share.triangle.com - Will North Carolina go blue? - Comments

Executive Experience and the Truth

yogagirl — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:59:27 -0400

Belle needs to exercise a bit of restraint and a lot of research. Politifact.org and FactCheck.org have tested the claims of both candidates and found that the McCain campaign registers 6 lies to the Obama campaign of one. Obama has my vote for several reasons, one of which is that he has run a campaign on the high road. McCain has paved over what was once an honorable reputation with a ruthless campaign of dishonesty and fear mongering.

As to experience, GWB had served two terms as governor of Texas. How did all that "executive experience" work for you or for our country. He's been a disaster.

Obama brings a different set of skills to leadership (which is broader than executive experience). He brings brilliance to diagnose issues. He brings judgment to analyse the problems and prioritize the issues. He brings a tactical sense about how to bring skilled and knowledgeable people to solve the problems. And then he puts his plan into action. Just judge the two campaigns. Obama's was flawless; McCain's was not so much.

Go Obama! Go America!

I hope that the people of NC

Visitor — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:20:09 -0400

I hope that the people of NC wake up in the next week. Growing up in Massachusetts (NC transplant) I have seen first hand what a "tax and spend" liberal is going to do to our economy. If you think it's bad now come up to MA and see what Obama's boy Deval Patrick has done to my state. The economy is even worse than the country's. His campaign was also a campaign of "change" and so far it has been a failure. On another note Harvard University has recently given the Obama campaign 500G. So if the good people of a great Southern state want the Harvard elitists running the show for the next 4 or 8 years vote for Obama. I've lived in the shadows of "Harvard people" for most of my life and the results have not been pretty. They thumb their nose at most common folk.

Doesn't matter

Freedom fighter — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:42:31 -0400

Both Obama and McCain are socialists. It won't matter which of them gets into office; the middle class will be driven into poverty. It's already started and we're to blame.

North Carolina : red or blue

Wayne — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:10:04 -0400

It's simply a matter of color. Blacks represent 22% of the population in North Carolina and at least 90% of black voters are in favor of Obama. This strength will be enough to swing the color to a blue state this year. The issues are secondary. The black population want to vote for a black candidate. This is their fist opportunaty to help their race achieve this level of power in the government and they will not let it pass. Another opportunity may not happen again in their lifetime.
Wayne Spaulding
Franklinton, NC

Going Blue

Ken — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:02:59 -0400

Discounting the front runner’s margin with the “Bradley effect” which is sure to play a part in the final voter tallies for president and the fact that President Jimmy Carter was the last Democratic President to win NC since 1976 largely due to fact that he is a conservative Democrat—NC will go blue by a respectable margin in the November 4th, 2008 Presidential election.

Senator Obama is not necessarily winning NC as much as McCain/Palin are losing the electoral votes. Therefore with a strong African American vote, a medium to mild conservative vote, a strong vote from the “in the middle moderates” and a deciding vote from the independents. North Carolina will go blue this time around.

We know southern states traditionally vote conservative when given the opportunity to do so—conservatism and liberalism can be interpreted in many ways. And the culture of present Republican Party nominees for president and vice-president leaves many of us scratching our heads as to what it means to be a conservative.

Nevertheless, North Carolina will remain for sometime to come a “bible belt” conservative voting state and will most likely sway back and forth between conservatism and liberalism for maybe the next ten to twenty years, regardless of the nominees party affiliation. This fact is attributed to this election being the tipping point for this trend and the more conservative “baby boomers” fading from the scene with more moderate to liberal players eventually taking center stage in the southern states.

"Big Government"

Ben — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:02:45 -0400

Can someone here name 3 characteristics of "Big Government"?

It seems to be a highly general phrase that is thrown around alot. Isn't the government already big?

It seems to me we need to cut spending where we can. One place is all those pretty new weapons systems we always buy. Another is all that debt we owe to the Chinese and other lenders. Possibly we can cut the government staff by 5 percent per year until it is 50% of 2008 levels.

When someone says "Big Government" aren't they really meaning the humongous budget? Four main things make it up:

1. Interest on the debt

2. Military Spending

3. Entitlements (Social Security/Medicare/etc)

4. Other stuff (Departments of Interior, Energy, Homeland Security, etc)

So what part would you cut?

Hint: Blue will cut #2, Red will cut #3. Both will trim #4. The smart president will work with lenders to restructure #1.

I'll be voting for McCain

Visitor — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:24:28 -0400

I'm registered as Unaffiliated, but only because the Libertarian party was disenfranchised a few years ago by the state. Anyway, I believe in a smaller government, and that's why I'll be voting for McCain. I'd vote for Bob Barr if the election weren't so close, but McCain's getting my vote in this case. The prospects of an Obama presidency are just too frightening for me.

Voting from the heart.

Austin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:19:14 -0400

Back in '84 I remember staying with my grandmother in Johnston County one weekend. One afternoon, I remember seeing a political ad that sparked a debate between us. I really believed in Ronald Regan, and although only 9 years old at the time identified with the Republican party. My grandmother was visibly upset with my enthusiasm for the "Great Communicator." It just seemed like everyone at my school felt the same way. One boy on my bus got everyone chanting "Mondale Sucks!" one morning on our way to school. Although my fellow school kids and I were only repeating our parent's political views, it seemed like everyone was backing Regan instead of Mondale.

I asked her why this bothered her. She replied that she had been a democrat since women were allowed to vote. She explained that the Democrats used to be a party that stood up for the working man ( especially farmers, like her and my grandfather). But something happened in the 60's. At that point in time the focus shifted, and the Republican party became the new friend of the southern farmer. She reminded us that we were not alive during the Great Depression, and would not under understand what it meant to have people in political power that really cared for the working man. (She thought Roosevelt was great!) Her opinion was that all too often, politicians claimed to care for their constituents long enough to get them elected, but rarely showed love after November 4th. At the time, we just agreed to disagree and furthermore decided that we would avoid talking about politics in the future.

Twenty four years later, I think back to that conversation. Now I am adult, with my own family here in North Carolina. Like many of you, I cringed at paying $4+ a gallon of gas this year. On my drive to work every day, I pass by an old textile factory that is being demolished - since jobs were shipped off to China several years ago. My wife & I are working three jobs in order to save enough money to purchase our first home, since good mortgages are quickly disappearing.

I am worried about our future, because this isn't what I wanted for North Carolina. I am interested in change, but I believe that we need to take care of business locally before we ship billions of dollars overseas. That's why I am joiningCoach Dean Smithand his wife in voting for Barak Obama this year.

Thanks for taking the time to read my story.

*also remember that North Carolina was a blue state from 1932 all the way to 1968, when it switched to red in order to vote Richard Nixon into office.

VOTE BLUE TO BRING OUR TROOPS HOME

Visitor — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:47:55 -0400

As this election nears the Obama campaign needs every single vote to turn NC blue. Please if you have not registered go to an early voting site and get registered. NC if you vote for no other reason VOTE TO BRING OUR TROOPS HOME which OBAMA will do in a respectful and methodical way. As a prior veteran these men and women have done what was expected of them. It is wrong for us to keep them on the streets of a country being police officers. That is not what the American military men signed up for. They have successfully done what we went to do. It is up to Iraq if they want to be civil and free we have paved the road. LETS NOT SACRIFICE ANOTHER LIFE, VOTE OBAMA!

Bright Blue

Visitor — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:22:50 -0400

Go Obama!

OBAMA ALL THE WAY! WAKE UP

Visitor — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:38:51 -0400

OBAMA ALL THE WAY! WAKE UP NC, WE NEED CHANGE AND SOMEONE THAT CAN BRING THAT CHANGE AND I AM SORRY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOMINATED JOHN MCCAIN BUT HE IS NOT THE MAN FOR THE JOB WE NEED DONE. NC WILL BE BLUE ON NOV 4TH!

I really hope NC goes Blue.

Visitor — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:41:52 -0400

I really hope NC goes Blue. I am so tired of tax breaks for the wealthy and bailouts for big business. It's time to help out the middle class. McCain's plans to cut taxes further for big business is helping the wrong end of the pyramid. A strong middle class creates consumers which will boost businesses. I really think we need to try "trickle up" and not keep trying "trickle down" when it hasn't worked! Obama cares about the middle class. McCain cares about his wealthy buddies!

More data for Red and Blue

Ben — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:55:58 -0400

http://www.opensecrets.org/index.php

Here is another website - it is independent. It shows where each candidate's contribution money comes from, at every level, in every race - even the local races.

I checked it and shared a bit with my few ardent Republican family members. McCain's biggest contributors are lobbyists and big oil. Obama's biggest are legal, education, and technology sectors.

It's a great site for info no matter who your choice is.

Ben

Blue vs. Red

David Arny — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:09:38 -0400

NC is a great state. I lived in Raleigh (1976-1985) and Greenville (1985-1991) and enjoyed your fine state. NC has a strong sense of family values, of which I am proud. While Sen. Obama is articulate and poised, he is rated the most liberal senator in the US Senate. Whether this is on fiscal grounds or moral grounds, I think NC should really consider who they send to the White House. We do not need the most financially liberal president at this time in our nation's history. We also do not need the most morally liberal president to set values for our families. We need strong Christian values as a base for our state and nation. Finally, we do not need a liberal president who will appoint liberal judges to the highest court in the land and who will be in positions of authority long after the president is gone.

I hope NC goes blue.McCain's

Visitor — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:31:30 -0400

I hope NC goes blue.McCain's decision to choose Palin as his running mate shows that he is crazy. Palin does not deserve to be VP. She is uneducated! She barely finished college. Her personal life is a mess. She is not a role model for woman. If they are elected, America will fall apart! We can not let this happen. Americans are too smart.

Will North Carolina go blue?

vdenton58 — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:59:51 -0400

North Carolina hasn’t voted for a Democrat for president since the state went for Jimmy Carter in 1976. This year, Republican John McCain faces a strong challenge from Democrat Barack Obama and some think the state will go from a red state on the political map to a blue one. Tell us what you think. Will North Carolina go blue or stay red? Give us in 200 to 250 words what you see happening politically to support your prediction. We’re looking for two good essays to use in our Sunday Focus report this Sunday. Join a discussion at share.triangle.com/bluestate. All letters submitted become the property of The News & Observer.

Check out this online voter's guide HERE.

North Carolina hasn’t voted for a Democrat for president since the state went for Jimmy Carter in 1976. This year, Republican John McCain faces a…