What did you think of the second presidential debate?

Risks in Afghanistan outweight those in Iraq during the last couple of years. Powell's own words during the recent round table discussion with the five secretaries of state. We need to shift hard power and soft power to Afghanistan, and withdraw from Iraq in a responsible way. One of the first things the next President has to do, and I agree on this with Powell too, is to restore relationships with allies. We always reserve the right to act on our own, but we have to go back to understanding the importance of alliances like Powell and Bush Senior did. Senator McCain still doesn't get it.

in Uraq, now it's time for Iraqi to take care of their own country, Bring our troops home or transfer some to Afghanistan, and clean up the mess with Bin Laden. Laden cannot be ignored forever.

it was Bush and Co. who displayed little knowledge of the region (with a dash of McCain) by not fully understanding the difference between Sunni and Shia, and not understanding that overthrowing Saddam would put Iran in a very good position. We have to deal with that -- we can't unring the bell, nor can we stay in Iraq forever. We need to address the problem, not as occupiers, but as diplomats. It's going to happen, and by putting it off, we are not helping our position, but we potentially can erode support in the region.

Once the US leaves Iraq two things are likely to happen. A civil war that leaves the countries direction and oil wealth in the hands of the person(s) who can rule w/ the heaviset hand. This is proven by their history. The most likely option is that Iran will control the country. Iran has already suggested limiting oil resources to keep the cost of oil higher than it should trade at. While agree the war was handled badly, the idea of walking away is a poor one. In fact, it highlights Obma's poor knowledge of the subject. It does nothing more than placate a lot of his followers who choose not to understand the subject and just kick and scream to get their way. I do not believe Obama will be able to follow through on this promise. I also do not believe he intends to. By his own words he has signaled he may not. it is a non-issue for the Nov. election.

Iraq and the Iraqi government need to start taking care of their own county, and as long as we are there doing it for them then have no incentive to do it, and Obama is right on this issue. There is nothing to win in Iraq, and what we have lost is far beyond anyone's expectations.
Reduce the troop level in Iraq at a resposible time frame, and focus on Afghanistan, and kill the very person that was responsible for 911. Obama is right on this issue.

I've voted absentee my entire life as most of my 20-year career I was stationed overseas. I returned to the US shortly after 9/11. Obama does not make him self very popular with EU leaders and others with his calls for more troops and resources in Afghanistan, and with his calls to kill the head of the snake as Powell would say, aka Bin Laden, as our leaders promised me on 09/11. Like Bush Sr, Obama will be able to force countries to share the burden of our troops and the American taxpayer in fighting common security treats, while McCain's Iran "jokes" have already ruined every opportunity. I respect McCain for his service many years ago, but he and I agree on very little in today's world. Today Ron Paul and Obama are the top receivers in donations from soldiers overseas, a message that could not be more clear. McCain running on his POW status is obviously not working for most of them either.

The McCain camp hopes that you won't put any thought behind your vote, which is evidenced by their false personal attacks and VP selection. McCain hopes that he can have people remember his POW status, forget the Keating five, actually believe that he sang "bomb bomb Iran" as a joke to a friend, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-zoPgv_nYg

McCain is a liar and hopes that people will not remember.

Reagan wasn't a Veteran, yet I voted for him. I voted for WWII Veteran Bush Senior and General Powell who send me to Iraq but had their soldiers as first their priority. I did not vote for Vietnam Vet Kerry or McCain because they bragged about their service while doing very little for veterans. I'm picking Senator Obama not because he grew up with his grandfather, a WWII Veteran like Senior, but because he wants to enlarge the military and reduce the burden on military families that are serving their third or fourth tour in Iraq or Afghanistan. Because Obama’s voting record on Veteran's issues is way more impressive than that of McCain. It's unfortunate McCain got away with it again during this so called town hall meeting. I rather see McCain's own town hall meetings where he was actually confronted with the fact by a fellow Vietnam Vet. Naturally, there was nothing he could say.

This is my love medley reply:

"I am not so arrogant to assert that every person who switched from Rudi/Thompson/Huckabee/Romney to McCain did so without putting thought into their vote."

What other choice was there? it's silly to say that is arrogant. Obama simply cannot be taken seriously. It's like he stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night or something.

"at least I've been more polite about McCain than you have ever been about Obama."

No you have not. But you be a rude as you need to be. Just add some meat to your comments. If you believe in Obama so much, fine. Just cut out the poor cheerleading 1-2 liners. At least entertain us.

"I can believe Virginians are like this!!!!!"

If it makes you feel better, I am in Carolina.

isnt it amazing a day after the debate "MCCAIN" has to have a hockey mom cheer and stick up for him?he has to drag her along to get a crowd otherwise MCCAIN would only have a few thousand show up.
well for the debate mcain did not hit a homerun,maybe at best a grounder!well he looked like a old man walking in a mall!and kept saying me-me-i-i- well he rushed back to washington on bailout bill and got a slap in the face by his fellow republicans.ha ha thought he was going to get a chance to say"me-me-i-i- got that bill passed.ha ha .
yes obama walked the dog on mccain.

Your statement "No one who actually put thought into their vote could switch to Obama from Hillary" was too much. I am not so arrogant to assert that every person who switched from Rudi/Thompson/Huckabee/Romney to McCain did so without putting thought into their vote. Keep the bad arguments coming.

at least I've been more polite about McCain than you have ever been about Obama.

I suggest all you brainwashed McSamings/Barracudas check this website to see who is the liar and who really is putting their country. Come November 4th my vote is going for "THAT ONE" i.e the "The Terrorist Friend", "Hussein First Counsin", "The Royal One" and all the other nicknames you have given him without doing research on who "YOU" really are supporting. Get from under the rock you all are living under and do some research on who is the lesser of two evils. Don't pick your candidate cause he is "Black", "Old", "Young", "White", or "Smart as a Fifth Grader"! I can believe Virginians are like this!!!!!

"Nothing that man says makes any sense. And Plis, she's 5 beers short of Joe's six pack."

Quite eloquent. You represent Obama so well. LOL

Is voting for tax breaks for the highes paid people in American, not to mention Oil Companies and RTich CEO's. The rich will continue to get rich and the poor poorer. Voting for McCain will keep us in one war or another forever. McCain will give you $5000 for Health Care, and then turn around and tax it. Nothing that man says makes any sense. And Palis, she's 5 beers short of Joe's six pack.

is still a dumb citizen.

I am voting for McCain !!!
When I look at in terms of priorities...I feel safer with McCain at the helm,with the Democrats in office,while our country and military got attacked outside of our country and the first attack on the World Trade Center...they did nothing. All these ecnomic problems started with Carter and Clinton...giving folks a home without having to put a down payment on a home!!?? Our economy was growing beautifully, till the 2006/2007 elections and Pelosi and Reid came into office...think back...when did our gas prices go up ???? When did the market start going crazy ?? When they came in and did nothing and blocked everything.

Well then that eliminates your unscientific polls as well. The point beingthat many people who would have offered Hillary the vote will nto side w/ a person as liberal as Obama. We kinda' like our senators to show up for work as well.

For these fraud letters:

"I too thought of possibly going with McCain UNTIL he blew the whole package and chose his running mate!!! I was then offended by her Sarah Palin)"

No one who actually put thought into their vote could switch to Obama from Hillary. The spread is too wide. No one believes women would jump ship just because a woman is running. Maybe I am just giving you too much credit? The offense cannot be as bad as a man who has not proven anything more than how we depend on him not to show up for work.

It's obvious from the polls that few if any "Hillary backers" are voting for McCain instead. I too wanted Hillary in the primaries, but she lost. So I decided to vote for Obama. I know a handful of people who did the same. My anecdotal handful plus Gertz and ktatc's anecdotal handfuls are bigger than Ira's anecdotal and potentially mythically handful of single minded hillary backers. Thus, Ira, by your anecdotal logic "your[sic] wrong" and you're beginning to rant. People who disagree with you aren't automatically stupid zombies. Calm down. Go have some tea.

It is also obvious from the polls the race will be a close one, perhaps even here in VA.

else notice McCain's condescending attitude toward the young Black male questioner? 1st, he, assumes the young man didn't know anything of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac . Then he turned his back to this man & spoke to every one but him. That was worse than the slight to Obama by calling him, "This one", which reminds many of the old code words "Those people".

"Did she think I would go 180 degrees against my ideology of helping the middle, working class, and the poor of this country, believing in choice for reproductive rights for women, use of force only when you cannot reason any longer, environmental concern, and the beliefs that are democratic-not republican, just because she was a woman?!!!! "

Nope. But maybe she'd get some conservative women to the polls. Worked for my wife...

Vote your ideology, that's what most everyone else will do. In the end, the candidates really don't matter, the election will be decided by party ideology. The party of handouts, free money, free healthcare, and taxcuts for nontaxpayers will likely win. Voting for Obama is like buying a happy meal - you get what you pay for PLUS a free toy. Everyone loves something for nothing. Nov 4 we become USSA, regardless of outcome.

What does ABW mean? I have advanced college degrees (plural) and came from a bad neighborhood growing up but have never heard this acronym!!!

As for sharing your money, I thank you for sharing your money (via the PELL grant) with me so that I was able to get a college degree since my mother was disabled my whole life and on SSI disability income and still to this day, gets no more than $800 a month!!! Now I can share my income (and probably have paid more in taxes than you in the last few years) because others shared (forced or not) and it did not go to waste. The problem is that too many people are basing their opinions on the extremes of our society. Certainly, there are those that take advantage and in some areas, they may outnumber those that don't but.... think about it, if you lost your job tomorrow and only had enough income to pay for 1-2 more months of rent before you were kicked out, you did not smoke, drink, or spend frivolously wouldn't you want a system that could help you out??? The conservative fabric of this country has been confused with all the cars, flat screen plasma tv's, etc. and have forgotten the fact that what makes us different than many other coun

a "poll" of your six neighbors is hardly indicative of a trend.

First, I want to agree with the post titled "Hillary Backers". The person that stated, "Obama is going down via the Hillary backers. The vote won't be close." must be listening to the wrong people. ksl1954-I guess because a large majority of these voters tended to be women (although my retired Navy Captain husband is amongst them) you believe that there is no thought attached to their vote for President?!!! I too thought of possibly going with McCain UNTIL he blew the whole package and chose his running mate!!! I was then offended by her (Sarah Palin) acceptance as the VP nominee when she stated, "There are 18 million women voters scratching the glass ceiling that voted for Hillary Clinton." Did she think I would go 180 degrees against my ideology of helping the middle, working class, and the poor of this country, believing in choice for reproductive rights for women, use of force only when you cannot reason any longer, environmental concern, and the beliefs that are democratic-not republican, just because she was a woman?!!!! Boy, she and any others that believe that are less intelligent than I thought. Stop insulting Hillary voters (particularly the women) with the belief

I'd be ashamed of myself to trash Obama if I had sarah palin running on my party's ticket.

"I wanted Hillary to be the nominee, but she wasn't, and I even considered McCain for awhile, but no, I can't stomach the man. Hillary supports aren't switching to McCain and certainly not because of Palin, who is against everything Hillary supporters are in favor of."

Your wrong. There are 6 households on my block that were dead set on electing Hillary Clinton. None of us are voting for Obama. He is much too liberal. He does not offer any balance. Nor does he offer any substance.
In contrast, the only R's jumping ship are the same idiots who voted for Bush as a team sport.

Go ahead and pull your race card now. What a whining and excuse making bunch you all are.

"Obama is going down via the Hillary backers. The vote won't be close."

I wanted Hillary to be the nominee, but she wasn't, and I even considered McCain for awhile, but no, I can't stomach the man. Hillary supports aren't switching to McCain and certainly not because of Palin, who is against everything Hillary supporters are in favor of.

"...just because you have an individual right does not mean that the state or local government can't constrain the exercise of that right..."
Barack Obama, 2008, Philadelphia primary debate SO, WHAT OTHER RIGHTS MIGHT WE AMERICANS BE IN DANGER OF LOSING IN AN OBAMA PRESIDENCY? The right to free speech, perhaps? Maybe that is why an author of book about Obama's influence in Kenya was abducted at gunpoint by government hoodlums this week!

Why do you think we have two idiots running for president. So the citizens have something to argue about with each other while they run of with our money. Everybody agrees that our country is in pretty bad times and also knows that our goverment is not working in our interest. WE can all agree on that right. Nothing will change until "we the people" stand up for our rights. So get up off your couch and march to the white house and take back what is ours. Everybody complains about how they talk trash about each other, but everyone in these post are doing the same thing. The crooks are winning turn the people against each other. He who controls the media controls the mind.
Peace out.

"Why weren’t the other presidential candidates afforded the same opportunity as Senators McCain and Obama?"

Very good questions, though I can't quite parse out what you mean by "afforded the same opportunities." My snide response is that the corporate political marketing budget can only support two major political parties. All of the others strangle on the vine for lack of nourishment. We, the collective people, don't pay enough attention to the process to make any difference. Each party has a story. Each story has one hero. Here we are. My less than snide approach blames the medium, which is still principally television. Television is structured to cost a lot. Thus, politicians need lots of money. This creates an economy of scale. bigger is better. The medium, by convention more than necessity, is mostly comprised of short segments with lots of repetition-- not so great for talking about complex issues. Thus, the nature of our choices.