McCain frightens me!!!

yeah, it's been a while, but what's frightening me most about him as of late is his foreign policy ideas.

He's refusing to negotiate with foreign leaders.

He wants to eject russia from the G8 and include India and Brazil (some object to ignoring China, but they don't qualify)

He wants to create a league of democratic nations to deal with the middle east.

The whole iranian thing is obviously contingent on whether or not you believe they are working on nuclear weapons, so I'll not comment on the cons I see there.

The President of our United States has very little impact on domestic policy, which is why I tend to vote mainly on foreign policy matters in that office. These are some huge issues I have regarding this potential president's policies.

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Originally Posted by Nickelking

He's refusing to negotiate with foreign leaders.
He wants to eject russia from the G8 and include India and Brazil (some object to ignoring China, but they don't qualify)

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Any links?
Refusing to negotiate is a dangerous thing to do. Especially for a nation like the US which is intent on influencing global politics.

The refusal to negotiate with foreign leaders (sorry, that should have been hostile foreign leaders) was more implied than directly stated as opposition towards Barack Obama's willingness to negotiate with countries like iran and north korea. But then he's never stated at what point he feels negotiation is a bad thing. Petraeus even said recently that we should try and negotiate with Iran link. Not sure if it's related or not, but he's even claimed that Regan refused to negotiate with Iran. He is however open to negotiating with other countries about environmental issues according to his latest environmental speech. But the fact that he's agains talking to forces like Iran when there's no evidence of them being hostile towards us is a disturbing thought.

as for the G8 comments, they were first uttered in a speech in Los Angeles link the comments can be found on page 3 of that article.

Edit and for more on his proposed League of democracies (which I erronously called a league of democratic nations) you can find more info here.

As far as the G8 thing goes I don't know that that move would be incorrect, Russia has certainly fallen in position among the word economic powers, and India's has waxed larger and larger Brazil is also on the way up. I don't see Russia doing anything to stop their slide either.

The thing that scares me the most about McCain is is complete lack of respect for the constitution. Actually that scares me the most about all three of the major players in this race. I mean considering some of the rights violations each has proposed over their respective careers there is a good chance we the people would be called up to defend our rights from our own government in the next four years. Like I said scary

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Originally Posted by Wildtim

The thing that scares me the most about McCain is is complete lack of respect for the constitution. Actually that scares me the most about all three of the major players in this race. I mean considering some of the rights violations each has proposed over their respective careers there is a good chance we the people would be called up to defend our rights from our own government in the next four years. Like I said scary

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From what I see happening, you should have been defending your rights already for the last couple of years. All bush-bashing aside, the man seems to regard the constitution and the bill of rights more like some sort of guideline, to be trundled out when it is convenient to do so, and to ignore when it is not.

One of the problems you are facing is that you have a dual party system in which real newcomers don't have any chance at all. Both individually and partywise.
So by the time someone has floated to the top sufficiently to take a shot at the presidency, he / she has accumulated so much baggage that they have to follow the group think of their party.

Even if you'd be able to elect a 3d party candidate, he effectively be hamstrung by congress, except when executive decisions have to be made.

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Originally Posted by Bruno

From what I see happening, you should have been defending your rights already for the last couple of years. All bush-bashing aside, the man seems to regard the constitution and the bill of rights more like some sort of guideline, to be trundled out when it is convenient to do so, and to ignore when it is not.

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Sage. I have a feeling though that WildTim is talking about something more widescale regarding loss of personal liberty than Bush ever attempted.

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Originally Posted by Bruno

One of the problems you are facing is that you have a dual party system in which real newcomers don't have any chance at all. Both individually and partywise.
So by the time someone has floated to the top sufficiently to take a shot at the presidency, he / she has accumulated so much baggage that they have to follow the group think of their party.

Even if you'd be able to elect a 3d party candidate, he effectively be hamstrung by congress, except when executive decisions have to be made.

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I think it's all about the voters. The two parties wouldn't be able to get anyone elected if nobody voted for them. I think the success of freedom will always be dependent on the wisdom of the free. When voters are willing to be manipulated, integrity fails - Like WildTim though I think that rights violations in the next government could (and hopefully would) trigger proper public defense of liberty (intelligent voting - one can dream, right?)

The whole thing about "refusing" to negotiate is really a silly issue being used as a political tool by both sides. McCain says he won't enter "direct" negotiations with Iran without certain "preconditions" being met. These situations occure from time to time - But negotiations still very much take place. They are just "indirect" talks.

Obama is trying to sound like he'll meet with the Iranian President and make him understand and accept our position with out comprimising our security needs. This is more hot air. Let's get real.

Jordan

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Originally Posted by jnich67

The whole thing about "refusing" to negotiate is really a silly issue being used as a political tool by both sides. McCain says he won't enter "direct" negotiations with Iran without certain "preconditions" being met. These situations occure from time to time - But negotiations still very much take place. They are just "indirect" talks.

Obama is trying to sound like he'll meet with the Iranian President and make him understand and accept our position with out comprimising our security needs. This is more hot air. Let's get real.

Jordan

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What's really being judged is what the candidates think of the voters. Which assumes more stupidity from the voters? Of course they know it's hot air, but how much hot air do they think they can get away with - that is the level of confidence they place in the intelligence of the voters. Obama's wide support continues to astound me, but I am from Oklahoma so maybe I just never get to hear positive representation of him around here.

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Originally Posted by jnich67

The whole thing about "refusing" to negotiate is really a silly issue being used as a political tool by both sides. McCain says he won't enter "direct" negotiations with Iran without certain "preconditions" being met. These situations occure from time to time - But negotiations still very much take place. They are just "indirect" talks.

Obama is trying to sound like he'll meet with the Iranian President and make him understand and accept our position with out comprimising our security needs. This is more hot air. Let's get real.

Jordan

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If Obama does get elected I fear he will be the Neville Chamberlain of our time!
I have little hope in any of the candidates!

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

What's really being judged is what the candidates think of the voters. Which assumes more stupidity from the voters? Of course they know it's hot air, but how much hot air do they think they can get away with - that is the level of confidence they place in the intelligence of the voters. Obama's wide support continues to astound me, but I am from Oklahoma so maybe I just never get to hear positive representation of him around here.

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I tend to agree with you, but the fact that we keep re-electing the same legislators doesn't say much for us as whole either.

On another note, I don't know if things can get any better until we have some kind of election finance reform. It seems there are so many interests buying policy...:mad:

Jordan