[Jerry Glenn Hartwig]

Regardless, it's not an issue I'm getting all worked up about - I've heard the promises before, haven't you?

Spot on as always (normally).

It's not a matter of unbiased, although I am leaning more and more towards McCain the more I hear. It's just that all the discussion has been so anti-Palin lately and I wanted a topic change. I dislike anti-anybody discussions.

To answer your question about who I'd like to see benefit (middle class aside): it's a tricky question. Yes, I'd like to see lower income people profit - a few dollars means a lot more to them. And I'm not rich, but I suppose I can stand to lose some income if it would really help others. I'm not totally hard-hearted. I vote for the school and MRDD levies, and all that. I can see in my community how that money is helping. But I still remain the cynic, and your quote above indicates you are - at least - a realist. Is Obama going to keep his promises? Can he keep his promises? I'm not doubting his integrity, but he still has to make it happen, and there will be resistance. And yes, all politicians flip-flop.

But even while I acknowledge Obama's plan is better off for the lower income while not hurting us middle incomers, what about the rest of the plan he's not talking about? Surely, he's not telling us everything. His past comments, even if retracted or explained, ought to give us an idea what he's thinking.

My wife and I plan to retire in a few years, if Ben ever stops being a college student, and sell our house, which we have a second mortgage on for Ben's college expenses.

If I have to pay a captial gains tax of even 15% (or 20% - not more than 28%), then I'm going to have to go in the hole to sell my house - not something I planned on when I set up this method of paying tuition. So I'm wary.

There's also more to the economy than taxes.

But while the Republican Party has to overcome the stigma of the Iraq war, the situation in Iraq has been taking second seat to the economy. Not too long ago I would have thought the GOP didn't have much of a chance for re-election, but recently the public whim seems to have been shifting. When it comes to handling the economy, McCain seems (last poll I saw sponsored - I think - by MSNBC) to be favored in that catagory.

And finally, has anyone thought about what's going to happen to the economy when the soldiers do start returning home and hit the labor force?

Anyway, we each take our best guess in the poll booth. As you said, Laura, we see eye-to-eye on a lot things, but you're willing to take a chance on new blood, and I'm not sure I am.

We'll see.


[This message has been edited by Jerry Glenn Hartwig (edited September 11, 2008).]