Posted 23:00 by Grote 0 comments

Duck and Cover!

Tonight I'm blogging the third and final debates. To be honest folks, I think this will be the dirtiest, have the most mudslinging and we're going to see some dirty tricks. Before we begin I'd like to invite you all to check back before you go vote as I'm going to break down the candidates, rant a little and tell you who I'm gonna vote for and why. Heck, it'll probably be a surprise for me, as I'm still not sure who I'm going to vote for. Also, feel free to check out MSNBC's Keith Olberman's blog of the debate. Some of you might remember him from SportsCenter or, if you're really smart his own shown on MSNBC, Countdown with Keith Olberman.

The format tonight will be on domestic issues, a two minute response with a one and a half minute rebuttal and then if the moderator, Bob Schieffer of CBS News, deems fit a 60 second re-rebuttal. I'll try to keep up, but going into this, I predict Kerry will win tonight debates. I'll try to put my snarky remarks/comments in italics. Largely due to the fact Republicans are generally weak on domestic issues. But also keep in mind, they're not running to be President of the debate club. Also, this is probably going to be targeting women, due to the fact that both the Yankees-Red Sox and Astros-Cardinals are on TV as week speak.

It's 9 pm on the East coast so Let's Get Ready to Rummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmble!

Question 1 Kerry: Will our children ever live in a world that is as safe and secure again? Kerry thanks everyone. Yes, we absolutely must be. Kerry brings up Iraq. Raise your hand if you're surprised. You, with your hand up, get out. Cargo Holds aren't X-rayed. He brings up lacking fire and policemen, which I believe is state/local issue. You can't afford to keep paying it federaly. It'll be too big. Bush brings up still hunting Al Queda. Brings up elections in Afghanistan. Yeah, way to start off a domestic policy debate there Bob. Kerry's Response, is the same song about letting Osama go.

Question 2 Bush: We have a severe shortage of Flu vaccine, how did that happen? We relied upon a flu vaccine from England that was contaminted. If you're healthy don't get a flu vaccine. Let us get the flu shots to people who need them. Vaccine manf. are worried about getting sued, so they've backed off making the vaccines we need. Kerry, brings up how 5 million who have lost health insurance. Which is an important issue, but doesn't really answer the question. Bush points out that we can't afford to pay 5 trillion dollars over 10 years to get the same plan that Congressmen and Senators have. Kerry says those who can afford it can buy into it.

Question 3 Kerry: How can you or any president pledge not to raise taxes without plunging the country into debt? Reinstate the pay as you go plan. If you pass a spending bill you have to prove where you're getting the money for it. That's actually a good idea, I'm all for fiscal responsibility. He also wants to close loopholes, change student loan rules. Bush: Doesn't come out and use the phrase "tax and spend liberal" but shure as hell paints the picture when them purdy words. ;)

Question 4 Bush: What do you say to someone who has lost his job to someone overseas who is being paid a fraction of what you were? Training for 21st century jobs, funding for education. Raise the standards of education. Emphasize math and science in the classrooms. Give them help, don't promise them a job but give them the training to get that job. Kerry goes back to fiscal responsibity, and about health care cost and not about jobs. Yeah, he agrees with the president but doesn't want to say it.

Question 5 Kerry: Is it fair to blame the adminstration for the loss of jobs? He don't blame them entirely. He has not promised he will not stop outsourcing. But he will remove the outsourcing via tax loopholes. Lower taxes on corporations and level the global trading playing field. Bush: We didn't cut pell grants, we increased pell grants. Reduced the marriage penalty. Raised the lower-class tax bracket. More, about Kerry's rhetoric vs. record. Kerry: "Supported tax cuts and reliefs 600 times" Pell Grants went up because more people need them. Bush and Kerry argue on what he's voted for and how many times.

Question 6 Bush: Do you believe homosexuality is a choice? I don't know. Consenting adults should be allowed to live the way they want to live but we must protect the santicty(sp?) of marriage. Here's my problem with it Marriage should be a religious and not a governmental issue. The government should just recognize unions. Churches should recognize marriage. Kerry: We're all God's children, but I don't believe that it is a choice. People have hidden how we really are. We can't discriminate against gays in the work force or in hospitals.

Question 7 Kerry: What is your reaction to priests telling their congregation that it is a sin to vote for Kerry? He can't in good conscience transfer his faith to another person. Kerry (and myself) believes that a woman's right to choose is between her, God, and her doctor. Kerry reaffirms his Catholism. Bush: Pushes the partial birth abortion ban. Which I also believe in, this is not a 6 week fetus but a fetus that can survive and thrive on its own, and it's barbaric.

Question 8 Bush: Health insurance has risen 36% Who's responsibilty is it? Health care costs are on the rise because consumers are not involved in the decision making process. He pushes Health-care savings. We need to reform the liability of health care. Moving generic drugs to the market quicker. Kerry: Senate passed the right to get less expensive drugs from Canada and negotiate lower drug costs via medicare. My problem with the Canada plan is that we're not always sure *what* we're getting from Canada. If someone gets bad drugs from Canada then what? Who's fault is that? Kerry and Bush again fight over what Kerry has or hasn't done in the Senate. SHUT. UP.

Question 9 Kerry: Where are you going to get the money for your health care plan? He gives the country a choice. You choose your doctor, you choose your plan. He keeps saying if you choose to but you don't have to. But implies that if you don't you're a dumb ass. But he doesn't answer the question. He dances around it but he doesn't answer it. Bush begins to zing Kerry and let's it go midstream, probably a smart choice. Bush brings up that 8 million people will go from private insurance to government insurance. Kerry keeps promising not to have a government run health care plan.

Question 10 Bush: Where do we get the money to keep funding Social Security? If you're old, you'll still get your checks. He pushes the personal savings account. Knowing I won't see my S.S. I like the personal savings account. I'd like to know that the money I'm paying now is mine. Kerry: Says if we let young people take out Social Security we'd have a huge hole. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SEE MY MONEY ANYWAY! I want a reason why I should keep throwing $200 a check into a money pit that doesn't involve a video game or computer system.

Question 11 Kerry: If you say no changes does this mean you're going to ignore the problem? Kerry refuses to say what needs to be done. Kerry says we'll wait until Social Security is in trouble. Sir, Social Security is in trouble NOW. If you want your children or twenty and thirty somethings to see their Social Security benefits we need to fix it now. Bush, pushes his tax relief. Presidential Politics 101 folks, don't anger old people they complain and vote. Therefore, don't say what really needs to be said, we need to raise the retirement age.

Question 12 Bush: How do you see illegal immgration? He sees it as a human rights, security and economic issues. He's increased border patrols. He wants a temporary worker card to fill employers needs as long as a citizen doesn't want the job. Allow them to go back and forth to see their famillies. We shouldn't allow amnesty for illegal immigrants because others are waiting in line legally. Kerry goes back to the previous question. On immigration: we need to toughen up our borders and we need to crack down on illegal hiring. Bush and Kerry argue whether or not the borders are more open than they were before 9/11.

Question 13 Kerry: The gap between rich and poor is growing. Should we raise the minimum wage? Yes we should. If we raise the min. wage over the next 7 years to $7.00/hour wworking mothers get x amount of dollars I missed it --sorry per year. The problem with this is if we raise the min. wage, prices are going to go up so small businesses can afford it. It's a catch 22. Bush brings up the no child left behind act, is a job act. We now want to raise standards and stop shuffling kids through the schools and spend the money to correct the problem.

Question 14 Bush: Will you overturn Roe V. Wade? Bush will not have a litmus test for his judges. That's it. Doesn't say anything else. Kerry will not appoint a judge that will not overutrn a constitutional right. Except the right to choose is not a Constitutional right. Bush takes Kerry to task for having a litmus test. They keep talking about No child left behind during a question about Roe v. Wade. Bob seems frustrated.

Question 15 Kerry: Our forces are being strained, due to a back door draft. Is there any relief in sight for our National Guard and Reservists? 9/10ths of our divisions are either in, going to or coming from Iraq. Kerry wants one more active duty division, and one more reserve division. Kerry wants to share the burden in Iraq. However, he doesn't provide a clear plan on how to do it. Bush dances around the issue. Kerry takes Bush to task about his accusing Kerry of turning American security decisions over to another country. Bush brings up Kerry voting against going into Iraq in '90

Question 16 Bush:Why didn't Bush encourage the assault weapon ban? Bush was going to sign it but both sides of the aisle said it wasn't going to move. Kerry blames the president for not having the leadership to push the ban through Congress. Although he didn't make that much noise about passing that law. Sorry, but that's your and your colleagues fault Mr. Kerry. If CONGRESS had passed the ban, he'd sign it.

Question 17 Kerry: Do we need Affirmative Action Programs? We still need them, regrettably. We've made progress but we still need it. "Mend it don't end it." He points out that the President hasn't met with the NAACP. Bush claims he's met with the Black Congressional Caucaus. Bush pushes his record. Here's my problem with Affirmative Action. Isn't it basically racist? Doesn't it say that if you need assistance to get a job, you're not good enough to get that job?

Question 18 Bush: What part does your faith play in your policy decisions? Bush prays every day and it has a large part in his daily life. Whether your Christian, Jew or Muslim you're equal in America and that's great about our nation. He's happy that people pray for him and his family. He doesn't push his religion on anyone else. Kerry respects everything that he's said, and that he shares his faith. "Everything is a gift from the almighty." So who do the athiests vote for now? Nader? I kid. I kid.

Question 19 Kerry: If you were elected President will you set a priority to bring the nation together? Kerry was impressed with the way Bush handled the days after 9/11. The country is divided more than it has been in recent memory. Lot's of rhetoric that's nearly impossible to sum up. Sorry. Bush lists his bipartisan efforts during his administration. Bush blames the system and how people just dig in. Bush seems to blame this on a phase the country is going through.

Question 20 Bush: What is the most important thing you've learned from the Women around you? Listen to them. To stand up straight and not scowl. Bush goes on and on about how wonderful his wife is (AWW). Kerry says that they all married up. Him in more ways than one (wink). He also talks about his mom's dying words to him "Integrity, Integrity, Integrity." Its a lot of healthy self-depreciation.

Closing Statements Kerry: America is being tested and like FDR I don't care whether or not a good idear(sic) is a Republican idear or Democratic idear. We can have health care for all Americans. I will not allow another country to have a veto over our country. I believe america can do better. I ask you to embark on that journey with me.

Closing Statement Bush: Bush waxes poetic about a painting in his office that shows a sunrise. He believes that a new day is dawning that we're coming out of the storm. Over the next four years we'll make sure health care is affordable. We'll spread freedom and liberty. We'll convert a hostile world to a peaceful world.

Ok, so my final score: I'd say Bush 10 Kerry 10. It was very close. Neither seemed to have a clear advatange from this blogger's point of view. Both had their moments of clarity and moments when I agreed with them. Both also had their SHUT. UP. moments. I'll have my endorsment ready to go by the Sunday before the election. If nothing else, it'll give me time to empty my e-mail box in anticipation of all the hate mail. Until next time!