What are your top 5 issues...

[NorthSideSox72]

I'm curious what peoples' hot button issues are. So, choose FIVE of the issues in the poll that are your top 5 most important when choosing who to vote for for President.

 

I cannot limit the poll to 5 responses, so, its the honor system here. I had to split the choices into 2 questions, as there is a limit of 10 choices per question - but ITS ACTUALLY JUST ONE QUESTION. Try to choose just five, please.

 

[StrangeSox]

It's hard to pick five because some go hand in hand IMO. I'd lump trade policy and national debt (and maybe even tax rates and government spending) all under economic policy. I'd also put Mid-East policy and border control under homeland/ national security policy.

Edited June 10, 2008 by StrangeSox

[NorthSideSox72]

It's hard to pick five because some go hand in hand IMO. I'd lump trade policy and national debt (and maybe even tax rates and government spending) all under economic policy. I'd also put Mid-East policy and border control under homeland/ national security policy.

Sure. No matter what was picked, there will be some overlap. Just try to pick as best as you can. This is not a scientific poll.

 

[lostfan]

It's kind of hard to choose 5, I had to cut out other stuff I thought was important to try and condense it, like Middle East policy.

 

I chose:

Iraq War

Energy Policy

Environmental policy (on accident, not sure why I picked that one)

Homeland Security

Deficit/nat'l debt (more or less includes gov't spending levels, and the Iraq war)

 

Stuff I just don't care about or think gets too much attention:

Abortion - tired of hearing about it. Please leave it alone and quit using it as a wedge

Gay Marriage - seriously, doesn't even register on my radar as something that matters

2nd amendment rights - unless somebody is going to do something stupid, like ban guns. Otherwise this always gets overblown by gun nuts

Tax rates - I swear to God, there is a percentage of people in this country that is convinced we could set our tax rates at 8% and somehow not only still function as a government, but actually increase revenue. When I was in 6th grade my friend told me there was no such thing as the tax fairy. I was devastated

[NorthSideSox72]

Remember, too, we are talking about this question as it relates to Presidential candidates. Not to other offices.

 

[FlaSoxxJim]

Second Amendment rights makes the list but not First Amendment rights, eh?? Not that I'm complaining, mind you. Not only is free speech apparently not important in this thread, it could even get you shot!

 

[mr_genius]

I'll go with ...

 

Iraq War (going forward)

Energy policy

Tax rates

Government spending levels

The deficit and the national debt

 

 

... for the win

 

 

 

[StrangeSox]

ME (hard choice between that and Iraq), Energy, Economic, Tax, Homeland Security.

 

Ideally, I'd like to see Obama and a Republican Congress (to help curb spending), but that isn't happening.

Edited June 10, 2008 by StrangeSox

[HuskyCaucasian]

in no particular order...

Net Neutrality

Universal Health Care

Ending the War in Iraq

Energy Independence / Wind and Solar

Fixing the Economy

[NorthSideSox72]

Second Amendment rights makes the list but not First Amendment rights, eh?? Not that I'm complaining, mind you. Not only is free speech apparently not important in this thread, it could even get you shot!

 

I was going with issues hotly discussed nowadays. But now that you mention it, maybe an entry for individual rights (1st amendment and related) would have been a good addition, when you consider this administration's tendency to stomp all over them.

 

[Balta1701]

I was going with issues hotly discussed nowadays. But now that you mention it, maybe an entry for individual rights (1st amendment and related) would have been a good addition, when you consider this administration's tendency to stomp all over them.

How much has this administration really stomped all over the 1st amendment? I'd say speech/assembly has suffered a bit from the "Free speech zones" that appeared at there events where they hid protesters out of the way, religion has had the whole ID bit but honestly they've simply failed in the courts (Deservedly) regardless of what Bush thinks, so out of but out of Speech, Assembly, Press, Religion, I'd say the 1st amendment isn't in terrible shape.

 

#4, #5, #6, and #8 however...

[NorthSideSox72]

How much has this administration really stomped all over the 1st amendment? I'd say speech/assembly has suffered a bit from the "Free speech zones" that appeared at there events where they hid protesters out of the way, religion has had the whole ID bit but honestly they've simply failed in the courts (Deservedly) regardless of what Bush thinks, so out of but out of Speech, Assembly, Press, Religion, I'd say the 1st amendment isn't in terrible shape.

 

#4, #5, #6, and #8 however...

Note that I said individual rights. Not just 1st amendment.

 

[lostfan]

Note that I said individual rights. Not just 1st amendment.

You're talking about civil liberties methinks.

 

I don't think the 1st amendment is worthy of inclusion on this list because nobody seems to disagree about it, ever. Besides the occasional baseless and nonsensical "libs/cons respect their right to free speech as long as they agree with you."

[NorthSideSox72]

You're talking about civil liberties methinks.

 

I don't think the 1st amendment is worthy of inclusion on this list because nobody seems to disagree about it, ever. Besides the occasional baseless and nonsensical "libs/cons respect their right to free speech as long as they agree with you."

Yes, civil liberties, but also and somewhat overlapped, individual rights. Someone asked about 1st amendment, and I was saying that plus other RELATED stuff (related in my mind, anyway) could have been a good entry.

 

[Reddy]

Iraq War

Mideast Policy

Energy

Economy

Health Care

[NorthSideSox72]

in no particular order...

Net Neutrality

Universal Health Care

Ending the War in Iraq

Energy Independence / Wind and Solar

Fixing the Economy

Net neutrality? That's a top 5 Presidential issue for you? I don't know if either candidate has even given that any thought. Just curious, what makes you feel it is so important?

 

[farmteam]

Education is far and away my number one. My top 5 would look like:

 

1. Education

2t. Economy

2t. Energy

4. Middle East (including Iraq)

5. Health Care

[FlaSoxxJim]

Net neutrality? That's a top 5 Presidential issue for you? I don't know if either candidate has even given that any thought. Just curious, what makes you feel it is so important?

 

It doesn't seem to be on the radar of the candidates, no. But my biggest concern at least, is that if net neutrality ends then the New Media is going to go the way of the Old Media in a hurry –- corporate agenda-driven monopolistic viewpoints passed off as investigative reporting and news.

 

Bill Moyers touched on precisely this during his keynote address at this past weeken's National Conference for Media Reform. His address was outstanding, btw. Amy Godman played it in its entirety on Democracy Now yesterday and it's worth finding on the website.

 

Edit: The Moyers keynote is up on YouTube too.

Edited June 11, 2008 by FlaSoxxJim

[mr_genius]

It doesn't seem to be on the radar of the candidates, no. But my biggest concern at least, is that if net neutrality ends then the New Media is going to go the way of the Old Media in a hurry –- corporate agenda-driven monopolistic viewpoints passed off as investigative reporting and news.

 

Bill Moyers touched on precisely this during his keynote address at this past weeken's National Conference for Media Reform. His address was outstanding, btw. Amy Godman played it in its entirety on Democracy Now yesterday and it's worth finding on the website.

 

the old media? uh they are about 90% pro democrat... you should like that.

 

but I agree that net neutrality is very important. it's an issue i also care a great deal about as a computer scientist and a citizen.

 

ps. bill moyers is a hack.

 

edit: but i do like watching his show on pbs

Edited June 11, 2008 by mr_genius

[Balta1701]

the old media? uh they are about 90% pro democrat... you should like that.

I never really realized how deeply pro-Democrat they were until they managed to destroy the entire Republican party by helping lead them in to a completely disastrous war. The mendacity it took them to drag those innocent Republicans to their doom in Iraq is just remarkable.

[FlaSoxxJim]

ps. bill moyers is a hack.

 

Oh absolutely, that no-talent windbag has been in the business for how long and only has what to show for it? 30+ Emmys, 3 Polk Awards and a lifetime Peabody??

 

slacker

 

 

 

[mr_genius]

I never really realized how deeply pro-Democrat they were until they managed to destroy the entire Republican party by helping lead them in to a completely disastrous war.

 

when the Dems were for the war in Iraq the MSM jumped on the bandwagon. when the Dems realized it was a horrible move, the MSM turned with them.

 

Senate vote Iraq Resolution-

 

Democrats yes: 29 no:21

 

even me, an evil right wing leaning horrible person, was against the Iraq war. but no, the media wouldn't look into it because it could tarnish their party.

Edited June 11, 2008 by mr_genius

[lostfan]

It's really simple. War = mega ratings.

[mr_genius]

Oh absolutely, that no-talent windbag has been in the business for how long and only has what to show for it? 30+ Emmys, 3 Polk Awards and a lifetime Peabody??

 

slacker

 

 

and Rush Limbaugh

 

from wikipedia -

 

Limbaugh was the 1992, 1995, 2000 and 2005 recipient of the Marconi Radio Award for Syndicated Radio Personality of the Year (given by the National Association of Broadcasters), joining the syndicated Bob & Tom Show as the only other four-time winners of a Marconi award. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1993.

 

In 2002, Talkers magazine ranked him as the greatest radio talk show host of all time.[107] Limbaugh is the highest-paid syndicated radio host.[108]

 

On March 29, 2007, Limbaugh was awarded the inaugural William F. Buckley, Jr. Award for Media Excellence, by the Media Research Center, a conservative, media analysis group.[109]

 

On January 5, 2008, Human Events announced Limbaugh as their 2007 Man of the Year.

 

-----

 

i like bill moyers show.

 

and i think limbaugh is a talented radio guy.

 

but wouldn't really consider either to be unbiased journalists. both hacks IMO.

 

but i'm sure many would disagree with me. oh well. maybe i'm wrong.

[FlaSoxxJim]

It's not worth a skirmish, but I just don't see 'radio personality of the year'-type awards as being on par with being a perennial Polk Award recipient when that award is specifically given in recognition of one's contribution to journalistic integrity and investigative reporting – not just for garnering marketshare.

 

Moyers is very up front in his personal motivation and bias, particularly later in his career:

 

"I'm going out telling the story that I think is the biggest story of our time: how the right-wing media has become a partisan propaganda arm of the Republican National Committee. We have an ideological press that's interested in the election of Republicans, and a mainstream press that's interested in the bottom line. Moyers said: Therefore, we don't have a vigilant, independent press whose interest is the American people."

 

Certainly I see the American media landscape more as Moyers sees it, and I know we're not exactly eye-to-eye on that.