Green Options » presidential debate

Obama Vs. McCain: Who Will Better Serve the U.S. Economy?

Reenita Malhotra — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:40:02 +0000

The word was that both candidates had prepared meticulously for the final presidential debate.

Obama had a three point strategy:
1. To continue exactly as he has been without making any mistakes now.

2. To close the stature gap; to prove wrong those who still believe that Obama does not have the experience or judgment that McCain has.

3. To show America how he would address the issue of economy

McCain’s debate strategy:

1. To attack Obama’s association with William Ayers without being offensive to the extent where he would turn people off

2. To show America how he would address the issue of economy

After another tumultuous day in the market with the worst one-day percentage declines since the crash of 1987, addressing the state of the U.S. Economy was supposed to be foremost for both candidates in an effort to win the votes of undecided and independent voters. Advisers for each candidate said that he would use the final debate to lay out his vision for the country and promote his economic policies while drawing differences with his opponent.

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Obama vs. McCain: Who Will Better Support Joe The Plumber?

Reenita Malhotra — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:29:42 +0000

In the final presidential debate, the issue of the economy was all-pervasive. After another tumultuous day in the market with the worst one-day percentage declines since the crash of 1987, it was up to each candidate to use the final debate to lay out his vision for the country and promote his economic policies while drawing differences with his opponent.

McCain addressed his comments to Joe Wurzelbacher, a plumber who confronted Obama about his tax policies at a recent Obama rally in Toledo, Ohio. For a considerable amount of time, McCain and Obama debated over who would do a better job for “Joe the Plumber.”

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Who Won Wednesday Night’s Presidential Debate? [poll]

Timothy B. Hurst — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:45:46 +0000

[Editor's note: After our wildly successful debate polls of the vice-presidential debate and the second presidential debate here at RG&B, we decided to provide you with one last chance to speak your mind about who won a major debate this campaign season.]

Please join us in our third little experiment in political science here at RG&B by answering our poll question.

With full knowledge that a simple poll question cannot adequately capture your nuanced position on the presidential debates, you are encouraged to leave a comment below. If you’re happier with a simple poll, just follow the link - no strings attached.

Click Here to Answer the RG&B Poll Question: Who Won Wednesday Night’s Presidential Debate?

Image: eyeliam via flickr under a Creative Commons License

Why Drill, Baby, Drill Will Never be an Energy Solution and is NOT an Energy Policy

Jennifer Lance — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:37:02 +0000

I’m sure at tonight’s presidential debate, we will hear more of John McCain’s energy policy. I’ve recently read some enlightening information in The Bush League of Nations: The Coalition of the Unwilling, the Bullied, and the Bribed by James A. Swanson that proves “Drill, baby, drill” is not an energy policy, and it will never make us energy independent. US oil production peaked in 1970 at more than 11 million barrels a day, ironically just three years before the oil crisis. Consider these statistics from Swanson’s book:

By the end of 2005, US crude oil production had dropped to 4.86 million barrels per day, which is less than 45% of America’s peak production in 1970.
By 2005, America was producing less oil than it did in 1950.
The 1970 record oil production represented more than 40% of total world production, but it was still not enough to meet America’s appetite for oil-almost 15 million barrels per day in 1970.
By the end of 2005, U.S. oil consumption had increased to about 21 million barrels per day, while U.S. production, as noted above, had dropped to 5 million barrels. American now has to import more than 75% of the oil it consumes.
By way of comparison, at the time of the 1973 oil crisis, during which Americans endured closed gas stations and gas lines blocks long, the United States imported less than one-third of its oil.
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Grading the Campaign: With Four Weeks To Go, Where Does the Presidential Race Stand?

Amiel Blajchman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:56:02 +0000

With only four weeks to go until Election Day (November 4th if you’ve been living under a rock), now seems like an excellent time to check in and see how the candidates are faring. They’ve each had two debates, myriad media interviews, and their vice-presidential candidates have squared off. The American public has gotten a chance to get to know Obama and McCain throughout their nomination campaign, and this fall’s presidential race.

After the break, we’ll review the debates, their performances, and take a look to see how the candidates are faring.

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Presidential Debate: John McCain vs. Barack Obama - Who Won? [Poll]

Jerry James Stone — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:27:47 +0000

[Editor's Note: On the heels of our first RG&B debate poll conducted to gauge public opinion on the first and only vice-presidential debate, we've decided to follow up with a poll for the top of the ticket.]

John McCain and Barack Obama squared off in the second of three Presidential Debates this election season. Tell us who won and why?

Click Here to Answer the RG&B Poll Question: Who Won Tuesday Night’s Presidential Debate?

Obama would Continue to Make Clean Energy Top Priority Amidst Financial Crisis

Timothy B. Hurst — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:34:31 +0000

In last week’s presidential debate, Democrat Senator Barack Obama declared his intention to link energy and the environment to the solutions that will help us out of our current economic mess. Kate Sheppard reports at Grist that Barack Obama has expanded on how and why he will continue to focus on energy, despite the current economic downturn.

At a campaign stop in Reno, Nevada, Obama said that in light of the current economic situation, some portions of any platform would have to be pared, simply because there is less money flowing into the Treasury. But he also said other programs are critical components of an economic recovery, and should not be abandoned. Obama said:

“To create new jobs, I’ll invest in rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure — our roads, schools, and bridges. We’ll rebuild our outdated electricity grid and build new broadband lines to connect America. And I’ll create the jobs of the future by transforming our energy economy. We’ll tap our natural-gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I’ll help our auto companies re-tool so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here the United States of America. I’ll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars. And I’ll invest $150 billion over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy — wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels — an investment that will lead to new industries and 5 million new jobs that pay well and can’t ever be outsourced.”

Image credit: transplanted mountaineer via flickr under a Creative Commons License

McCain - Obama Debate - Energy Policy Focus: “Solar, Wind, Biodiesel and Yes, Nuclear Power”

Rod Adams — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:21:18 +0000

I was disappointed by the moderator’s decisions during the first Presidential Debate. Officially, the debate topic was foreign policy, but Jim Lehrer bowed to the news of the moment and turned the first half of the debate into a discussion about the proposed bailout of the Wall Street financial industry.

That focus crowded out most discussion about two major campaign issues that both have a huge impact on foreign policy - energy and the environment. Whenever the candidates tried to talk about energy policies, the moderator immediately tried to change the subject.

I am not a single issue voter, but I really want to understand the nuances of the energy policy positions for the two candidates in this particular election. The last time energy policy was such a major part of the campaign was in 1976; the result of that election made a huge difference in our current energy source mix.

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