US Federal election - the most important ever?

[Cheap6]

While it's the US, not Aust or NZ, surely the upcoming US federal election will be highly significant for the rest of the world too.

God help us if this lot get in (again):

McCain's Beef with Bears?—Pork: Scientific American

The GOP ticket's appalling contempt for science and learning. - By Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine

Adam Rutherford: Sarah Palin and the fruit fly | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

[CSP]

The US Federal Election is nothing more than the world's most expensive popularity contest.

[Reaper]

The US Federal Election is nothing more than the world's most expensive popularity contest.

True however I think this one is more important than most. God help us if McCain gets in.

Reaper

[jules]

The GOP ticket's appalling contempt for science and learning. - By Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine

this is the bit that i find most stunning.

the US is the world's most advanced nation in terms of its development, understanding and embracing of technology.

yet these people (Bush and McCain and the republican party) genuinely believe that scientists have got it all wrong on issues like evolution and that the bible will set us straight. no amount of overwhelming scientific evidence will put a dent in their stubborn adherence to that belief.

[CSP]

the US is the world's most advanced nation in terms of its development, understanding and embracing of technology.

That's funny!!! Hahahahaha!!!

yet these people (Bush and McCain and the republican party) genuinely believe that scientists have got it all wrong on issues like evolution and that the bible will set us straight. no amount of overwhelming scientific evidence will put a dent in their stubborn adherence to that belief.

Without the religious groups on side in the USA, nobody wins elections. Their "beliefs" are politically motivated.

[jules]

That's funny!!! Hahahahaha!!!

don't laugh. when the US sets its mind and huge budget to buiding an advanced fighter jet or somesuch, it will be better than anyone else's. even if it uses german parts

Without the religious groups on side in the USA, nobody wins elections. Their "beliefs" are politically motivated.

that's probably true but it doesn't make it much less stupid.

[Scooter79]

It's funny how all Republicans are distancing themselves from Bush. I've listened to debates and McCain often makes remarks like "... mistakes of the current administration..."

Also if you talk to people from the southern states of the US they are truely appauled at the idea they may end up with a black president. My wife has a friend in Alabama. True bible bashing southerner. Parents are the same way. Thinks George Dubya is the greatest things ever and openly said Obama won;t be a good resident. When asked why she replied "Well... he's black" ..lol... On the other hand when we were over in the States in 2006, everywhere we went in the northern states, everyone was calling for ol' George's blood.

So many people see McCain as someone too similar to Bush and want a change

[minux]

I think either way its ****ed whoever gets in.

[pow3rslave]

i loved the serve to McCain on 30rock, where his commercials finished with 'paid for by the committee to re-invade vietnam'

in other news, i think it's ridiculously transparent that palin was selected to make the republicans appear more progressive for having a woman, especially since they're up against Obama.

i'm not particularly for obama in this election, as much as i'm against backwards-ass policies which is imho what the GOP is presenting.

[Scooter79]

I think either way its ****ed whoever gets in.

You not a fan of either candidate?

[minux]

You not a fan of either candidate?

Should I be?

[FusionX]

The US is stuffed no matters who gets in. They ain't coming out the hole they have dug for themselves for a very long time.

[Scooter79]

You not a fan of either candidate?

Should I be?

It's your opinion. I just like to know the reasons behind opinions

[padrickz88]

not my country, so i dont care lol.

[Reaper]

not my country, so i dont care lol.

Unfortunately the pres of USA does have significant effect on Australia and the rest of the world. Maybe you don't care but it's something that I think most should think about.

Reaper

[MEANVY]

Anyone heard paris hiltons song for becoming president?
bahahaa. it's hilarious. They played it on the radio this morning, and they mentioned the movie clip was on youtube

[CSP]

Unfortunately the pres of USA does have significant effect on Australia and the rest of the world. Maybe you don't care but it's something that I think most should think about.

Reaper

In fact the idea has been seriously floated that the Presidential Elections of the United States should have input (votes?) from other countries as well...

As the world becomes a smaller and smaller place, moving to larger governing organisations shouldn't come as a surprise. Don't be surprised if we see a European Government in our lifetimes, with current Federal Level Governments in individual EU countries serving more like a State Government.

[stocky]

In fact the idea has been seriously floated that the Presidential Elections of the United States should have input (votes?) from other countries as well...

not a bad idea. too many inbred hicks in the US southern states have too much control picking the leader with the most influence on the world. let the smarter people outside the US pick and they might have someone decent for a change.

[Cheap6]

There is an element in the US who, perhaps in part because of his 'funny' name, continually look for evidence that Obama is a Muslim and therefore 'unpatriotic'. They use as 'evidence' to support that, the fact that he lived in Indonesia (a predominantly muslim country) for some years of his childhood (with his Indonesian stepfather). WTF? Surely it's a good thing that he has some concept of a world outside the US? It's a strange country.

I don't think that people outside a country should be determining what happens within it re. democracy but what the US does still affects what happens in the rest of the world. Basically, where they go, everyone else follows. That does appear to be changing some, with things like that EU stuff and the rise of big developing countries.

I haven't really been all that interested in past in who the US elect but this one seems important in determining where the world is headed for the next century or so. It's probably not a great deal different to what happened in the late 1800's when the balance of power shifted away from Europe at the same time technology change brought in trains and cars, energy moved from trees and sail, to coal then to oil. Same thing but Europe = US, US = China, India and/or Russia, energy goes to ??.

[MEANVY]

or Australia?

[Bax]

I really hope Obama gets in. He seems down to earth and switched on. Very curious to see what path he takes if he gets in.

Unfortunately I can see McCain and d*ckface Pailin making it in. Will be very interesting that's for sure.

[greenfoam]

not a bad idea. too many inbred hicks in the US southern states have too much control picking the leader with the most influence on the world. let the smarter people outside the US pick and they might have someone decent for a change.

You know if they increased the minium voting age to 50, the world would have alot less problems

[minux]

You know if they increased the minium voting age to 50, the world would have alot less problems

Only because no one would vote, all you seniles would forget about it.

[Grennan]

It was interesting on the news just before that some people are basing their votes on Obama's name and i couldnt believe the amount of sway his supposed religion has.

Some radio host was saying he is a devout christian, yet some obvious typical idiot blurts out "His name is Barrack Hussein Obama hes muslim, hes definatly muslim" I mean Im not closely following the US election or anything but to say "Im not voting for him" and decieding your country's future (as well as the future of a lot of other) at a crucial time purely based on the fact his name isnt Hank or John and he may or may not be christian is idiotic, and they wonder why we all think they are idiots.

I dont even see what relevance his religion is anyway, what has religion got to do with todays politcal world anyway? Well a better question would be should religion have anything to do with todays political world?

Honestly i would prefer Obama getting in, he does seem the lesser of two evils.

[MasterOfReality]

I stunned my girlfriends parents, who are huge fans of Obama when they asked me who I'd vote for. I said certainly not for Obama, as he is a socialist and reminds me of our moron leader Rudd, with his rhetoric for change and whatnot..

When they asked then if that meant I would vote for the Republicans, I said nope, imagine having that Palin nutcase in charge when the old guy carks it.