Wow....I was up all night thinking about this decision that we all have to make.  That's not true, I was up all night hacking up a lung, but each time I woke my mind wrapped back around the debate and what I might say about it in today's blog.  I hope it comes out as well as it did in my head at 3am this morning.

So Obama was the clear winner in my mind last night as far as the debate goes.  John McCain was scrambling.  He was using desperate mud slinging tactics that the American people could clearly see straight through.  Rather then giving us a clear and precise reason to vote for him, he resorted to scaring us away from the other guy.  Was there a question posed last night where McCain didn't at some point throughout that Obama wants to raise your taxes?  Even when it didn't apply he said it.  Rather then telling me what HE was going to do for me.  Then he played the race card when he brought up ties Obama has to an ex-terrorist....it's a mute point as far as I'm concerned.  Obama addressed them directly and cleared it up as he has many times.  It really is not a concern for me.

So this debate centered around domestic affairs.  Which was good because we really do need to focus on fixing the US right now.  However I would really have loved to hear more from the Democratic front on Foreign policy.

Let's talk about the issues....something I wish McCain had actually done. 

The first one I want to address is the health care issue.  This is a large personal concern me.  Not that I need health care...I have the best in the world, but rather that it is my job, and what they propose could effect me on a grander scale then just coverage.  It could in fact cost me my job.  Obama very clearly laid out his plan and how if effects me as a consumer as well as how that will trickle down to the Insurance companies (UHC for example)  If we have employee based heath care, then we are fine.  Except that his proposal, if it works, will reduce our costs, he sights, by $2500.00 a year.  That's a huge cut for me.  But how will that effect UHC?  That I don't know.  I also like that he WANTS to get the government involved in the health care situation....or crisis rather.  Not that we want government funded health care....that is not what any of us want...especially those of us that work for the industry.  That alone would be a huge loss in thousands of jobs across the country.  But I think it is time for the government to step in and control the abuse.  The same way they need to step in on oil prices, they need to find a way to lower costs to go see your doctor, or to receive much needed medical treatment.  After all, when the patient can't pay, who does?  Do you know?  You DO!  That's what Medicaid is folks.  When average Joe has no coverage and needs to see a doctor, he goes to urgent care, because no office is going to take him.  The Urgent care facility costs a heck of a lot more and they can not turn someone away.  So they treat them, and get reimbursed through Medicaid.  Where does Medicaid get it's money to pay these facilities?  From the tax payer....YOU.  But that's not the only way you pay for their health care.  Where Medicaid falls short and only covers half of what the facility wants for fee of their service...they have to be compensated in some way...so what do they do next?  They raise the costs of the services they preform for the insured....once again...YOU (if you're lucky enough that is)  So you are getting hit twice on one guys bill because he has no insurance.  Obama proposes to offer the government health care policy that all our elected officials are offered at a rate that more Americans can afford so that all of that stops.  So are you still paying some of it through your taxes?  Yes.  But the small business owner can now offer his employee's health care that they may have never had before through this government plan for a cheaper price.  Does that hurt UHC....maybe a little.  I'm not positive on all of those details.  But does it bring the health care crisis back under control....with time, Yes.  Now if we could only get the government to intervene with the pharmaceutical companies....you've heard the term, "The Fleecing of America," right?  Well they hold the sheers guys.


Here's what McCain wants to do for health care.  He wants to give us all $5000.00 tax credit for health ins.  Gee, that's sounds nice doesn't it?  But where's that money going to go?  I know when I get my tax refund back I buy other things.  Last year it was all brand new flooring.  Jana wants a jacuzzi with hers.  Of course I've never needed to buy health ins. but without degrading our American people, there is a big flaw in this concept.  A great number of these people are going to do other things with that money.  So they are getting five grand, still uninsured....still going to the ER, so you are still paying for their medical bills.  I think in the end we end up in a larger deficit and a bigger health care crisis.  The other issue with this tax break is how it will undermine the insurance companies.  This again effects my job.  It offers no better opportunity for health care coverage and will make it even more expensive for employers to offer health care coverage because the rise of insurance will continue.  This is not a good plan in my opinion.  But again John could have maybe better explained his proposal as a follow up to the details that Obama laid out regarding his own plan...instead he attacked Obama for mentioning that he will fine companies that can afford to cover it's workers but chooses not to.  Bad move McCain.

What about the environment.  I don't hear much being said regarding this issue, but Palin being on board gave me some hope there with her being from Alaska.  I thought maybe her history with big oil would some how help us gain energy independence.  What I don't like hearing over and over again from her running mate though, is how we need to build more nuclear power plants and increase off shore drilling.  This I just can not get behind.  I believe we need to become independent but more importantly we need to become more environmentally responsible.  Why not build more windmills?  Why not put more energy (no pun intended) into finding alternate resources.  I know they're out there.  Let's concentrate on those as alternatives.

Next up I have the economy.  I don't honestly know what either one holds over the other, but the phrase "Spending Freeze" by McCain troubles me.  We have programs that NEED funding.  We can't cut them off.  I agree we live beyond our means....greatly.  Both as individuals and as a country, but we need to find a balance.  Not just stop everything.  I do like that Obama wants to get that "Bail Out" money back to us, the tax payers.  Although McCain stood up last night and said defiantly, 'I'm not President Bush,' he has agreed with the current administration most of the time on it's economic policy.....this is bad.  I would have liked to know more specifically what he has proposed that makes him so different then Bush.  (By the way, on a side bar...I wonder what he thinks about the debates and how much EVERYONE points out what a failure he has been as a leader.  Hands down the worst President in the history of our country.)

When the Senators were asked about their judge appointments and how Roe Vs. Wade would effect their decisions, I perked up.  This single factor was what made me cringe at the thought of McCain being the Republican candidate last Feb (2007) when I first denounced his ideas regarding this issue.  He's Pro-Life.  That's fine.  That's his choice.  But my issue was that he very publicly stated that he would load the bench with Supreme court judges that felt as he did.....that the ruling in that monumental case was wrong and then they would work to over turn it.  This I strongly disagree with.  I won't get into my reasons again, you can read that blog if you like.  But I was interested in the fact that he said last night, that the judges record alone would be the tools for which his decision would be made and feelings on Roe vs. Wade would not have anything to do with it.  LIE.  Or at least a contradiction to something you strongly announced eighteen moths ago.  So which is it Senator?  Obama said the same exact thing.....judge's record would speak to their readiness for a Supreme Court Judicial appointment.  It's what he followed up on that I truly enjoyed.  He said exactly what I said in last year's blog.  The Pro Life and Pro Choice arguments are at a stale mate.  They both have good points and it is an issue that will forever divide this nation....however!! maybe we can stop fighting over who's right and who's wrong, and instead work on better ways of pregnancy prevention and offer better options to women.  We can work to set better laws about how far into a pregnancy they are allowed to terminate and to what extent Partial birth abortions can be done.  We need to focus on what we CAN do people...not just keep going in circles on the things that we can not find common ground on.  That is exactly what Obama said...it was like he read my blog.

Lastly is our educational system.  They seem to be in some agreement on what needs to be done there.  Create more competition between schools.  Fund our teachers better to make them want to work harder.  Get rid of the teachers that suck....and there's a lot of them that do.  What I liked one more time that Obama said, was that parents are not exempt from this situation.  We as parents need to take more accountability for our children's education.  We have to sit down with them and make sure they are not only doing their homework, but make sure they get it.  Keep learning fun and interesting.  Kids love to learn.  They know knowledge is power....but somewhere between the beginning of grade school when they can't wait to get there and entering into middle school, something is going terribly wrong and they are becoming sour on the whole concept.  We need to be more responsible.  We need to teach them to volunteer outwardly.  We need to be leaders in that area.  Take them to a soup kitchen and work side by side to help others.  Help them organize a winter coat drive in the fall....teach our kids to be proactive in their lives and stop waiting for others, for teachers to do our work.  If they learn these things at home, then it will carry over to their education and ultimately they will become positive members of society.

So those are the things that stood out to me.  I really felt that Obama won my vote last night.  I was VERY impressed with his approach as well as the ideas and plans he has structured for if he is elected.  I still feel that McCain is a good candidate where Foreign policy comes in, but then, like I said before, I think maybe the rest of the world meeds to see a change from the US.  And maybe just the change in skin color will make them feel like a big move has been made....sometimes it is that easy.

My only concern is the fact that Obama is young and inexperienced in certain areas.  I'm also concerned for him on a larger scale.  I feel like we have a young liberal democrat that is not afraid to stand up and say this is what I am doing and that's that.  Last time that happened, our president was killed.  Only this time, he's black and has Muslin heritage.  So maybe this time the crusty old cronies in Washington won't have to lift a finger....I'm afraid some extreme white southern group may take care of things for them.  This troubles me.  So now can we take Biden as the back up?  I think so....but his foreign policy is NOT good at all.  But again.....if something happened to McCain could you seriously take Palin as your president?  I like her very much and as a V.P. I would like her there....I just would not want her taking over if the worse did occur.  That would be quite bad for all of us.  We want our leaders to seem normal and down to earth like you and me...easy to talk to....but in the end...ultimately...don't we want the leaders of this country to be smarter then you and me?  Don't we want them to lead and shape our futures with our confidence?  I just don't have confidence in her as a President.

So that's it....once I'm off this damn conference call I can't wait to turn on P.O.T.U.S 08 On XM Radio this morning and see what they are saying as well!

Good Luck USA

And people.....

        VOTE!!!!