Obama / McCain Presidential Debate from Mississippi - 9/26/08

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD4mspMtYzc[/YOUTUBE]
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The debate in full for those that missed it.

Have a good one!:s4:

Thanks.

I did watch it live, but it won't hurt having easy access to these videos for future reference ;) its hard to find the full thing around on youtube and posting different and scattered ones once the proof of something said or done is needed.

I watched it in full also and played Dragonriders bong game with it. ONE DAMN BONG throughout the entire thing! All the man had to do was say "My Friends" about 5 more times and maybe I would have enjoyed it a bit more.

Just in case anybody needs a few quotes from it, here's the transcript.
International Herald Tribune

Have a good one!:s4:

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Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud

I watched it in full also and played Dragonriders bong game with it. ONE DAMN BONG throughout the entire thing! All the man had to do was say "My Friends" about 5 more times and maybe I would have enjoyed it a bit more.

Just in case anybody needs a few quotes from it, here's the transcript.
International Herald Tribune

Have a good one!:s4:

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lol but i gotta give it to him, i expected more "my friends", it seemed he tried restraining himself from using that phrase compared to his past speeches n stuff

and stoner shadow wolf... u got your transcript right here thanks to p4b.
so dont be hatin youtube this one instance!:D

I'm not really up to date with politics or these issues...but I don't understand why people say that McCain is more of a leader than Obama. Obama exhibits much more leadership qualities than McCain. I mean..Obama look McCain straight in the eye when he speaks to him and has a serious face when McCain's talking...McCain on the other hand looks like a whipped dog, just looking into the void and snickering every time Obama talks, like he doesn't take anything he says seriously.

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Originally Posted by Billionfold

I played the smoking game of take a hit every time the analysts gave Obama +1.

I was pretty high about 30 minutes into the debate.

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Do not blame Obama's public speaking ability on your stonedness. Blame McCain's lack thereof:jointsmile:

although I'm a rightwinger :thumbsup:, I thought Obama blew McCain out of the water :( ... I was a high school debater (possibly even a 'MasterDebater' :D), and there's no way Obama wouldn't have won that debate hands down ... reminded me a LOT of the 1960 Nixon/Kennedy debate, (except that one was in B&W :D) ... that was famous, because even though most agreed Nixon nailed Kennedy repeatedly, he looked like hell doing it ... nervous, sweaty, obviously holding his temper, McCain/Nixon looked sad and old in my eyes :( ... several times McCain made an honest, truthful statement, that he would have been better off, just keeping it to himself :wtf: ... more than a few times, I rolled my eyes and said to myself, "there goes another 10 million votes" :wtf: ... regardless of how it turns out, it's just like Prom night ... after the election, we'll have some fun, swap some spit, then we're f*cked ...

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Originally Posted by the image reaper

although I'm a rightwinger :thumbsup:, I thought Obama blew McCain out of the water :( ... I was a high school debater (possibly even a 'MasterDebater' :D), and there's no way Obama wouldn't have won that debate hands down ... reminded me a LOT of the 1960 Nixon/Kennedy debate, (except that one was in B&W :D) ... that was famous, because even though most agreed Nixon nailed Kennedy repeatedly, he looked like hell doing it ... nervous, sweaty, obviously holding his temper, McCain/Nixon looked sad and old in my eyes :( ... several times McCain made an honest, truthful statement, that he would have been better off, just keeping it to himself :wtf: ... more than a few times, I rolled my eyes and said to myself, "there goes another 10 million votes" :wtf: ... regardless of how it turns out, it's just like Prom night ... after the election, we'll have some fun, swap some spit, then we're f*cked ...

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:S2:

here is a suggestion: u said u r tyt on the budget... and u r touring the country basically... why dont u try stand up? man u sound hella funny!!!

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Originally Posted by bobthenuker

just looking into the void and snickering every time Obama talks, like he doesn't take anything he says seriously.

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cuz he doesnt

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Originally Posted by the image reaper

that was famous, because even though most agreed Nixon nailed Kennedy repeatedly, he looked like hell doing it ... nervous, sweaty, obviously holding his temper, ...

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In Nixon's defense (ugh, I know) he had the flu for the debate. That must really just suck pole. Flu is bad enough, but having to deal with it during a debate in front of millions of people...ouch.

no way did obama blow him out of the water

Yeah, McCain did pretty good. I think Obama got caught on his flip-flopping a few times.

It was quite close in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by Billionfold

He's a man I can look at and say,
"This guy will take care of me."

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Sorry but I don't need ANY of these assclowns to take care of me. The Presidents main job is commander-in-chief of the armed forces; unless your in the military you should consider somebody else to take care of you.

As for the debate...close but I'll give this one to McCain. Right after he brought up Obama's earmarks there was a bunch of uhhh, ummm, stammering going on. I think that's one of the main reasons why McCain laughed so much at Obama's responses. He had the dude on the ropes after the first half hour.

Have a good one!:s4:

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Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud

The Presidents main job is commander-in-chief of the armed forces

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wrong, at least not complete. this is indeed a misconception.

he is main command of the whole executive branch. otherwise we would only have warmongers or military people up there not politicians or law school graduate, neither businessmen or other known public figures.

he is commander in chief of all armed forces but that is not his "main job"

he is in part with congress running this country as a whole.

here is a better explanation

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The president is not only commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but also swears to uphold and to protect the Constitution of the United States. He (or she) has the power to pardon criminal offenses, as well as the power of appointment of judges, ambassadors and other officers, with the â??advice and consentâ??â?? of the Senate, and the power to make treaties with other nations.

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President of the United States: Job description: The Swamp

and even by being commander in chief of all armed forces, "taking care of citizens" still applies

wrongful wars and lies, are not any part of protecting or representing Americans. they only hurt us in the long run. Thus I rather agree with billionfold, a person who is willing to pursue dialogue and diplomacy, and perhaps exhaust this option before involving the nation and our soldiers and children in another war (wrongful or not), is a better choice for president and can certainly take a better care of his people.

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Originally Posted by Billionfold

The main difference I see in McCain and Obama, is that Obama really seems eager to be our leader. He's a man I can look at and say,
"This guy will take care of me."

I don't see that in McCain, not at all.

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I dont think taking the American flag off and keeping ur hands behind ur back during the pledge an natl anthem shows eagerness to be our leader. And he offers no solutions to problems he just acknowledges the problems exist. He likes to say hes cutting taxes for 95% of americans... well A. id like to see his math and see how he comes up with that figure and B. Hes raising taxes in other areas. No one will buy stocks when the capital gains tax is 30% and a 50% death tax....WHATTTTTTT??? so let me get this strait obama you want 50% my inheritance when my mom dies? has that money not already been taxed...ppl need to wake up and stop getting lost in obamas "smooth" talkin. HE IS A MORON!

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Originally Posted by BeefsMyFav

I dont think taking the American flag off and keeping ur hands behind ur back during the pledge an natl anthem shows eagerness to be our leader.

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if those things are your standard to measure eagerness to lead the country with, i have 2 words for u: "good luck":rastasmoke:

I thought it was a decent debate --- stuck mostly to issues, pretty good job on both sides, but no real knockout punches.

If you want to call it a tie, then in a lot of ways if works out in Obama's favor in terms of how it affects the election. Here's why: Obama is leading in the polls, so a tie allows him to keep his position --- McCain is trailing, so he needed a clear win to change the trend, and he did not get it. The main topic was foreign policy, which is percieved as being McCain's strength, so the fact that Obama held his own allows undecided voters who may have been concerned about that area to see Obama as beeing more credible than they might have thought. Also the next few debates are not about foreign policy, so Obama may get more of an advantage in the next few. Holding his own in his least-strong area gives Obama some advantage going into the domestic policy debates where he is stronger.

And that advantage holds if you think it is a tie --- I actually think Obama did better. Many polls also showed people thinking Obama had done better. Obama looked more poised, confident, calm and presidential to me. McCain looked wound up, tense and angry sometimes. McCain would not look Obama in the eye or even turn to face him, even when Obama was talking dierectly to him and the moderator was encouraging them to engage directly --- that was wierd. In normal conversation that comes off as rude, and in a confrontation it is what people do when they are trying to slide out of a fight. That was bad body language on McCain's part --- it looked rude and cowardly.

McCain came off as condescending at times, like an old man lecturing "junior" about something --- always saying, "Barack Obama does not understand." I thought Obama did a bettter job of sticking to facts and rational policy points and keeping away from the BS. McCain resorted to his stump-speech style BS attacks more often --- things like, "He wants to meet with Ahmadinejad without preconditions," or "Obama said he would attack Pakistan."

That kind of stuff might work in a stump speech when you are talking to your supporters, but not with a mixed audience when the other guy is standing right there with equal time to make his case. When McCain said, "Barack Obama does not understand," and Obama is standing right there and shows he does understand, it made it seem like McCain was condescending and full of shit.

When McCain said things like, "Obama wants to meet with Ahmadinejad without preconditions," and Obama makes a good case that he won't concede anything to rogue regimes, but you can't have a negotiation by insisting the other side meet all your demands before you will agree to negotiate with them, then it made McCain seem simpleminded and full of shit.

When McCain said something like, "Obama said he would attack Pakistan." And Obama made the case that he would not attack Pakistan, but if he had Osama Bin Laden in his sights in Pakistan, and the Pakistanis could not or would not take him out, then we would take him out. Then it made McCain seem like either he would not take out Bin Laden, or he was full of shit again.

McCain should keep the BS for the stump speeches, because each time he pulled a cheap shot like that in the debate, Obama made him look foolish or full of shit. Obama avoided the BS cheap shots. obama has some BS cheap shots that he uses in his stump speeches, like McCain's doesn't-know-how-many-houses gaffe, but he kept that crap out of the debate, which was wise and made him seem more presidential. McCain should learn to do that too, and learn to look a man in the eye.

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Originally Posted by Billionfold

Obviously we have two very different definitions of what our president should be. :stoned:

You're such a closeted republican. ;)

You remind me so much of my uncle.

Claims to be independent, yet is as far right as it gets. :stoned:

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Oh yes, I'm SOOOO far right. I have voted for R. Perot and B. Clinton in the past; didn't realize that they were both republicans. I think when your as far left as it gets, the middle of the road seems very far right to some.

Government is suppose to make it easier for me to take care of myself; I don't need or want daddy President taking care of me. The more they "do" for you the more they want to be involved in your life....just like a parent. "Don't drink this...don't smoke that."

Have a good one!:s4:

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Originally Posted by flyingimam

wrong, at least not complete. this is indeed a misconception.

he is main command of the whole executive branch. otherwise we would only have warmongers or military people up there not politicians or law school graduate, neither businessmen or other known public figures.

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Anybody that can send our young people out to die without approval from any other branch...well, I feel that this IS their main job. As for the "politicians or law school graduates....that's what is wrong with Washington today. You just described 3/4 of the crooks there right now.

Have a good one!:s4:

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Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud

Anybody that can send our young people out to die without approval from any other branch...well, I feel that this IS their main job. As for the "politicians or law school graduates....that's what is wrong with Washington today. You just described 3/4 of the crooks there right now.

Have a good one!:s4:

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i feel ya. but technically the president is also responsible for upholding the constitution and protecting it. the current one has literally amended it using this patriot act and other similar measures.

but true, the perception is that he can send our troops out and he is mostly called the commander in chief in many places.

but why the heck in the first place, we need to be sending our troops out so much that this has become the main role of a US prez. I bet this wasnt how it was intended when they were writing the constitution.

it gives me a feeling that we as a government and nation just love what we do, push others to do what we say or we beat the hell out of them... now only the last 2 wars (current ones) are the ones supposedly in "self-defense"

one is an illegitimate preemptive aggression for defense (whatever that means) with those very dangerous threats never found

our last war in self-defense was WW II and that was the last war we have actually had declared.

I mean we worship our constitution, maybe we should amend it in some way. cuz the way it is we get 4 year term potential dictators whom no1 can do shit about once they are there. not the congress (they hardly ever do anything in unity) and especially not the people.

i donno, its just that something aint right with this part of the constitution which allows this executive power to send troops without any1's approval but the president's him or herself. this has happened a good number of times in the last 60 years or so... many instances with little or no good use for the country... what did we exactly gain in vietnam? or korea?

both remain communist states, one remains a very secretive and cold enemy.

we just got killed and killed and some made some fortunes in this between. without communism going away for good or without those countries even being freed

I'm ramblin i know. i stop right here.

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Originally Posted by flyingimam

i feel ya. but technically the president is also responsible for upholding the constitution and protecting it. the current one has literally amended it using this patriot act and other similar measures.

but true, the perception is that he can send our troops out and he is mostly called the commander in chief in many places.

but why the heck in the first place, we need to be sending our troops out so much that this has become the main role of a US prez. I bet this wasnt how it was intended when they were writing the constitution.

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I have to disagree with ya on that. I think that the founding fathers knew that in times of crisis it's important for the President to be able to take initial action instead of waiting for Congress and Senate to get in all their debates on the issue. It was a different time back then. Their first sign of a threat was when the cannon balls were hitting our shores or you could see the Armada off our coast.

Have a good one!:s4:

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Originally Posted by Psycho4Bud

I have to disagree with ya on that. I think that the founding fathers knew that in times of crisis it's important for the President to be able to take initial action instead of waiting for Congress and Senate to get in all their debates on the issue. It was a different time back then. Their first sign of a threat was when the cannon balls were hitting our shores or you could see the Armada off our coast.

Have a good one!:s4:

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thats why im lost. u r right and i know it. but then we were not the only super power. now things are only being abused and taken advantage of

after all there must be a rational fix to this situation. perhaps it could be changed in a way to only include defensive measures and not offensive, that will protect america and will prevent needless wars

What makes you think Obama can control our military?

The man hasn't has ANY military experience.

That is incredibly disrespetful to our men and women in uniform.

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Originally Posted by Billionfold

Neither do I, but all he has to do is make the call. Generals, tacticians, and strategists do the rest.

Being in a war doesn't give you 'military' experience in the degree of commanding an army, so I'm not sure how McCain is any more qualified for it than Obama.

He was a pilot, he got shot down, he became a PoW.

He didn't march our troops into Vietnam and conquer most of the free world or anything.

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He attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis and when he left the service he was on the verge of being a Rear Admiral. That's a hell of alot more than can be said about Obama.

Seems funny that before ya all bitched about George Bush's lack of military experience that got us into a bad situation in Iraq but now military experience isn't needed? GET REAL! This assclown stated during the debates that he's all about stopping the genocide in Darfur! Real nice, another president without military knowledge or experience sending our people into battle. He sure was right regarding the surge wasn't he?

Have a good one!:s4:

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Originally Posted by Billionfold

I didn't believe in going to war in Iraq in the first place, and it didn't have fuck all to do with his military experience.

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Well, by a non-partisan vote the Senate and Congress gave Bush the thumbs up for an invasion whether we liked it or not, that's not even an issue here.

"Didn't have fuck all to do with his military experience".....Really, lack of troop levels, the lack of forsite regarding looting of museums, lack of forsite regarding an insurgency or secterian violence, and the list goes on! Obama stated that the Generals, etc. make recommendations but HE alone creates the mission. He damn well better know what the hell he's doing better than Bush did and I seriously don't see how without the training OR experience. This would be like saying that I'm qualified to do open heart surgery based on the fact that I worked maintenance in a hospital system for 6 years.

Have a good one!:s4:

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Originally Posted by Billionfold

Neither do I, but all he has to do is make the call. Generals, tacticians, and strategists do the rest.

Being in a war doesn't give you 'military' experience in the degree of commanding an army, so I'm not sure how McCain is any more qualified for it than Obama.

He was a pilot, he got shot down, he became a PoW.

He didn't march our troops into Vietnam and conquer most of the free world or anything.

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I know what your getting at.

How could anyone be a great commander if they got shot down and taken prisoner?

Thats ridiculous.

McCain has more love for this country than Obama ever will. The military taught McCain discipline and more skills than you can shake a stick at. McCain knows first hand what it is like to be a soldier. He knows what they need. Being a soldier he was taught military strategy.

McCain is so more qualified to lead the military than Obama. The closest thing he's ever gotten to being a commander is playing with army men and G.I. Joe.

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Originally Posted by Billionfold

Have you ever been to war, P4B? Or the military at all?

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No but my grandfather, father, and son have. Does this make any difference to this conversation? I'm not running for the position of commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Have a good one!:s4:

He's not a self proclamed mavrick.

He got that title from the fellow politicians who work with him on a daily basis.

Great debate, i was waiting for this thread actually, right on time. I thought both did well but i give it to Obama coz i don't believe Mccain a lot of what he claims obama is or does obama corrects him and actually says what he actually means. He also talks about more key issues for me like college affordabilty and healthcare and i wouldn't trust Mccain with the budget, i think there would be too much wastage.

I'm sure some of America's great presidents have never served in the military...though I don't know exactly who b/c I don't know American president's or American history so well...Judging by this what does it matter if one presidential candidate has more military experience than one who doesn't....doesn't a president have a highly qualified cabinet to help him with all issues...you can't expect a president to know everything...that's why he has experts helping him... while it does improve the image of a president to have served....it's little basis for really choosing anything.

The way I see it...nationalism, serving in the military, is a ruse of sorts...I believe that world leaders hold on to a different belief than nationalism and patriotism...the belief that by building a name for yourself you may get elected...than your name shall be in history forever...your accomplishments as well...A president must uphold the national impression to the bickering general public...shaking voters hands...standing for the pledge...I suspect it means nothing to them...that's how I view things at least

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Originally Posted by Billionfold

So wouldn't that make it just as much the senates and congresses fault?

Don't think I've ever solely blamed Bush for the war in Iraq.

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I don't blame any of them myself...he needed to be removed.

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Originally Posted by Billionfold

You say McCain's military experience makes him qualified, but the way I see it he's just another republican with a gung-ho attitude. He's a self proclaimed maverick with something to prove, and I don't like him.

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Likewise Obama is nothing but a slick Chicago politician and I don't like him for several reasons. Self proclaimed person of "change" coming out of one of the most crooked systems in the states with Rev. Wright and William Ayers helping him up the ladder. I'll take the Maverick with experience over that shit.

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Originally Posted by Billionfold

Just saying, if you don't have any military experience are you 'qualified' to talk about it? :stoned:

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I've been watching politics and voting for 28 years, how about you? I've voted Republican, Independent and Democrat, once again, how about you? That's part of the beauty about this system, I can talk about people that should lead the people in uniform and you can talk about politics.

Fact is I was around during the Carter years and Obama has the same cluster fuck written all over him. In a way I kind of hope he wins. I have a degree and working on my second with graduation in the spring not to mention I'm a grower. I'll be fine with double digit unemployment, double digit inflation, and double digit interest rates. Come spring though I can also be self-employed so don't expect this ol' boy to be paying for everybody elses health care. I don't take Uncle Sams handouts and likewise he can keep his hands off my stash.:smokin:

Have a good one!:s4:

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Originally Posted by rebgirl420

McCain knows first hand what it is like to be a soldier. He knows what they need. Being a soldier he was taught military strategy.

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just a side note, i have no intention of swaying away this debate, but regarding your point i respectfully ask u to go and research mccain+kerry's congressional work on POWs of vietnam... u will catch some stuff if u look @ it factually.

and no, this is not just what i heard around from an agenda, this is a true controversy shoved down the throat of silent history by lack of attention by the media and the nation... there are STILL some questions remaining regarding our POWs that he and his congressional mates concluded a "done job"

Obama & McCain are BOTH politicians, some of what they say is soft talk, including when mccain's voice would change... everytime a longtime politician changes his tone to make u feel he gets it... u should be even more alert on what he says and what he has actually done in the past.

anyways, just a suggestion:)

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Originally Posted by Reefer Rogue

Great debate, i was waiting for this thread actually, right on time. I thought both did well but i give it to Obama coz i don't believe Mccain a lot of what he claims obama is or does obama corrects him and actually says what he actually means. He also talks about more key issues for me like college affordabilty and healthcare and i wouldn't trust Mccain with the budget, i think there would be too much wastage.

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And why do you think I should pay for your college and healthcare?????

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Originally Posted by McDanger

And why do you think I should pay for your college and healthcare?????

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So he can become a more productive member of society, which would in turn allow him to make more money, paying more taxes, to go into government programs that benefit you or to put that money back into the economy, meaning more money to go around for everybody.

...

Anyway, about the military argument, George Bush pushed the idea of a war in iraq for his own agenda (who knows what that is). At the time, if you recall, 90% of people were saying "Let's go to Iraq!" and the other 10 were either thinking "This doesn't bode well with me but okay" or "We have no fucking business there!".

It wasn't his lack of experience, it was bad intelligence at the best, forgery of evidence at the worst.

Yeah, Barack Obama has no military experience. All he has to do militarily, though, is tell the generals what he wants done, and they'll take care of it.

Yeah, it'd be nice if we had a president who was a brilliant military strategist but, when you have a building full of them, it's not a crucial skill to have.

Oh, did I mention McCain graduated 4th from the bottom of his class at the naval academy? that means he passed by the skin of his teeth, probably. Not too impressive in my book.

I respect McCains military experience, but it's also one more reason I WONT vote for him. he literally hungers for war like a battle-frenzied berserker. The best soldier in the world is the one who does his best to make sure his job never has to get done. What is a soldiers job? To kill and destroy. Talks and diplomacy must ALWAYS be exhausted to their absolute maximum extent. People just dont wanna work at it, because war is so much easier, and profitable to boot.

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Originally Posted by DaBudhaStank

I respect McCains military experience, but it's also one more reason I WONT vote for him. he literally hungers for war like a battle-frenzied berserker. The best soldier in the world is the one who does his best to make sure his job never has to get done. What is a soldiers job? To kill and destroy. Talks and diplomacy must ALWAYS be exhausted to their absolute maximum extent. People just dont wanna work at it, because war is so much easier, and profitable to boot.

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Very true, and some people the money and competition is worth the loss of life.

Not to mention we haven't been directly threatened by any other nation for about 100 years.

I say we put a shitload of money into missile defense, fortify the borders, set up ways of making sure the people we let into our country don't overstay their welcome, and basically tell the world "We're going to sit tight here because we aren't strong enough to police the world anymore. Sorry but you guys will have to deal with this shit yourselves."

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Originally Posted by JakeMartinez

So he can become a more productive member of society, which would in turn allow him to make more money, paying more taxes, to go into government programs that benefit you or to put that money back into the economy, meaning more money to go around for everybody.

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I'm going to school again and paying for it MYSELF out of money that I EARNED! IF you want something bad enough you figure out a way to get it...ever here of working your way through school?

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Originally Posted by JakeMartinez

Anyway, about the military argument, George Bush pushed the idea of a war in iraq for his own agenda (who knows what that is). At the time, if you recall, 90% of people were saying "Let's go to Iraq!" and the other 10 were either thinking "This doesn't bode well with me but okay" or "We have no fucking business there!".

It wasn't his lack of experience, it was bad intelligence at the best, forgery of evidence at the worst.

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"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
--President Bill Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
--President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998

"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
--Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
--Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."
Letter to President Clinton, signed by:
-- Democratic Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others, Oct. 9, 1998

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
-Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998

"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
-- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999

"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
Letter to President Bush, Signed by:
-- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), and others, Dec 5, 2001

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and th! e means of delivering them."
-- Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
-- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power."
-- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction."
-- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
-- Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002

"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force -- if necessary -- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
-- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002

"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."
-- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002

"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do"
-- Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
-- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction."
-- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002

"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real..."
-- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003

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Originally Posted by JakeMartinez

Yeah, it'd be nice if we had a president who was a brilliant military strategist but, when you have a building full of them, it's not a crucial skill to have.

Oh, did I mention McCain graduated 4th from the bottom of his class at the naval academy? that means he passed by the skin of his teeth, probably. Not too impressive in my book.

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Well, he still graduated and left the service one step behind a rear admiral. More than can be said about Obama who has stated that HE ALONE decides the mission.

Have a good one!:s4:

You guys know my stance to this political shit, but I do STRONGLY feel that it should be MANDATORY for every president to have done at LEAST one tour in the military...I will give McCain that...Granted he may not be a medal of honor hero storming beaches like someone said, but he served...He may think twice before sending our troops to do bullshit in other countries...you know, the "been there, done that" kinda deal. I did 9 years in the army, quite a few years in Bosnia and Afghanistan getting shot at in the late 90s....So yeah...a military man is WAY more qualified than someone who has never put on BDUs...
whiskeytango

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Originally Posted by SnSstealth

You guys know my stance to this political shit, but I do STRONGLY feel that it should be MANDATORY for every president to have done at LEAST one tour in the military...I will give McCain that...Granted he may not be a medal of honor hero storming beaches like someone said, but he served...He may think twice before sending our troops to do bullshit in other countries...you know, the "been there, done that" kinda deal. I did 9 years in the army, quite a few years in Bosnia and Afghanistan getting shot at in the late 90s....So yeah...a military man is WAY more qualified than someone who has never put on BDUs...
whiskeytango

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See, this is why YOU would make a better commander-in-chief than McCain. The problem is he WONT think twice about sending troops. I question whether he would think at all to be honest. He usually seems almost eager to send troops to battle. I think being a POW pounded the ideas of Honor and Glory into his head a little too hard. Sometimes I wonder if he'd have preferred to be killed in battle.