Well, I have been trying to keep up with Obama and McCain and all they are claiming as well as their vp picks. And at this point all I can see is that if McCain is elected it will be more of the Bush Administration continuing. In the last 8 years the United States has went to war over the Trade Center Tragedies and rightfully so. But without having a closure to that war we have entered into another war, much to our dismay. Granted I do feel that eventually we should have entered the war against Sadam Husan, however, I also feel that we should have accomplished the first goal and captured or killed Osama Bin Laden first. At this point, our troops are spread out all over the world while Bin Laden's followers continue to grow unchecked - and that makes me unconfortable. I feel we are leaving our own shores less protected than necessary. What's next? Will President Bush send our troops en-mass to Georgia? How many more of our children will he use before there are none left? Our country has lost respect from other countries that took years to build. We are in debt by the Billions and under the Bush Administration's way of doing business there is no end in sight. While our government is so focused on its agenda there are "not so friendly" countries making liasons and bargains in other countries that WE should be making.
And our economy has become the play ground for the Rich. Our government is willing to give $700 Billion to these same RICH companies/people who created the problems. They have unregulated, unchecked, control of the loans they gave and take back willy-nilly without a care as to the people who it actually effects. They give themselves millions in bonuses and benefits while they're employees must "fend for themselves." All while our government turns a blind eye to it. Want to help the common man, who by they way actually built the businesses and made it possible for these rich people to be rich, then cut the unlimited control the companies and CEO's have now. Or better yet use that $700 Billon in the form of grants to pay off those loans giving the receipts free and clear to the people and let those people start over financially. That would help the family and profit the companies at the same time. The government could increase taxes on the companies to recoup the money. Our government has been paying so much attention to their own "Cronies" that they have forgotton they were put in these positions to protect and benefit the common people who voted for them. This would be a way of actually helping the people and keeping the companies afloat. I am sure $700 Billion would cover at least the majority of the loans/credit card depts. At the least it could be used to pay 1/2 of each loan/cc dept. But do you think they would actually try to benefit their own voters this way, thats a pipe dream!!
Want to build our country up again? Both in the eyes of our people and the world? Start by taking care of our Homeland FIRST. America has become the "police of the world" and forgotten to take care of the business right at hand. Our own country and shores. And it shows.
I can't see the future but I do know that our country CANNOT take any more years of the "Bush Regime".

A. Hedrick

I think this video says it all...

http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=FiQJ9Xp0x...

Wow, I am shocked and a little disgusted that you, Joanna, could actually say that Palin is "honest & straitforward"!  Like so many Americans, you have NOT done your homework.  And like so many others, you are listening to and saying everything the Republicans tell you to say.  Pay attention!  The Obama campaign has tried harder than anyone ever has to run a respectable and clean campaign. McCain won't let him. Even Republicans such as Karl Rove have come out publicly and said that McCain has lied and gone way too far in his campaign with the mud slinging. His own cousin has said John is not the same man he used to be and Cindy McCain's sister is an Obama supporter. The Republicans have a playbook that they bring out every 4 years and follow to the T....this year is no different.  They sling mud, outright lie then tell all of you who are dying to listen to their every word that it is the "other side" who are doing these things.  Wake up and educate yourselves.  WATCH, LISTEN AND LEARN.  Don't hang on to every word that Fox news or the Republican party tell you.  Think for yourselves.  McCain is for Big Business, not the middle class as most of us are. He is for tax breaks alright, for the rich. Trickle down ecanomics has never worked and never will. He has voted to support businesses taking their jobs overseas because it is cheaper for tham to do so. We all know someone who has lost their job in the last 4 years because of this. The thousands of dollars of tax incentives that he is promising only adds up to a few hundred dollars in your pocket. You can't take it at face value.
As for Sarah, she is anything but honest and straitforward and if you think for one minute she would protect the rights of any woman in this great country of ours, you are sadly mistaken.  She has a record of being shady, and the people who have worked personally with her will tell you that if you don't agree with her, you are out.  As for the governor's jet that she likes to spout off about selling on ebay: she did put it on ebay and it NEVER SOLD. They ended up selling it elsewhere and LOST MONEY ON IT. What about the ex-brother-in-law?  Sarah's own party voted to go ahead with the investigation into that whole mess.  The bridge to nowhere that she now is lieing about and saying she didn't want in the first place...she took the money and used it for other programs.  She even admitted herself that it was inappropriate to work with congressional leaders to obtain government funding in the position that she was in at the time. You are right, America DOES DESERVE MORE. And I hate to be the one to point this out to you but that was put in her speech by a speech writer.  Not her own thought. She has proved that she is a cut-throat politician, not immune to telling a big lie now and again,and she certainly is not a good steward of our tax dollars.  I have a feeling we have not even touched the surface with this ol' gal yet.  
As for those of you who don't know where Obama stands on anything, do you watch the news, debates, interviews? How can you not know where he stands on the big issues if you are watching? Again, Watch, Listen, educate yourselves. Don't make your mind up about who you are going to vote for based on one of their ads that come on during commercial time of your favorite sitcom. You have to get out there and find the truth yourselves. I know that McCain thinks anyone making 5 million and under is middle class because I was watching when he said it. Rick Warren, who was conducting that interview was obviously taken aback by that comment also. I know that McCain really didn't know how many homes he owned because I was watching when he said that. And he wants to call Obama and elitist?? I agree with Andrew N here.
And as for you, mr Ted Nugent for President...looks like you are buying into the Republican fear campaign (they do this every 4 years). You are soooo afraid the Democrats are gonna take away your guns! Why don't you get your story straight. We don't want to take anyone's guns away from them. I own several myself and am not in the least bit afraid I will lose them. We only want to CONTROL who ends up with guns a little bit better. And please tell me: why do you need automatic weapons? Big bad rabbit/dear/squirrel/whatever too much for a regular riffle, pistol or any other gun you have? Are you comfortable with the felon down the street (who beats his wife and kids and anyone else who angers him )being able to purchase guns anytime/anywhere?? If you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid of losing your guns or your right to buy and bear arms.
Looks like some of you must be making more that the 5 million a year that the rest of us middle classer's make because you are all for more of the McSame. Good luck with that and if he pulls thru, I would love to talk to you all in about 4 years and see how you are doing then. My guess is that some of you won't be able to afford the internet anymore by that time. Too bad, we will so miss you.

I think they are all just dancing around the issues, where do they really stand.I dont believe any of them can truly relate to normal harding working Americans who are just trying to make ends meet.

I'm getting sick of hearing Sarah Palin referred to as nothing more than a hockey mom. This woman is the governor of Alaska, people. When did any of you last stand up and try to make a difference in this country. You sit around and criticize and name call. Shame on you!

McCain literally put me to sleep during his "big" speechI agree that this campaign has been pretty crazy and perhaps comparative to a cirus act what with all the bright pretty colors and the "oooh-aaah" quality. Most of what I hear (from co-workers, biased magazines, and liberal media) is based upon skin color, sex, and age. And that both incenses and saddens me.
just want them to stop talking about each other and talk about what THEY are going to do.

I agree that this campaign has been pretty crazy and perhaps comparative to a cirus act what with all the bright pretty colors and the "oooh-aaah" quality. Most of what I hear (from co-workers, biased magazines, and liberal media) is based upon skin color, sex, and age. And that both incenses and saddens me.

Those things will not help our country in times of executive decision.

I understand that for some (especially those of us who are not the die-hard researcher) certain positions held by one or another candidate are hazy... at best.

On a side note: "change" is a word I've heard so often these past months than I'm seriously considering taking it completely out of my vocabulary. Ripping it right from my dictionary. Over-used and under-defined.

I'm tired of the poo-flinging. And the accusations. All of them unfounded, idiotic, and pointless. Trivial nonsense spewed out in loud, imtinidating verbiage.

Stupid.

At times it seems to me that that's all the masses have become. They shrink back into their five year old selfs, standing around in the playground at school, swinging silly insults back and forth.

I take a page from Palin's book: America deserves more.

I look forward to the debates with perhaps a little too much excitement. I can't wait to see where certain slippery ones squish off to when pressed a little harder than the pandering media. I am looking forward to finally hearing the real, detailed "change" that has been dangled in front of us like an invisible carrot. We donkeys (and don't mistake my comparasion for the democratic party's animal... just a random, hungry donkay) can smell what we want but if that's really what's there is another matter.

That being said, I am most happy with McCain's choice in Governor Palin. She's a tough mom... no **** zone... I like her. When I talk of poo-slinging and childish debates, I in no way mean her; I haven't heard of any such things. She's honest and straightfoward. She's a woman... doing a woman's job... and making it in a man's word. And that's just cool.

I just want them to stop talking about each other and talk about what THEY are going to do.

Also, Obama's campaign posters look like pepsi ads.

As a South African, who has arguably less vested interest in the results of the American election than most people commenting, I have made a few outside observations about American politics.

1. Although I sympathise with liberals, ie democrats, I really thought that Giuliani was the best candidate. He is in the centre of politics - not so conservative that he'd rather allow babies conceived through rape to be born, but conservative enough not to overspend public funds.. Unfortunately, he doesn't sparkle like our boys Obama and McCain.

2. The democratic nomination race was crap. It ended up being a fight between racism and sexism. Sexism won.

3. Now that Palin and Biden have finally been named as vp candidates, we can see that there's really no difference between the bunch of them. Biden = Mc Cain, Palin = Obama. The only difference is that Obama was never part of a movement to break away from the United States, and Biden doesn't have an itch to go to war

4. To all Americans: For the love of God please do not vote for the party you belong to. If you support a football club based on loyalty,dispite the fact that they keep losing, great. If you support a party, despite the fact that they keep churning out rubbish, VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS BETTER!!!

To Kathy S. If you want our 2nd amendment to go away then vote for Oh,oh,oh-oh no Obama. A nation without guns is a nation of sheep who is just waiting to be herded into Communism. As far as your 300 bucks not meaning anything, I would bet if it was taken away, you would scream like a panther because you couldn't buy your crack.
As far as Sarah P. goes, you're probably ugly and are jealous of her, just like all the other ugly women are. If she didn't threaten you, you would agree that she is a real fresh person in this terrible race. I personally don't want a un-American Muslim like Osama or Obama as my President. He wasn't even born in America and yes I know about John M. At least he was born on A military base which is soverign American territory. He wasn't born in Kenya and then shuttled off to Hawaii to get his papers. Hillary C. has filed a lawsuit questioning his right to be President.
One more thing: " TED NUGENT FOR PRESIDENT IN 2012"

I honestly can say, that everyone in the United States Of America is living in Cotton Candy Land. We will never see great Presidents again anytime soon. For the last 50 years we have been handed crap on a plate, just differently decorated each course. I'm just trying to figure out who is the safer bet for four years. I am sick of sanctimonious bull crap coming from candidates. "I will not sling mud at my opponent" Yet they always dissapoint us and fall off our pedestals, like we didn't know they were going down as soon as they said, "I will not sling mud at my opponent". COME ON!!!

You say you have never seen anyone cry during a national convention, did you not watch the OBAMATHON in Denver? People were not only crying while he recited the platitude filled speech that was written by someone else, but many others were swooning and looked like they needed oxygen. Don't you remember all the women who were fainting during some of his early campaign stops? Now how many mature individuals faint at a rally for a particular political candidate? I'll give you the answer, NONE!

Anyway, you far left wing liberals just keep on attacking her with your condescending and wild eyed attacks and you will just keep pushing more and more people in the middle to vote for McCain/Palin. There was a reason this womman had an 80+% approval rating while Governor of Alaska (remember she was a Governor of a state, just like your beloved Bill Clinton, not just a mayor as many of you on the left keep mentioning) and it's the same reason many of the rest of the country loves her and is going to make her Vice-President of the United States. She is also not afraid to speak well of the US, unlike Obama and his wife, who can only talk of how bad the US is. Finally, there is a huge difference in the kind of change talked about by the two parties. One wants to make goverment much, much bigger, take more money out of your pocket in taxes and continue to pit race against race and income level against income level. The other wants to make government smaller, your tax burden by cutting spending and has a proven record of bringing the parties together during his years as a Senator. Let's face it, Obama has never been a uniter and doesn't have the qualifications to run a mid-level company, much less the United States of America.

Would it really matter on how they stand on the issues? I honestly have never seen someone voted into office keep their promises. There is usually some reason it does not happen. Also most are elected because of race, gender or personality. No one is elected on how they stand on the issues. That is why we have a multi-trillion dollar deficit.
The election is a popularity contest and who can tell us what we want to hear. The real power is not in the presidency, but those behind the scene. It is just a game.

The last eight years have been a complete failure on the economy and foreign policy fronts. Vote McCain, vote more of the same. (or worse, if that is possible)

McCain/Palin ALL THE WAY!

Hm. I'm voting for McCain/Palin. And oh by the way, refusing to back down from your own personal beliefs is something we should ENCOURAGE, not tear down. Notice how no matter how many people criticize Palin she sticks with it. Eff that wishy washy bull that everyone else pulls. We need people who can stand their ground! **WOO FLIPPIN HOO FOR PALIN!**

I am a republican and i have to say i can not support the gop and this joke of a race it scares the hell out of me that we are willing to elect a man that is not mentaly sound if he is willing to choose a running mate that can not see beyond her beliefs and has no clue about what is going on outside of palin world. I want someone that is going to respect the rights of all people this means in other countrys as well. I want the next President or VP to be willing to set the tone for a greater united country and relations with others so the children of today and tomorrow will have a greater chance in prospering and building there futures. I dont know that Obama can do it but i dont feel the replublican party can either. It feels like a coin toss waiting to happen. I do know i will vote for the two that can stand up and say that choice is yours to make im not pro choice but it is my choice for me. If someone wants a Abortion that is there right and should actually be a reason to happen by law. If you are going to use it to get welfare and all the things to support your 5 children with no fathers. Instead of abortion why not sterilize the people that feel the need to use children to make money. Ok maybe that is extreme but i bet if you tell Palin that she might jump on it. Ok i have just rambled way to much on this. Bottom line
Obama/Biden? McCain/Palin? Is Ron Paul still available? Good Luck To All!!! are choices are very poor at best. Pray that god hears us and that we dont have another 4 or 8 years of what we just had.

I believe that the youth of this nation needs to wake up and realize the the future is here. Now is the time to vote and vote for what you believe in. The road to Nov 4th is a long one but, it is the most important time in our lives. Change is needed to defer us all from the pillage that BUSH has made for our lives. I am old school but I am in support of our youth in making decisions that will affect them for a long time to come. As we said in the 60's "POWER TO THE PEOPLE"

Monica N. - I never said I did not hear anything... what I said was (and I was trying to be objective) that the oly things I remember from the conventions was the character of the nominees. That made more of an impact (to me) than the issues and policies they believe in.

Andrew... wish an you shall recieve. ABC news locked in. But yet they are undecided if they will give her a 20/20 special. They have to be nuts not to give her primetime.

McCain literally put me to sleep during his "big" speech. He certainly found that spark of energy in Palin, agree with her or not - she certainly is in your face. Now if only she would accept a few face to face interviews so we can learn more about her.

I don't see how Kathy S. can say she hasn't heard anyting specific from the Obama campaign about the issues. He's the only one who HAS addressed his plans. Granted he has not rolled out a detailed list of every single item in his budget, but at least he has broached the subject. McCain has only talked about his service and his "maverick" status. I'm not buying it.

And no, I DON'T think Barack Obama is the Messiah. He's just a dude. But I'd MUCH rather have him and Biden in charge of answering the red phone at 3AM than McPain and his pet Sarahcuda! EEEEEEEEEEEEEK!