A Letter
Dear 'Joe the Plumber' ...
Jennifer the Writer here, and I'm sure you've been inundated with mail this evening, so I'll make this debate review brief. Also, you're probably consumed with the nets' distracting dial test line graphs and random battleground focus groups. So I won't keep you long.
John McCain unloaded his strongest direct criticism yet of Barack Obama tonight:, finally raising Bill Ayers and ACORN and asserting that Obama hasn't been forthcoming with his associations. He painted the Democrat as a rampant tax and spender, calling him "Senator Government." And in perhaps his toughest line of the night, he pushed back against Obama's assertion that a McCain presidency would provide four more years of Bush administration policies.
"Sen. Obama, I am not President Bush," McCain said. "If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should've run four years ago."
McCain noted, too, that he's disappointed that Treasury Sec. Henry Paulson and the administration haven't moved to help families pay their mortgages and stay in their homes.
Obama, by contrast, resisted the fight. Even when McCain prodded him on. He stuck to script, pushing his health care plan and middle class tax cut and making the case that McCain has supported four of five Bush budgets, a sign of his consistent endorsement of the president's economic policies.
The candidates had a vigorous debate about abortion, a topic that hadn't been raised in their prior two meetings but about which they strongly disagree.
Here's the thing, though. McCain is losing Indie voters and women in several national polls, including the most recent Diageo/Hotline tracking polls. What our poll also revealed is that Obama has a 19-point advantage on the question of who is better suited to address the nation's economic struggles.
So, did McCain do what he needed to do to present his economic plan? Did he reach out to women and swing voters? These questions should provide the metric for assessing this debate and McCain's performance, in particular.
I'm going to let you, Joe, determine if McCain did enough to win your trust and your vote. I'll say this, he was strong but did not force a flub from Obama. And with 19 days until voters go to the polls, McCain needed to recast the conversation or introduce new information about Obama. Did he do either?
All the best,
Jennifer
McCain came off again as the dottering old man that was not able to say one new thing, much less to formulate a new thought in the old head. I am amazed how people who will vote for him expect him to hold office in the highest office in the land. There is no fool like a old fool.
McCain can not hold a candle to Obama. McCain is not in the same intellectual, moral, ethical, or educational league as Obama.
McCain's judgement shows how it is lacking when he picked airhead Palin. What a know nothing she is. She is an embarrassment to America.
Everybody needs to vote. And do not count on the election not be stolen a third time by the GOP.
McCain came off again as the dottering old man that was not able to say one new thing, much less to formulate a new thought in the old head. I am amazed how people who will vote for him expect him to hold office in the highest office in the land. There is no fool like a old fool.
McCain can not hold a candle to Obama. McCain is not in the same intellectual, moral, ethical, or educational league as Obama.
McCain's judgement shows how it is lacking when he picked airhead Palin. What a know nothing she is. She is an embarrassment to America.
Everybody needs to vote. And do not count on the election not be stolen a third time by the GOP.
McCain came off again as the dottering old man that was not able to say one new thing, much less to formulate a new thought in the old head. I am amazed how people who will vote for him expect him to hold office in the highest office in the land. There is no fool like a old fool.
McCain can not hold a candle to Obama. McCain is not in the same intellectual, moral, ethical, or educational league as Obama.
McCain's judgement shows how it is lacking when he picked airhead Palin. What a know nothing she is. She is an embarrassment to America.
Everybody needs to vote. And do not count on the election not be stolen a third time by the GOP.
McCain came off again as the dottering old man that was not able to say one new thing, much less to formulate a new thought in the old head. I am amazed how people who will vote for him expect him to hold office in the highest office in the land. There is no fool like a old fool.
McCain can not hold a candle to Obama. McCain is not in the same intellectual, moral, ethical, or educational league as Obama.
McCain's judgement shows how it is lacking when he picked airhead Palin. What a know nothing she is. She is an embarrassment to America.
Everybody needs to vote. And do not count on the election not be stolen a third time by the GOP.
I am Sick of the News Media and Actors trying to control who is going to be elected.
I will vote based on whom ever they are against. After all, they did elect ... hummmm NOBODY !!!
I am Sick of the News Media and Actors trying to control who is going to be elected.
I will vote based on whom ever they are against. After all, they did elect ... hummmm NOBODY !!!
Dear Joe the Plumber... I'm afraid that you've fallen victim to the intentional misrepresentation and fear mongering of John McCain. You say that you want to purchase the company that you currently work for, but you couldn't afford to with Barak Obama's additional tax burden. Huh? What's up with that? His additional tax applies only to small businesses that earn more than $250k per year. And - the higher tax bracket is only 3% more than the current, meaning that any additional profits you make above $250k would be taxed at 39% rather than the current 36%. So, if your company were to earn a profit of, say, $300,000 your tax liability would increase by a whopping $1,500 ($50k x 39% instead of $50k x 36%). If that additional tax liability of $1,500 is going to turn you away from purchasing a company that's going to give you $300k in profits (before tax) then you're not very business savvy and it's better that you not undertake to become your own boss anyway. Perhaps you've forgotten that tax is on profits, not on gross sales. Give it some thought, and try not to get lost in the McCain-Palin smoke.
Good wishes, and good luck in your decision!
Striider
A European view; the disappointment we Europeans felt when George Bush was reelected 4 years ago is slowly fading away. At the time we did not understand why despite a clear lack of intellectual capacities Mr Bush was reelected. Now though we are seeing light at the end of the 8 year old tunnel again since it looks like Barack Obama is gonna be the new president. This will re-establish the feeling with many Europeans that the USA is led again by a man with intellect and a real sense of the global role the USA plays.Sure he lacks some experience but his personality and intellect will bridge gaps both nationally as internationally. Hope is around again,not just for the USA, for all of us!
JOHN McCAIN IS ANGRY!!! WELL SO ARE WE!!! ALL OF THE HARDWORKING JOE THE PLUMBERS AND THEIR WIVES IN THIS COUNTRY ARE FURIOUS!!! THE MEDIA AND THE PEOPLE THEY SUCK UP TO IN WASHINGTON D.C. HAVE A TOTAL DISREGARD AND DISRESPECT FOR OUR HARD WORK AND OUR MONEY!!!
AND BARACK OBAMA KEEPS ON TALKING ABOUT SPENDING AND TAXING AND NOW "BECAUSE OF BUSH'S FAILED ECONOMIC POLICY" OBAMA WILL NOT GIVE THE MIDDLECLASS TAX CUTS BUT WILL TAX THEM UP TO 65%!!! I CANNOT LIVE, MUCH LESS EXPAND A BUSINESS OR CREATE NEW JOBS ON 35% OF OUR INCOME. BUT I GUESS THATS WHAT YOU WANT SO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE "FORCED" TO TAKE OVER OUR LIVES. BUT WHAT'S THE USE ANYWAY IF OBAMA IS ELECTED - WE ARE FOLDING UP SHOP AND THE JOBS WE PROVIDE WILL DISAPPEAR BECAUSE WHAT IS THE USE OF WORKING OUR ASSES OFF WHEN WE COULD BE ON THE RECIEVING INSTEAD OF THE TAKING END OF THE NOT SO "GREAT" OBAMINATION GOVERNMENT. ANYONE WHO VOTES FOR OBAMA AFTER THIS MUST HAVE A TOTAL DISCONNECT IN THEIR BRAIN FROM REALITY AND COMMONSENSE.
The Democrats, NOW and the Arrogant Obama have lost this woman. Their SEXIST, derogatory,flippant and arrogant treatment re: the intelligence and executive capabilities of the women running for office were far what should ever be accepted by women this election! It was too bad that McCain did not bring up THE FACT that Obama pays the women who work for him an average of LESS than 80% of what the men make, while the highly intelligent and capable women hired by McCain actually make more on average than the men!!!
McCain not only realizes the capabilities of women and but he also has a better grasp of the needs of families re: economics/education/defense.
Obama reminds me of a snake,all slippery words and deception. McCain may lack Obama's debating skills,BUT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS IN MY BOOK AND THAT IS WHY I AM VOTING FOR McCAIN/PALIN.
Go Obama, Spread the wealth of those rich pigs around. Thats why I came to this country in the first place, thats why I bring my familia and all my freinds to this country. By the way Joe the Plumber is a single parent, dumb gringos. Eat less, put air in yur tires, and teach you children to speak spanish it will be good for them and America.
Dear Plumber's "wife"
Those of us voting Obama that have a total disconnect in their brain from reality and common sense shudder to think of the condition therefore, of those voting McCain and his same old same old Policies
As someone mentioned earlier, you are taxed on your profits (Income net expenses) as it has always been done. It appears to me that McCain camp really appeals to the uninformed..This is why I shudder to think of what is in the head of the McCAint voters
...i am so fed up with the debates, mud slinging, lies and hate no matter who it comes from dems or repubs! why can't we as americans take a deep breath - accept obama/biden as our new presidential team of our great country and move on!
mccain/palin/bush...swallow your pride,concede and realize the obvious...according to the polls and the electorial map...the majority has already made the decision.
I'm not going to repeat everything that's been repeated over and over again already. I just want to spout that I am sick to death of working my metaphoric fingers to the bone only to have nothing to show for it.
I haven't been able to save for retirement because my health care isn't affordable. I don't live beyond my means. I make a measly $32,000 a year. Take $9,000 of that away for the cost of my health insurance. Take another $1000 away for deductibles, never mind the co-pay, never mind the 20% the insurance says is my responsibility after they pay their share. Then I have to fight with my insurance company (one of the largest hospital groups on the US-- Avera McKennan in South Dakota (who doesn't even pay for holidays, it comes out of our PTO!)-a religious based hospital who claims they care about their employees-HAH!) about "pre-existing conditions". I hurt my shoulder in June of '08. I wasn't covered from March of '07 to March of '08. Because of this, the tears in my rotator cuff and long head of the bicep were a "pre-existing condition"?! I'm looking at a bill that starts at $20,000 and it keeps getting higher because PT is endless after this kind of surgery!
Let's get health care reform in here now. It's time for medicine to work for the people and not the insurance companies! Let's stop insurance companies from bilking the citizens of the US.
Also, I've been wanting to get my four year degree in Medical Technology, but I'm hesitant because of what I have to pay for now in student loans. How am I going to be able to swing an additional $40,000 to my existing $27,000 in student loans. I have a family to feed. Sure the BA would definitely get me better pay, but only by a mere 50 cents!
Then there's the cost for groceries, fuel (thank goodness we live in a small town-- most places we walk!), clothing, housing, utilities, and necessities. All this after 26% taxes is deducted after health care deductions! By time the budget is finished, we are left with little to nothing! We don't live outside of our means, we can barely live within our means. This is thanks to the "trickle down effect" of Bush's administration. I hear McCain talk about his policies and it's so reminiscent of Bush's that he scares me!
Joe the Plumber-- wake up and smell the coffee. Taxes are on your net profits, not your gross income. If you haven't been able to figure that out, then why are you even thinking about buying into your own business? It's basic bookkeeping.
McCain concentrates on twisting Obama's ideas and character. He doesn't seem to want to get the facts, just plain intent on a smear campaign. It may have worked for Bush, shame on him, but it's really leaving a sour taste in my mouth that won't go away. I was all for McCain, but after seeing him and Palin? All I can say is "Please, Lord, have mercy on this country if they should win!"
Dear "JOE THE PLUMBER'S WIFE":
You typify exactly the biggest problem of the American people: ignorance.
Where on earth did you come up with that absurd assertion that Barak Obama's tax plan would tax you, middle-class America, up to 65%? That is ridiculous, and you owe it to yourself to become better informed before you continue to display your ignorance. If you, or your business, have profits exceeding $250,000, then your tax on the excess of the $250k would increase from the current 36% to 39%. There's no provision for you being taxed at 65%.
I suggest that you spend less time working your ass off, and more on education - yours!