Why is he a great man? Is it because he going to tax corporations out of comparativeness to support the lower middle class? - Igor The Troll
What has he done? Read about the man. Check out the books and writings on him. He is a leader, and given the chance he could be a great one bringing the country together to solve problems instead of arguing. - Dion Almaer
You are right, this just might be his best video yet. - Bastian
I keep hearing the tax thing get parroted about but don't folks think it's a bit of an exaggeration? I honestly find it hard that either candidate are going to be able to lower taxes AND fund the bailout and any other program they intend to fund with the economy in the state it's in currently - Bryan
Yeah, I'm voting Obama, but he's still a politician willing to say what he thinks he needs to in order to get elected. This country is pretty much ruined--our economy is trashed, our military won't be able to pull out of Iraq as quickly as Obama is claiming--he's going to have an impossible time doing anything right. That said, McCain has 2+ decades of experience creating & reinforcing the current system that let to this mess. Let's vote for something that at least represents change. Just my 2¥. - thepete
Bryan, the key is that while Obama lowers taxes for all but the top 5%, those 5% do pay more. They don't pay a crazy amount more, but by virtue of the fact that half the nation's income is made by a very small sliver at the top, this modest increase compensates for the easing of the tax burden on the other 95%. This is the 'share the wealth socialism' that McCain keep talking about. It's up to each of us to decide whether its fair. I think it is. - Kevin Fox
Why not have a flat tax and have everyone pay 10% of what they make? - Csturm
My favorite part of the pitch is that he wants to do a complete audit of government spending and get rid of the programs that don't work. I don't hear that from McCain (who seems only focused on reducing earmarks, which, while I agree need to be reduced, make up a small percentage of total government spending). It seems to me that's how he will be able to afford new programs and the tax cuts, by getting rid of the stuff we don't need anyway. - Lindsay Donaghe
Caroll, I think everyone pays more than 10% now (except for those who are below the poverty line). That wouldn't work. I'm in favor of a consumption tax. You pay on what you spend instead of what you make. But neither candidate is interested in such a radical reform. - Lindsay Donaghe
He's not a leader, he just has followers who don't question or dig very deeply into the reality behind his rhetoric. - Andrew Leyden
I'm consistently shocked that the Republicans don't push for a flat tax. They are a party built on tax issues. To consistently propose tax agenda that pushes solidly for lower taxes for the top 5% of America, they shoot themselves in the foot. People seem to be in favor of tax fairness, but tax breaks for the wealthy just aren't going to be a winnable issues most years. - Occasional Headbanger
Consumption tax,wouldn't this tax the poor more? What would be excluded from a consumption tax? What would You put the rate at? - Csturm
Andrew, with all due respect, you're dead wrong. What "reality" aren't we digging into exactly? I believe strongly in progressive taxation, so it's not like I'm failing to understand what Obama proposes there (which is a rollback of recent tax cuts for the wealthy). Are you talking about bogeymen like Ayers/ACORN/etc.? - ⓞnor
Wow, an American politican actually talking about the issues that face the country and the policies he'll enact to address them. Of course, logic and reason seem wasted on American voters- he should have just called McCaina secret Muslim and a terrorist, that seems to be the only thing they understand. - Maverick
While everyone is blaming Republicans for the past 8 years of mistakes, Iraq and the economy, do not forget all their work was approved by the democrats in the house and the senate. The democrats give Bush ok to invade Iraq. The democrats allowed Greenspan to keep the interest rates low to create the housing bubble. So will Obama fix the American problems now that the democrats will have the house, the senate, and the presidency? I doubt it, they could have put a stop to these mistakes before! - Igor The Troll
Oh and the democrats did approve a tax cut for the 5% of the rich Americans! ;-) - Igor The Troll
Consumption tax. Why not just have ONE tax? NO Tax code required. No Tax on Food, but on everything else. Much less admin, so more tax money goes to fund projects and not the collectors. No Annual Tax return required. We all save a shedload of money there too. The rich spend more than the poor so they'd still pay more. - Ian May
Consumption taxes have big problems. The obvious one is that it is inherently regressive. No matter how high you set the floor on the policy, the people who make the least will pay a higher percentage. And it encourages a black-market. If you have to pay the price plus 20%, someone will offer the product for just the price and make a killing. - Occasional Headbanger
Anyone else notice that the video closes with "Barack Obama - President"? Given the kerfuffle over the rumor that he already has a draft of his inauguration speech, why give the GOP any more 'already measuring the curtains' fodder? That said, seeing the words gave me a happy chill down my spine. Maybe they figure the good chills overpower the bad. - Kevin Fox
OK so consumption tax could create a black market. However, income tax does the same in it's own way. I'll fix your widget, and you pay me cash, and no tax is paid on that income. So surely, same argument? - Ian May
My Pal Leo said - "I don't know how anyone can watch this and not think, "here is a great man, a serious thinker, and our best hope to rebuild America." Well Leo unfortunately, those who watch this and who are fixed in the GOP ideology won't bother to consider anything other than the talking points they already cling to. It's sad that some people will work against their own interests but every vote for McCain proves that folks do just that. - ScottBourne
I am not fixed in anyone's talking points or ideology. I have considered Obama and his party, and I find them lacking. I do find him to be a very clever politician, this video being evidence. Obama has used special interests and divisiveness the entire time he has climbed the political ladder, and I have no reason to believe he will suddenly change when he is elected President. - Charles LePage
Ian - It is the same thing to a degree. A consumption tax creates a system of organized crime. In order to be a illegal seller have to get the goods from somewhere. You have to setup shop and keep people from ratting on you. You have to have criminal employees. And organized crime typically leads to violence and other problems. A one off non-taxed transaction now just involves you and the service provider. There is less room for other criminal complications. - Occasional Headbanger
Are we voting for issues or for greatness? Maybe we should be electing Madonna? - Igor The Troll
It is clear to me Obama is taking the recent polls seriously, otherwise he would not be proposing a "top to bottom audit." He's trying to out-McCain John McCain, and most likely he will succeed. - Charles LePage
Keep in mind, though, I have never looked for a "great man" to "rebuild America," least of all someone who doesn't understand the role of the President, the role of the federal government, or the Constitution. Yes, Obama is serious thinker, but he's not great and he's not my hope. - Charles LePage
In the end, when he wins, Obama will have my prayers, not only that he accepts Christ as his Saviour, but that Obama helps us all understand that men, great or small, and government, are not the answer and not our hope. - Charles LePage
@thepete, unfortunately, your assessment is accurate. - Charles LePage
Hear hear, Chuck! The answer are the People! We need to educate ourselves not follow the heard! - Igor The Troll
@Occasional Headbanger, one recent example: he told his followers to get into people's faces if they thought those people were not going to vote for Obama. My wife was shopping yesterday at our local mall, and the three Obama supporters in line before her were harrassing the clerk trying to ring up their purchases, demanding she say she would vote for Obama. When she said she didn't want to talk about politics, they denounced her as a racist. - Charles LePage
Obama has spent his campaign time trying to turn his supporters against McCain supporters, the poor against the rich, and worst of all, blacks against whites. I don't believe he's seriously interested in ending partisanship when partisanship has been his bread and butter. - Charles LePage
Nothing new! On Friend Feed if you do not agree with an Obama A-Lister with support for Obama, you get blocked! ;-) - Igor The Troll
I am a registered Republican and I can admitt that this video is great. But I will not be voting for Obama ... I have had him as an IL state senator and a US Senator. Obama has done very little actual work. He is a great speaker and motivator, but not a good implementer or problem solver. He will probably surround himself with good people, but we said the same about W and Colin Powell. Obama does not get my vote - John Head
via twhirl
True on blocking people that do not like oboma. I have been blocked by many people. - Csturm
@comiclist: Are you serious? Obama is a Christian. Not that that should matter. What kind of BS have you been listening to? - Tanath
So he can help the next president start another war? I appreciate his endorsement of Obama and especially what he said aboutMuslim Americans (my 7 year-old did too). However Powell was a central figure in an Administration that invaded another country and led to the deaths of 100K Iraqi civilians. He is no less a war criminal than George Bush for doing so. - Farhan Memon
He was mistaken like the majority of American citizens. At least he realized it. He said today he worked to promote peace first, as well, and I'm inclined to believe him. - Sean Quinn
via twhirl
just another yes-man ... could a been a hero if he had the guts to stand up to bush ... would have been the run-away r candidate this year ... keep him out of any responsible position please .. sean quinn, america has had enough leaders no different than the majority of americans ... in a dumbed-down country, the majority is always wrong - Gregory Lent
won't help Obama. glad it won't too. this guy is such a liar. he is bitter because they lied to him... and it turns out he was lied to for a very good reason. he is angry. bitter white guy! lol too late to help. momentum is going McCain's way now... polls are a media mirage. watch. - ⓃⓄⒶⒽ ⒹⒶⓋⒾⒹ ⓈⒾⓂⓄⓃ
I think it was calculated to do just that - end up in the cabinet. Where's the "Change", from Biden on it's all Old Guard! - Victor Ryden
Powell's reasons were economic. Military peeps doing Economics,like Grab Ass'n boot camp. Colin "Don't Ask Don't Tell” - ⓃⓄⒶⒽ ⒹⒶⓋⒾⒹ ⓈⒾⓂⓄⓃ
For a second there my eyes deceived me and I thought that read 'Press the Meat' haha - Joe Dawson (beta)
You should like these guys. They've been tearing it up for years, and the new album is totally a step forward for them musically. I know Ed somewhat personally and he's a great guy in real life, too. Holla! - Justin Ward
I want to click on this headline just for the usage of "heady;" is that wrong? - Justin Ward
Hey Rick - Just found out that HRC and Barack are both gonna be where I'm gonna be tomorrow (Wilkes-Barre). Something tells me I should leave (very) early for the client meeting I have. Really wild around here! - Charlie Anzman
That's a good point. I'd say that I left Facebook lately much in the same way that LinkedIn and MySpace drove me away -- it just wasn't giving me any relevant and current information that I cared about. Having an activity stream of your friends is a little more like actually keeping up with them. - Justin Ward
I think the Facebook newsfeed just fails to tell me anything relevant. Letting me know that someone updated their profile picture is useless to me. That said, I think one of the biggest draws of Friendfeed is that the conversation is happening here. I never used to comment on blogs because I would forget to come back and see if anyone replied. Friendfeed does a great job of updating me on conversations in which I participated. - Christopher Sacca
@sacca i agree that the discussion on friendfeed is great and its even better that i can send to back to twitter where the dick started this - Fred Wilson
Would be great to add all this in blogs, don't you think? - David Álvarez
Fred- The Twitter use case you cite above though doesn't appeal to me. As much as I want to have a conversation with my friends on Twitter, the experience breaks down. Replies often don't make sense because recipients have different notification settings. Also, conversations don't end up in one place and require clicking to separate pages to get the proper context. If I were to create a 140 char version of this comment right now and send it back to Twitter readers of my page would have to work to catch up. - Christopher Sacca
I still use facebook so that I have my address book codified somewhere, but FriendFeed has killed any interest FB's newsfeed - patrick collison
DavidAlvarez, see http://disqus.com. (On that url, why do i always see and think “disgust”? Does this happen to anyone else?) - John Lam
