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Economy turns one Republican to Obama
Friday, Oct. 10, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.
As a lifelong Republican, I feel I must explain why I am voting for Barack Obama in November. The answer, of course, is on the front page and in the business section of every newspaper in Nevada: the economy.
In my neighborhood, seniors walk uphill in 90-degree heat to the grocery store and return home, carrying their loads by hand. Why? Not for exercise. As they tell me, it’s because they are having to choose among gas, groceries and prescriptions.
How have we come to this point? How did things get so out of control?
I’m no economist, so I won’t pretend to know the specifics. But I do know this — after the past eight years, we must have a fundamental shift in our approach in Washington. I supported John McCain in 2000, but now all I am hearing is erratic bleating that amounts to little more than more of the same.
I know the senior pedestrians in my neighborhood can’t afford four more years of the same. And with Nevada’s “recession-proof” economy now listed at the very bottom of all the states’, with an unemployment rate at a high not seen since 1985, the rest of us can’t afford more of the same either. And we certainly can’t afford to listen to someone who says, as a McCain adviser did recently in the middle of this crisis, that it’s time to “turn the page” on the economic talk and move on to another topic.”
Time is of the essence, “my friends,” and it’s time to move on past more of the same.
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Vote for Obama and you'll be voting for more of the same times 10. This economic crisis my friend was caused by fannie and freddie, government (barney frank, obama) stepped in and
effectively manipulated lending practices and lending rates, It was government that caused this and with Barry you will be getting a lot more government.
I think the current market meltdown is fear that Barack could be the next president and if he is elected no question we will be in the next depression.
When you try something and fail, you find a new way of doing it. The Republicans have failed this country for the last 8 years. It's time to try something new.
Will things get better under Obama's presidency? Maybe, maybe not. But we can't let the same party that has run our country to the ground keep doing the same things that have brought us here for the next 4 to 8 years.
I would rather be approximately right than precisely wrong. Obama takes us to a depression, no doubt about it.
Today ACORN has been busted on fraud in Indiana, that brings the total to three states so far.
LT2LV,
You said you don't want more of the same but that is what you are voting for, you are just expanding the very problem that got us here into the white house, thats all.
In the 1930's Germany allowed a similar charismatic demagogue to take the reins of government and he certainly produced some spectacular short-term economic results. Community Organizer and Agitator Obama dreams about socializing the U.S. so that his core constituency is elevated to a higher status. This, and punishing America for a litany of sins relating to his own fatherless childhood, are what drives Obama's messianic passion.
Shortly after taking office, Obama will ask the feeble Democrat Congress to grant him extraordinary powers to rebuild the economy that they were so instrumental in destroying. This will lead to the same type of autocratic government that exists in Russia, Venezuela, North Korea, Cambodia, and across all of Africa. I look into Obama's eyes and I see Putin, Chavez, Hun Sen, Mao, Stalin, and Hitler.
I think we should talk about ACORN. First of all ACORN has been around for a long time. They are not run by Obama. What people do are beyond Obama. I'm a support of McCain or Obama but we as Americans must make the right choice on Nov. 4th. As I remember, the Clintons had us with jobs and a great economy. We need a dem in office to secure our future. While AIG republicans are spending 400,000 in spa treatments our Seniors in this country are hurting for social services. I have started to send money to my parents so they can make it each month. This is something I have never had to do until this year. My father is 78 and I will not want him to go hungry because our current presidents and McCain are money hungry and will cut off the low-moderate income families to have plenty in their pocket. So yes I will vote Obama not because I back him but because he is a better pick. Wait up LV... We have it made but if we cantinue this way it won't be long before we see state and city taxes coming out of our paychecks.
Mikegino,
Have things gotten so bad for Republicans that simply calling Obama a terrorist isn't enough? Now you have to compare him to Hitler, Stalin, and Mao?
How low can you sink? I'd say you should be ashamed of yourself if I thought you had any shame.
In case you hadn't noticed, the Congress has been busy the last eight years giving the President the very dictatorial powers you describe. The President can tap our phones without a warrant. The President can jail us indefinitely and with no charge simply by declaring us unlawful combatants. The President has just been granted the power to take $700 billion of our tax dollars and dole them out any way he sees fit. This is government by fiat; in other words, a dictatorship. And you're worried about Obama?
You are too blinded by ideology. Open your eyes.
How did Germany go so wrong as a nation in the 30's? A depression economy filled with fear lead by a man that gave good speeches telling people it wasn't their fault and giving them someone to blame and hate. The synagogue's on Wall Street are filled with the villainous money changers that took our dreams and we will get them back. An American Holocaust is next. We already have the thought police. Raise up the masses as they did in Cuba and Venezuela and Iran.
Amen, Gordon.
Tokaloshe, you MUST be joking. Or you are simply not paying any attention at all. Perhaps you simply blog mindlessly here during the election period to stir up controversy. Blaming Obama for the current state of affairs while defending bush/mccain/republicans... it's a joke, right? You kidder!
tokaloshe: Really lame attempt at projection. I was going to say that you can do much better than that but you can't. Yours is an example of the desperation of the right wing. It would be sad if it wasn't so well-deserved. Oh and as many times and in as many different ways as you try to make it so, ACORN DOES NOT equal Obama.
Mikegino: Ah yes; the requisite "[name of Democrat] = Hitler". Is it that time of year already? LOL.
JohnF: Do you really have to ask how low they can sink? We've seen it since the days of St. Ronnie of the Raygun and the complete whitewash of that particular administration.
On another Note lets talk about the gaints=Fannie and freddie. They did not do this, their investers did. Companies that where willing to extend that credit with their crazy guidelines. Have we not seen these companies go under? Yes, they had a big part in this but they are not where it ends. This issue of picking one canidate over another is not what this election is about. Its about having the right leader.......
Other reason stock market is falling and will continue;
With chances that Barack could be elected as president, investors are fearful of the capital gains tax reduction not being re-newed, they are cashing in now.
I have doubts about Speirs claim to be a lifelong Republican and his reason for supporting Obama is about the economy.
He was supporting Obama since Dec 2007 when he was a strong campaign volunteer for Obama.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2007/dec...
In May 2008, he hosted a campaign event for Obama.
http://eventful.com/lasvegas/events/nort...
He also made pro-Obama comments on 6/4/2008.
Paul Speirs is also a gay activist in Las Vegas. He has served on a committee that hosts a benefit for the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender/Transsexual (GLBT). He also has won the sexist gay man of Las Vegas award. I guess he could be a Republican gay guy but it would be hard to believe that he would have been supporting McCain in the past because McCain is anti-gay marriage.
http://www.neonfest.org/about.htm
http://www.qvegas.com/PDfs/QVegas_Feb200...
JF,
I know many Gay republicans. I'm a gay american we are just like other americans. have different choices we make. So why did you have to mention his sexual orientation. Do you think we all live in the same block and that we are all dems.
My sister in law lives in Idaho and she will be voting for McCain. She is a lesbian and has been in a partnership for 8 years and has a daughter. That is not someone you will think will vote for McCain but will be doing so on Nov. 4th. So don't type cast us. We have our own values just like you. I'm sure ur voting for McCain because you dislike the gay community. Oh well get over it.
I would agree but he was an Obama campaign worker even before the primary started.
I seriously doubt that he has been a lifelong republican.
I seriously doubt that he woke up some moring in 2007 and said, "I am going to work very hard to get Obama elected because McCain is not doing enough for the economy."
I have doubts........
You have to laugh at Obama as Mao, Stalin, Hitler, etc. To say that Obama is a version of them is completely unjustified and completely ignorant. Here's a history lesson about Hitler:
Hitler was a good speaker and a demogogue, but he was also an anti-democratic person. From the get go, he wanted power, and he wanted it all for himself. Hence why he created the Sturmabteilung or SA. They were the roughneck streetfighters meant to get the word out or silence opposition.
While Hitler was a populist and offered the public what he perceived they wanted, he never waivered from the concept that he would topple the government the first chance he got, which he did in 1923. The Beer Hall Putsch was a spectacular failure, because he couldn't rally the rest of the country to him.
Fast forward to the 30s and an even tougher economic time than the era of hyperinflation. Hitler, or rather the NSDAP, was gaining in the polls country wide, but Hitler's all or nothing attitude towards being in government assured that he would be kept to the sidelines. So while his party was becoming the largest party in the Reichstag, he was still left out of the mix.
Finally anti-democratic forces within the government handed Hitler the key that would open the door for him. President von Hindenburg was ailing, anti-democratic and easily led, and he followed the lead of his Chancellor, Franz von Papen. Papen wanted to get a government together that could hold the country together and simultaneously unhinge the democracy. In a rather Faustian deal, Papen offered Hitler a limited role in government as Chancellor, provided Papen signed off on his laws. With this pact Papen wanted to harness the zeitgeist of Hitler's party, control it, and use it towards his own ends. Hitler was LET into government, not voted in.
Soon afterwards there was a fire in the Reichstag. No one is entirely sure who set it to this day, but many fingers point to Hitler's party. In any case, Hitler used the crisis to push forward a package of laws that stripped the people of their rights. Soon afterwards with much of the population in fear and many opposition politicians in hiding or in jail Hitler moved forward with the Enabling Act which gave him his dictatorial powers.
Now NONE of that even remotely sounds like Obama. To twist history towards blatant partisan aims is disingenuous to say the least. Shame on you Mike for even remotely insinuating that Obama is a dictator bent on annihilating whole races from the globe. Hang your head in shame and then maybe pick up a history book and start reading.
ps-uber-pwnage.
I googled paul speirs and he is not a lifetime republican he has been a democrat for years,
in fact i encourage you to google him and see.
Lie Lie Lie you fit right in with ACORN and the Obama Mantra.
People don't seem to care much about the truth anymore, just vote for change and it will all work out. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
That's nice....too bad there might be several Paul Speirs even in the valley. That was probably not very conclusive.
Talk about nitpicking.
It's pretty funny how the little 'bots will scurry around and google the "I'm a lifelong republican but I support Obama" people.
I've yet to see them even hint at disbelief of the "I'm a lifelong democrat but I support McCain" people.
So predictable. LOL.
BTW, Jim, ever hear of the Log Cabin Republicans? Why don't you google that one?
I give you that one but he was an actual Obama campaign worker in December 2007.
In his letter, he references recent economic events as his reason for supporting Obama.
I think his claim to be recent convert to an Obama support stinks and I believe that his claim to a lifelong republican to be very doubtful too.
Bravo! A true, thinking Republican! Now if we could get the best of both parties together, get rid of the failings of both, and create a third, maybe this country can turn around. Meanwhile, I'm voting for the smart guy with the integrity.
No question if you support Obama you'll be keeping interesting company, Farrakhan today told his nation of islam that barrack is the chosen one. Farrakhan also said that white folks, you owe us the whole country!
It's time for change folks.
Obama went to church and watched reverend wright between 800 and a thousand times, admits wrights extreme views were exhibited during church including wrights relationship with farrakhan.
Obama did not stop associating with that church until we found out about what was going on. wow.... A lot of people are sure getting snookered on this one.
"Meanwhile, I'm voting for the smart guy with the integrity."
Who would that be?
Would it be the smart guy who refuses to release his records from Columbia?
Would it be the smart guy that called voters bitter and who cling to their guns and religion to deal with their problems?
Would it be the integrity guy who had the biggest crook in south Chicago be his core fundraiser for years and who help him buy a house?
Would it be the integrity guy who has a relationship with domestic terriorist who wished he bombed more police stations?
Woud it be the integrity guy whose spiritual mentor for years said "God Dam America" and who says the USA government gives AIDS and drugs to blacks?
Would it be the intergrity guy who is number two on getting cash from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and Mae/Mac's crooked business plans caused the taxpayers billions of dollars in bailout money?
"When you try something and fail, you find a new way of doing it. The Republicans have failed this country for the last 8 years."
We arent perfect, but we havent failed this country.
"It's time to try something new."
There's NOTHING new about Obamas ideas.
"It's pretty funny how the little 'bots will scurry around and google the "I'm a lifelong republican but I support Obama" people. I've yet to see them even hint at disbelief of the "I'm a lifelong democrat but I support McCain" people."
You cant compare the two. There's no reason to show disbelief of the "lifelong Democrats" for McCain because looking into THEIR backgrounds (which we also do) proves that they are genuine "lifelong Democrats". Meanwhile the Obama campaign is overwhelming us with easilly exposed phony baloney "lifelong Republicans".
"As a lifelong Republican"
Sorry Paul, but you've been exposed as being dishonest. Why not just be honest and say something like "I am a proud lifelong Democrat and I'm supporting Obama"?
What possesses you Obama supporters to pretend to be "lifelong Republicans"? (If you knew anything about real life "lifelong Republicans", is that few if any of us actually use that term to describe ourselves)
I cant turn around without seeing another article/blog post/letter from yet another so called "lifelong Republican" who claims to be supporting Obama (oh, and voting Democrat for the first time as the meme goes). Sure, some of them are indeed genuine, but thats a tiny minoirity of them. About 95 percent of the time, you look into their backgrounds and bingo, it just another Democrat masquerading as a "lifelong Republican". And Paul Speirs is no different.
BugMeTons re: "What possesses you Obama supporters to pretend to be "lifelong Republicans"?"
Probably the same thing that "possesses" the McCain supporters to pretend to be "lifelong Democrats" ..... they get paid to post.
re PatriciaLV: "Probably the same thing that "possesses" the McCain supporters to pretend to be "lifelong Democrats" ..... they get paid to post"
DONT hand me that "both sides do it" nonsense. Because that isnt the least bit true. There isn't a single instance of a McCain supporter PRETENDING to be a "lifelong Democrat", much less an example, much less any proof, of any such person being paid to post.
Many of the "lifelong Republicans" who claim to have supported Obama on the other hand, many of them have long since been exposed as the Democrats they truly were.