.

YOU   CANT   SPEND   YOUR   WAY   INTO   PROSPERITY.

I think the concept revolves around people making and spending money. It was done in the 30's and is a low brow Reagan trickle down approach that actually impacts more people. Also the government doesn't do manufacturing, it can only deal with infrastructure. it's not a solution, only a temporary band aid sort of like what the New Deal was.

the artist? people don't buy art when they need bread or shelter.

and it didn't work, by anyone's estimation the last time... so were going to double down and do it.. again?

Does that make any sense to you?

I can garaaaaaaaaaaawntee you... putting 50k construction workers to work, isn't going to help me, MJ, OldMSgt, etc... one iota.

and I ask again, after they are done.. then what?

and Dave, if your over 52, or so.. nothing the GOP plans will affect your SSI.  Anything to the contrary is just Dem. scare tactics... they use it EVERY election time.

no regulation, buyer beware, let me screw you cause I can and get away with it. please, give me an example of what you actually mean by this.

or anyone...

This is true.  Also can't save your way into prosperity.  Key phrase: Fix the Trade Deficit.  Anything else is just the equivalent of a $0 income family paying each other allowances, which makes everybody happy until a bill comes due or a trip to the grocery store.

way to much talk radio, I heard this the other day also. The republicans want to privatize your social security based on the fluctuations of the market. if this were the case now those of us that depend on it would worse off. don't be fooled by thinking privatizing is the solution, you're gambling on money that your children may need to live on when they get old, just like we are.

It gives them something shiney and new to jump off of.

As for my line of work for the last 28 plus years: The Recreational Vehicle industry was crippled by gas prices but it's mortally wounded by the economy. At one time, the unemployment rate in Elkart, IN, the "capital" of RV manufacturing was over 20%.

And they don't go camping either, unless you count sleeping in their cars.

I believe you're in error, the New Deal worked then and is working today.

I never proposed no regulation, I said, get out of the way, and let business thrive (sensibly).

Regulation definitely has its place in a free market, OVER-regulating, doesn't.

no, the last time.. Obama.. did it.

As for the New deal... "Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is, another 4 years of Obamanomics."