20 Questions for the 2008 Elections

Cogratulations Obama, Condolences McCain & May God Bless America

2008-11-04T22:35:00.000-08:00

After 20 days of posing hard questions about this election and Barack Obama, I would be remiss to not share my thoughts on this historic evening.

Sincere congratulations to President-Elect Obama. May God guide you and protect you with his wisdom and power. While you did not win my vote and I remain leery of your intentions and suspicious of your qualifications and associations, beginning on the day you take office you will have my support as President of the United States. And as with all elected leaders past, present and future, you will have a fair opportunity to keep or to lose my support. I sincerely wish you success in achieving the former.

You deserve the respect of America and the world for delivering what I pray will be the final blow to the cancer of active racism that has plagued our nation since its inception. For that, you have earned a special page in history.

We should all take you up on your promise tonight to listen to America’s citizens, especially when we disagree. Where we differ, let there be honest, robust and respectful discourse but not divisiveness. May we work together to find solutions to the great challenges of our time.

As we move forward from this long, impassioned battle for the White House, let’s all return our focus to the serious issues we face. In so doing, let’s not tear down those with whom we disagree, but let us lift up our ideas and ideals. Let us turn from politics of division to politics of vision.

I believe this must become the platform of the Republican Party and conservative Americans if we are to recover the support and confidence of Americans in elections ahead.

In the inspirational example that is the life story of John McCain, let us always put our country first and work together as Americans in a spirit of service, camaraderie and integrity that can ensure America remains that shining city on a hill thriving by the grace of God in the blanket of freedom.

On this blog and in my support of John McCain, I have tried to not overstep the boundary between ungrounded personal attacks and the need, the responsibility of all citizens to hold our leaders and those who seek to be our leaders accountable for their statements and actions. I hope I have not faltered in this regard, and I hope America can rise above such temptations by always keeping to the higher ground even during our most fervent disagreements.

God bless America.

Is This Election Really Pivotal? - Question 20 - 1 Day Left Until the Election

2008-11-03T19:48:00.000-08:00

Every four years we hear that THIS is the most important election we have seen in years. Is that true this year?

Vote in the poll to the right ------------------------>

And if so, who will you vote for and why? What do you believe makes this election so pivotal? And what have you done to influence the outcome? Will you work to get voters who share your position out to the polls on Election Day?

If not, why not?

Share thoughts via a comment below.

Is Barrack Obama Ready? - Question 19 - 2 Days Until the Election

2008-11-02T23:03:00.000-08:00

Is Barrack Obama ready to be an effective, successful President of the United States?

Share why or why not in a comment below.

Vote in the poll to the right ------->

Can You Sway an Undecided? - Question 18 - 3 Days Until the Election

2008-11-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

Do you feel comfortable and confident talking to an undecided voter?

Vote in side poll, but more importantly, read on and share answers in a comment.

As many as 1 in 7 voters (14+%) remain undecided at the time of this post; the election will be decided by which way these voters "break". When you look at the polling numbers that include Nader, McCain is within the margin of error against Obama nationally (about 47.5% Obama to 44% McCain with almost 3% Nader), and the numbers are similar in most battleground states.

So it's easy to see the importance of the currently undecided voters. Most experts believe when considering all the accolades, all the press, all the grassroots efforts and all the ads for Obama, that if a voter hasn't already decided they can support him by now, they never will - and will vote McCain. But, they may need just a small nudge.

How can YOU give them that little nudge?

I've had a lot of success with one simple question:

"Can you tell me three things that Obama has achieved in government that qualify him to occupy the Oval office?"

That's a fair and reasonable question. Most of us have had to answer that question during a job interview, so shouldn't a candidate for President of the United States be able to do the same?

But in my experience, even staunch Obama supporters tend to stammer and stagger at this question. Especially, if you don't let them list being hired or elected to previous positions as an "achievement."

For example, getting elected to the Senate doesn't count as an achievement that by itself makes someone qualified to be President, just like being hired to work on an assembly line doesn't count as an achievement that by itself qualifies someone to be Plant Manager. You have to DO SOMETHING, accomplish something in previous positions to demonstrate your ability to perform well at the next level.

Similarly, having ideas and saying great things doesn't qualify someone for a position. I've had some great ideas about how airlines could increase their revenue and how cities could eliminate ruch hour traffic problems - but the ideas alone don't make me ready to be CEO of an airline or City Manager in any city facing traffic problems.

So again, what three things has Barack Obama achieved in government that qualify him to be Commander-in-Chief?

Is the Race Over? - Q#17 - 4 Days Left

2008-10-31T23:21:00.000-07:00

Do you believe the mainstream media's propoganda claiming the Presidential race is all but over and McCain has no chance to win?

Vote in the poll to the right ------->

And share thoughts in a comment below.

Who Best Reflects Your Values? - Q#16 - 5 Days Left

2008-10-30T20:52:00.000-07:00

Which Presidential Candidate Most Closely Shares Your Values and Worldview?
And how sure of that are you?

Vote on the first question in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Share thoughts on the second question via a comment by clicking "comments" below.

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.And look back to this space tomorrow for thoughts on this question.

Is a Liberal Supermajority Led by Obama Best for America - Q#15 - 6 Days Left

2008-10-29T23:29:00.000-07:00

Do you believe enough voters have considered the ramifications of electing Obama, the most liberal candidate in modern times, to be President at the same time that the Democrat-controlled Congress (with it's approval rating hovering near its all-time low of 16 percent) led by liberals Pelosi and Reed may gain a filibuster-proof "Supermajority"?

If you want to know about what is at stake with Obama in the Oval office and Pelosi-Reed in control of Congress, read:

This article about the consequences for the judicial system, Supreme Court and Constitution.

and

This article about the legislation a Supermajority will likely enact within the next 2 years.

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

And look back to this space tomorrow for thoughts on this question.

Is Obama Experienced Enough, Especially Without Usual Checks and Balances - Q#14 - 7 Days Left

2008-10-28T21:17:00.000-07:00

Do you think Barrack Obama has the experience and judgment to lead our nation as President and Commander-In-Chief through the economic crisis, current and developing foreign challenges, energy crisis, and unforeseeable crises without the usual checks and balances of an opposition party with at least filibuster power in Congress and an unbiased watchdog media?

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

And look back to this space tomorrow for thoughts on this question.

Would McCain Bring Us 4 More Years of Bush? - Q#13 - 8 Days Left

2008-10-28T16:19:00.000-07:00

Do you believe that a John McCain presidency would equate to 4 more years of Bush?

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

Do We Know the Truth about Obama's Religous View? - Q#12 - 9 Days Until the Election

2008-10-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

Do you believe we ever got an honest and complete explanation of Barrack Obama's religous beliefs, including his belief in Black Liberation Theology and connections to Jeremiah Wright?

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

Obama-Biden Treatment of Citizen Joe The Plumber - Q#11 - 10 Days Until the Election

2008-10-25T15:21:00.000-07:00

Do you find the Obama-Biden campaign's treatment of Joe "The Plumber" disturburbing?

For more information, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ko4vmWdHwQ.
And read this article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/24/joe.html?sid=101

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

Willing to Pay for Socialist Programs? Q#10 - 11 Days Until the Election

2008-10-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

Are you willing to pay higher taxes in order to support more social programs?

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

Buying the Election Away from You? Q#9 - 12 Days Left

2008-10-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

By breaking his promise and becoming the first presidential candidate since Watergate not to participate in the public finance system for federal elections, does it concern you that Barack Obama may buy an election win with a $3-to-$1 spending advantage to include 30-minute primetime infomercials on CBS and NBC just 6 days before the election?

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

And look back to this space tomorrow for thoughts on this question.

Can Either Candidate Really Spare Us from Economic Pain? Q#8 - 13 Days Left

2008-10-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

#8 Considering the current, complex economic troubles for which many, many people share blame, can either candidate if elected president really avert the on-going crisis and spare America from the damage and hardship already spreading?

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

And look back to this space tomorrow for thoughts on this question.

Will a World Leader Generate a Crisis to Test Obama as Joe Biden Predicted - Q#7 - 14 Days Left

2008-10-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

If Obama is Elected President, Will America Face an International Crisis Designed and Generated by a World Power to Test Obama as Joe Biden Predicted?

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

And look back to this space tomorrow for thoughts on this question.

Proof of Eligibility - Question 6 - 15 Days Left Until the Election

2008-10-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

With so many lawsuits - including one from lawyer and prominent Pennsylvania Democrat Philip J. Berg - seeking proof of Obama's citizenship, do you think Barrack Obama should finally allow access to birth and supporting hospital records that prove his citizenship?

If you want to know more about the issue before voting, check these cites:

World News Daily Article
Blogs galore: Maggie's Notebook, Wake Up America and Radarsite.

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

And look back to this space tomorrow for thoughts on this question.

Question 5 - 16 Days Left Until the Election

2008-10-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

In light of the Obama campaign's announcement today that they raised a record $150 million in September (when they already enjoyed a $665M to $335M advantage through August 31), do you think that John McCain should have also broken his pledge to accept public funding so that he, too, could be free to spend as much money as he could raise privately?

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

And look back to this space tomorrow for thoughts on this question.

Question 4 - 17 Days Until the Election

2008-10-18T17:19:00.000-07:00

Do you believe recent media watchdog reports - several based on voter surveys - showing that the media is not only liberally biased, but is actively trying to help Barack Obama win by the coverage it provides?

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

And look back to this space tomorrow for thoughts on this question.

Question 3 - 18 Days Until the Elections

2008-10-18T01:57:00.000-07:00

Do you believe the national polls predicting the outcome of the presidential election are accurate?

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please share your thoughts in a comment below & spread the word about this blog.

And look back to this space tomorrow for thoughts on this question.

Queston 2 - 19 Days Until the Election

2008-10-16T21:55:00.001-07:00

Do you think the modern presidential election process can be manipulated to the point of changing the outcome by fraudulent voter registration, "get out the vote" and other questionable voting manipulation practices?

Vote in the poll to the right. ---------------------->

Please comment below. Please spread the word about this blog.

And look back to this space tomorrow for thoughts on this question.

Question 1 - 20 Days Left Until Election Day

2008-10-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

Do you think too many voters are overly allowing their assessment of the current president’s performance to influence their choice for who should be the next president?

Vote in the poll to the right.

Please comment below.

And look back to this space tomorrow for thoughts on this question.

20 Days Left, 20 Questions Left to be Answered

2008-10-14T22:56:00.000-07:00

With the elections just 20 days from today, a slew of questions remain. Questions that the American votes owe to themselves and their fellow citizens to consider before voting for the next President of the United States of America.

One question per day will be posted. And comments are strongly encouraged.

But in commenting, please try to set aside any pre-existing perceptions or beliefs. Please consider each question not as a Democrat, Republican or Independent - but as an American citizen whose forefathers (and mothers) fought to ensure you the right - the civic duty - to choose freely who will represent you as President and in Congress.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a moderate Republican. I have my views of this election, and I cannot promise that those views won't be reflected, even advocated, on this blog. Regardless, I do believe that an honest deliberation and respectful discourse about the questions that face us in this election are critical.

It's been a long campaign. But in the final 20 days, we should summon our will and focus our attention to honestly assess the choices before us and make informed decisions before casting a vote that may echo with serious repercussions for generations to come.

If you have general comments or suggestions for this blog, please share comments under this post, or send an email to election20questions@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading and for your thoughtful consideration of the issues inherent to the election ahead.