Why John McCain Continues to Trail Barack Obama in Pennsylvania

Why John McCain Continues to Trail Barack Obama in Pennsylvania

Borone seems to be saying that upper middle class voters, who favor Barack Obama, are voting against their financial interests, particularly when it comes to taxes. The point is, however, that to the extent that the economy recovers and our stock portfolios look healthier, taxes don't matter that much. Under the Republicans, our taxes did go down, but what was the good of that, when we wound up losing over 30% in our stock market retirement accounts? That's why this year the old tax and spend accusation against the Democrats just hasn't worked.

Obama vs McCain in Pennsylvania

The fact is that the policies of conservatism do not work well. George Bush did everything that Ronald Reagan promised to do...but Reagan wound up governing pragmatically both in domestic and foreign policy...for the most part. Under Bush the wealthy benefit most from the tax cuts, the government expanded, the executive branch was strengthened, we engaged in wars of choice and look at this country today...nothing works, employment is down, the infrastructure is in tatters, our reputation around the world is the lowest it has ever been, we are no safer against terrorist attacks now than we were eight years ago. The hubris and the stupidity of this administration is breathtaking. Finally, after eight years of mismanagement, fraud and incompetence, we will be getting in Barack Obama an intelligent, prinipled and honest man working on our behalf. All the whining and boo-hooing by conservatives is nothing more than sour grapes. I sincerely hope you will all give President Obama some breathing room and a chance to renew and heal our country...probably too much to ask, seeing how you treated Clinton.

Wealth destroying policies?

I think you miss that the poplulace is much more knowledgeable about fiscal matters than in 1992, thanks to individual investing and CNBC, etc.

The Bush administration doubled the national debt to pay for war and pork. This crashed the dollar and ushered in inflation, something we thought we'd licked. Had he and republicans not done that, the old adage of "democrats as wealth distributors" would probably still fly. But Pennsylvanians still remember the Clinton era, decidedly better for Americans economically and democrats were in charge.

Bush and Cheney's "deficits don't matter" attitude has screwed republicans as fiscal stewards for decades to come. At the same time, the investment areas like Alternative Energy have sat during the Bush whitehouse because he spent every cent we and our future generations had on war.

Your article assumes the voters don't understand this, and you are wrong.

Wealth Destroying?

I quote: "But he is interested in advancing policies that could have serious wealth-destroying effects: higher taxes on high earners, protectionism, government-controlled health insurance, the card check bill abolishing secret ballots in union elections, which could have the effects on much of the private sector that United Auto Worker contracts have had on what used to be called, quaintly, the Big Three U.S. automakers." The Big Three were weakened by arrogance because for a time they were monopolistic. GM made cars that people didn't buy while Japan made cars that people loved and were of better quality. Seems to me that much of what passes for Republican or Conservative punditry looks suspiciously like wish fulfillment. I believe the last resort of a losing side is to criticize the opponent who's winning. Some of it gets confused with campaign rhetoric, whose purpose is to scare the electorate into voting your way. The point is, if you're a Republican or Conservative who really believes in the principles espoused by your side, you want to carefully analyze what went wrong, why it happened, and what can be done to re-build your party and its principles so people are willing to vote for them again and so they really contribute to re-building our country. I find it offensive for those who believe their side is losing to criticize the opposition by predicting that what will befall us all is all the ills that have already occurred in our country in spades. We are seriously in debt, we are over-extended and losing not winning in our so-called "wars", our assets have plummeted to their lowest levels, our economy is in shambles, and unemployment is a disaster, our retail sales incredibly low, and on and on. So if you're not trying to be disloyal - yes, disloyal to our country - is to say you'll give them a chance and would be willing to work with them to do what needs to be done to straighten things out. You're going into wish fulfillment land again if you believe that McCain, who everyone agrees (either out loud or privately) would get us out of this chasm when he can't run a decent campaign, can't organize the effort to be President so it holds together and works, can do a better job. Obama and crew may fail, but by sniping at him, even subtly, you do our country a disservice and you need to examine your own positions carefully and deeply. Let him who is ... cast the first stone, you remember the admonition by the Great Teacher.

You can't get fooled again.

John McCain crashed 3 planes before being shot down, finished 7th from the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy. He would not have gotten into the Navy as a pilot unless his father and grandfather were high ranking officers.

John McCain dumped his first trophy wife after she was in a car accident, this was after she waited for him to return from prison camp. He married Cindy while still married to his first wife.

Bottom line, this man is an opportunist. The voters of Pa. and the rest of the nation realize that he will say anything to get elected. They have learned from "W" - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again" The American public won't get foolled again by electing and a an unqualified president....You Betcha, they won't.

Barone it ihas been over since 2005

Barone,

I am sorry to express the fact that the American voter can not only be a smart voter when a Republican is elected. You can't say that when a Dem is elected, a "bunch of thug kids" got him/her into office.

You can say that but it speaks volumes to your inherent ignorance of that fact that the massive blowout that will fall on the Republicans this year is due to incompetence on many fronts:

(A) Iraq

(B) Katrina

(C) Financial meltdown

The Repubs failed all three and are destroying our Nation.

So long to the lost Repub boys. Time for some grown ups to take control and govern our nation and elevate our status and leadership around the world.

Irony

The irony is that supposedly conservative commentators have become crybabies. The problem with the "wealth creating" policies of the Republicans is that they did not effectively trickle down to the middle class. For years they have gotten away with the same argument, getting people to vote against their best interests in order to share the wealth that was never shared. How long was this supposed to last?

It is also ironic that it took a nearly complete collapse of the financial house of cards constructed by this ideology to bring about change.

Cry if you want to, but recognize that the contempt is mutual.

Big Lie tactics to the end

As any honest and intelligent person who bothered to read it would know, under Obama's plan almost everyone who makes less than $250,000 per year will pay less in taxes, not more. But why tell the truth when a scary Big Lie might help your guy, eh Michael.

Irony

The irony here is in fact your last sentence. On the contrary, America is, hopefully, about to elect Obama and change the policies of the last 8 years (and going back almost 30 years to Reagan)that have already destroyed America's wealth. Why do you think American's are angry? It is time to get back to rational policies and strat rebuilding our wealth.

IQs

I'd love to see the IQs of the people claiming Obama as a Marxist. Hmm let me guess, you were the top of your class, went to a really great college, read even handed periodicals and books. Oh, and lets look at where McCain's great support is- Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi- great hotbeds of critical thought and deep perception. Dumb as a stump, vote McCain.

If you vote for McCain you're either very rich (with no conscience), racist, or very slow. Take your pick.