And a Pony
Jack Tapper of ABC list all of the goodies promised by Obama in just one stump speech. The list is really staggering, even more so than the usual political BS. It is way to long to excerpt here. There are so many outrageous ones, its hard for me to even pick a favorite. But here are a few good ones:
"eliminate the oil we import from the Middle East in 10 years"
Uh, right. We are going to completely eliminate half the fuel coming into the economy in 10 years.
"lower premiums" for those who already have health insurance;... "end discrimination by insurance companies to the sick and those who need care the most";
Perfect. We are going to prevent insurance companies from dong any risk management, we are going to pile on even more "must cover" rules for all kinds of crap from acupuncture to mental health, and by doing so we are going to lower premiums.
This may be my favorite, though:
"reopen old factories, old plants, to build solar panels, and wind turbines"
LOL. Barack is going to open some of those old GM plants in Flint, Michigan and build solar panels. Seriously, is this a rhetorical flourish or does he really believe that factories are generic production facilities that can make anything, kind of like those little buildings you make in an RTS?
Update: And if you think that voters just discount all this stuff, don't miss this video of Obama supporters talking about the free gas and house she is going to get.
By the way, none of this will push me to vote for McCain. McCain promises all kinds of crazy stuff too, its just less compelling stuff to voters. He is not losing because he is promising less -- I think he is losing because Obama has a better grasp of what expensive shit people want to be promised than does McCain.
Brian:
As John Stossel recently pointed out, Nixon was promising "energy independence" 40 years ago, but we're no closer now than we were then. The same is true of just about everything these fools promise. They are not concerned with the functional or legal aspects of how they might implement these things: at this point, it's just enough that they've promised to do it. Anyone that believes them capable of these things deserves all of the pain that will come with their realization of the truth.
October 31, 2008, 12:06 pmBrian Dunbar:
don't miss this video of Obama supporters talking about the free gas and house she is going to get.
What I heard her say was 'I won't have to worry about X'. What I take that to mean is not that she's gonna get free gas but that the economy is going to get better and prices will come down.
October 31, 2008, 2:43 pmKyle Bennett:
I don't think the comments about insurance companies being forced to cover things is empty rhetoric. Forcing the insurance companies out of business, at least out of the medical coverage business, is bound to be one of the top priorities of his administration. Then, national health care will become the only possible way to deal with the "unexpected crisis" and "failure of capitalism" once there's no private insurance to be had at any cost.
October 31, 2008, 3:09 pmElamBend:
Hey, those solar panel plants are going to equal 5 million jobs!
October 31, 2008, 4:13 pmDr. T:
"...does he really believe that factories are generic production facilities that can make anything..."
This reminds me of the Other People's Money plot where the female lawyer/factory owner's daughter saves the copper wire factory in New England by retooling it make air bags for Japanese cars. I got a good laugh from that.
Almost everyone says Obama is smart. I believe he got into good schools through affirmative action, and that he is very glib but not very smart. He also appears to be amoral, but that applies to half our politicians.
October 31, 2008, 5:25 pmJohn Moore:
Dammit - don't vote for McCain. Vote against Obama by selecting McCain on the ballot. Anything else, if your vote actually counts, is against your own interests.
October 31, 2008, 5:50 pmValens:
The things that McCain is promising are garden variety stuff, and the damage over what is already done, if any, will be minimal and garden variety as well. The damage the annointed one will do, especially considering the all of the unelected and semi-permanent jobs he will fill in Washington, may well be the shock that breaks America down. At any rate, the damage will be far worse and take decades to recover from, if ever.
Vote against Obama. It is the only sane choice.
October 31, 2008, 8:25 pmMesa Econoguy:
No, not LOL, this freak is serious. He believes many other myths, too. Welcome to the cult.
The only defense we have against this retarded troglodyte and his cult is bureaucracy.
It is the ultimate insulator against, and simultaneous guarantee of, rapid administrative failure.
McCain is an economic fool, but he’s not a socialist.
Well, he’s less of a socialist than The Socialist. That damn well better push you to vote against The Socialist, because your Sub S taxes are about to double.
October 31, 2008, 10:35 pmMesa Econoguy:
Plus, divided government is historically best for investment performance.
We kinda need that right now.
October 31, 2008, 10:44 pmMesa Econoguy:
Good luck.
October 31, 2008, 11:28 pmIan Random:
Actually, I read something the other day that the Speaker of the House determines the return. Something like 8+% under Republicans and under 7% for Democrats. The president can't determine what gets submitted for his approval and in what form.
November 1, 2008, 12:03 amMax:
Despite all the bad stuff, there were some lines that weren't that bad (though stem from a corrupted and faith based view of "business"):
"eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses and start-up companies that are the engine of job creation in this country"
"end this war in Iraq";
But then there are worse lines. I don't much care if he levels some new taxes, because ultimately the difference between a few percent more or less makes no big deal. However, the socialist spirit of "the honor doing voluntary service for your country" (which is rampant in Europe and I find it disgusting) has crept into Obamas thinking, too.
# "make a deal with every young person who's here and every young person in America: If you are willing to commit yourself to national service, whether it's serving in our military or in the Peace Corps, working in a veterans home or a homeless shelter, then we will guarantee that you can afford to go to college no ifs ands or buts";
# "increase our ground troops and our investments in the finest fighting force in the world"
I can't think of mucht that strikes a difference between Obama and McCain Oo
November 1, 2008, 4:50 amkasper:
I have to admit part of me would be interested to see an Obama presidency with a Democrat controlled House and Senate.
Obama the vacuous pontificator raised up by Marxists.
Pelosi is a big mouth ignoramous.
Reid is talks, looks and acts like death.
Barney Franks? Unbelievable!
The baby boomers will finally have their dream. Just imagine Obama's mentors jockeying for positions. Entertaining chaos.
But what after that?
I'll be voting McCain. But, what's clear is that the next 4 years (if he were to win) would only a small reprieve. He is not a conservative and he is not all that aware. It will all depend upon who he chooses to surround himself with (don't have a great deal of confidence in that) -- total RHINO territory, probably the same or worse incoherence we have had in the last 8 years. Palin might be a pivoting factor, but we really don't know how her pragmatism would play out.
Unfortunately, the majority of Americans are incapable of critical thought, know diddle about civics/history, and the indoctrination and coercive techniques of our educational system, along with a media that worships itself, have brought us to this point.
In the long run it's not looking good, but it will be what it will be.
November 1, 2008, 7:00 amAnonymous:
Dr. T, I thought that they explained that the factory could make wire mesh without retooling, which was an integral part of those airbags for some reason (I know nothing about how they really are or were made).
I found it strange too, but they did try to explain it.
November 1, 2008, 3:12 pmxpatUSA:
On the solar panel issue, nobody's told him that China has that little industry tied up already!
T.C.
November 2, 2008, 11:57 amWill H.:
I'm planning on clinging to my religion and guns after tomorrow.
November 3, 2008, 6:21 amMike:
Ms. Joseph is right. Pretty soon none of us will have to worry about paying our mortgages. LOL.
November 12, 2008, 5:25 am