| | Minutes to the 2nd Presidential Debate (my personal notations):
======================
2008 Presidential Debate # 2
question (q)
--what about retired, fixed-income elders?
obama (o)
--worst financial crisis since Great Depression
--failed economic policies of Bush / McCain (last 8 yrs)
mccain (m)
--let's not raise taxes on anybody (today)
--half-trillion to China
--have govt buy up all bad mortgages -- new mortgages for homeowners at reduced home price
tom brokaw
--treasury secretary is most powerful office in the cabinet now -- what's up with that?
m
[looked at and acknowledged o]
--corruption on Wall Street and greed and excess in Washington, DC
o
--middle-class tax cut for 95% of working Americans
m
--fannie and freddie are the ones that with the encouragement of o and his cronies who got folks risky loans
--o is the 2nd highest recipient of funds from fannie and freddie in history
--f and f were the match that started this forest fire
o
--the biggest problem was the deregulation of the financial system
--2 years ago I wrote to sec. paulson and fed chairman bernanke and said that sub-prime loans were a risk
--I never promoted fannie mae
m
--get rid of the cronyism and special interest in Washington that prevents fixing the problem
q
--how can we trust either of you with our money when both parties got us into a global economic crisis?
o
--we have had the biggest increases in national debt and budget deficits in US history
--I'm cutting more than I'm spending -- a net spending cut
m
--the system in Washington is broken
--I've taken on special interests
--this is the most liberal based spender in the Congress
--o is planning $860 B in new spending
--o voted for every spending increase I've seen since he's been in Washington
--stop sending $700 B / yr overseas
q
--healthcare, energy, entitlement reform - what should be prioritized?
m
--we are not going to be able to provide the same benefits as we do to retirees today
o
--we're going to have to prioritize
--energy has to be first - for economic and security reasons
--invest $15 B / yr over 10 yrs -- totally free from middle east oil by then!
--healthcare is number 2
--education is number 3
--m proposes a $300 B tax cut (100 from extending Bush tax cuts; 200 more to the CEOs)
q
--what sacrifices will you ask every american to make?
m
--there are some programs we have to eliminate
--defense spending is corrupt
--I advocate a spending freeze -- except for defense, veterans, and entitlement programs
o
--after 911, Bush told us to go out and shop -- that's a missed opportunity
--oil companies have 68 million acres they're not using -- use it or lose it
--I'm interested in doubling the Peace Corps
q
--how would you as president break the cycle of debt?
o
--m talks tough about earmarks -- but that's only 18 B of our budget
--across the board spending freeze is a hatchet job -- I'd use a scalpal
m
--we've lost 700,000 jobs in america -- but small business employment has grown
--o will increase taxes on 50% of small business owners -- killing what works
--I'd give every american $5000 for healthcare
q
--social security and medicare will eventually become bigger than the mortgage crisis -- what do we do to solve it?
o
--if you make less than $200K or less, your taxes will go down
--I support a 50% tax credit for small businesses to buy medical insurance for their employees
m
--fixing social security isn't hard, it just involves tough steps (which we know will work)
--medicare will be harder to fix
--o has voted 94 times to increase or not decrease taxes
q
--what will you do about needed climate change and "green jobs"?
m
--I, with Leiberman, introduced the first green legislation and forced a vote
--nuclear helps with climate and jobs
--95% of the people who are our market live outside of America
o
--I favor nuclear power as one component of our overall energy mix
--m voted 23 times against alternative fuels
--we have 3% of the world's oil reserves and we use 25% of the world's oil -- we can't drill our way out of this mess
--China is setting up one new coal powerplant each week!
m
--I voted against alternative fuel bills with billions in earmarks for oil execs -- o voted for that!
q
--should healthcare be treated as a commodity?
o
--most of you have seen your premiums double in the last 8 years
--if you have healthcare and like it -- keep your plan and doctor (I'll work to lower your premiums)
--if you don't have health insurance -- you can buy the Congress plan
m
--if you're a small business owner and you don't insure employees -- o will fine you ($?)
--if you're a parent and you don't insure your kids -- o will fine you ($?)
--$5000K refundable tax credit
q
--is healthcare a privilege, a right, or a responsibility?
m
--a responsibility
--I'm nervous about a govt mandate
o
--healthcare should be a right for every American -- for as wealthy as we are
--small businesses won't have a mandate, but parents will
--interstate health insurance will be like interstate banks and "move to Delaware" (where they don't have any strict laws regarding credit cards)
q
--how will the recent economic bust affect our power as a peace-maker around the world?
m
--America is the greatest force for good in the history of the world
--things we've done -- though not always done well -- but we've done because we're a nation of good
o
--we're spending $10 B a month in Iraq, when they have a $79 B surplus
--this is the greatest nation on earth
--we are a force of good in the world
q
--genocide is common -- what is the obama doctrine for govt use of force when US security interests are not at stake?
o
--[mumbo jumbo, mumbo jumbo, mumbo jumbo]
m
--o would have brought our troops home in defeat, I will bring them home in victory
--we went into somalia to make peace and we had to withdraw -- almost 300 marines were killed
--sending america's most precious asset -- american blood -- into harm's way
q
--should the US pursue Al Queda into Pakistan?
o
--bin laden escaped and set up base camps in the NW province of Pakistan
--it's the central front on terrorism
--secretary Gates said the war on terror began there, and that's where it's going to end
--if we have OBL in our sights and Pakistan doesn't give the go ahead -- we have to go ahead and take him out anyway
m
--when you announce you'll launch an attack into another country -- it turns the country against you
--our relations with Pakistan are critical, we have to get their support, Gen. Patreus had that strategy
--speak softly and carry a big stick
o
--nobody called for the invasion of Pakistan
--if Pakistan is unable or unwilling to hunt down OBL and take him out, then we will
--m sang "Bomb Iran", m wanted to annihilate N Korea -- that's not speaking softly
q
--senior British military commander said we're failing in Afghanistan, how would you reorganize Afghanistan strategy?
o
--withdraw troops from Iraq in a responsible way
--work with Pres. Karzai to keep democracy in Afghanistan where govt is responsible to the people there
m
--we have to double the size of the Afghan Army
--I have confidence that Patreus will succeed there like in Iraq
q
what about the resurgence of russia?
m
--because of their petro-dollars, they've gotten Big-Shot-itis
--Putin is basically a KGB bully
--we won't accept naked agression by russia
o
--we've got to provide countries like Georgia with concrete assistance to help build their economies
--we've got to have foresight
--our getting fully energy independent will keep russia at bay
q
--if Iran attacks Israel, would you commit US troops, or would you wait for UN Security Council approval?
m
--commit troops right away / russia and china would be obstacles for UN Security Council approval
--my idea of a League of Democracies would prevent a 2nd Holocaust
o
--we can't let Iran get a nuclear weapon -- I'll do everything required to prevent that
--it is important for us to use all tools at our disposal to avoid having to make the difficult choices
--US energy independence would keep Iran at bay
--we should have direct talks with our enemies (to talk tough to them) -- we get a better chance at better outcomes
--Not talking =
Iran went from no centrifuges to over 4000
N Korea quadrupled their nukes
q
--what don't you know and how will you learn it?
o
--here's what I do know: I wouldn't be standing here unless this country gave me an opportunity
--I was able to go to the best schools on earth and succeed
--are we going to pass on that same american dream to the next generation?
--over the last 8 years, we've seen that dream slip away
--we can't expect to do the same things and to get a different outcome
--that's what's at stake, that's why I'm running for president
m
--what I don't know is what all of us don't -- what's going to happen at home and abroad
--there are challenges around the world and they will be different
--I don't know what the unexpected will be
--I know what it's like in dark times
--I know what it's like to keep one's hope going in difficult times
--I know what it's like to have your neighbors help you and pick you back up to re-enter the fight
--the times are tough, we need a steady hand at the tiller, I've put this country first my whole life
======================
Ed
|
|
