# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=590 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 591 --- ## [GM may merge with Chrysler. Where does that leave Ford?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gm-may-merge-with-chrysler-where-does-that-leave-ford/467437)
**Author:** [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2008, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gm-may-merge-with-chrysler-where-does-that-leave-ford/467437 "2008-10-22T10:22:19Z")
If the merger occurs, what does Ford have to do in order to survive? Will it sell to an oversees automaker or merge with Toyota? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/business/11auto.html?exprod=myyahoo Not too many years … --- ## [Think you're not a racist? (or other -ist) Check this out.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-youre-not-a-racist-or-other-ist-check-this-out/468145)
**Author:** [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2008, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-youre-not-a-racist-or-other-ist-check-this-out/468145 "2008-10-22T09:06:48Z")
There seem to be a couple of threads in the Pit at the moment where some folks are arguing that they’re only against illegal immigrants because of the “illegal” bit, not because they’re racist. That reminded me of Projec… --- ## [If the Election were held tomorrow, and McCain won](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-election-were-held-tomorrow-and-mccain-won/468777)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2008, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-election-were-held-tomorrow-and-mccain-won/468777 "2008-10-22T08:19:28Z")
Suppose the polling situation on Nov 3rd is basically the same as it is today. And suppose on Nov 4th, the election is held and McCain wins. What do you do? -FrL- --- ## [I can't balance the US budget in four years! Help!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-balance-the-us-budget-in-four-years-help/468140)
**Author:** [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2008, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-balance-the-us-budget-in-four-years-help/468140 "2008-10-22T06:48:26Z")
I thought it would be interesting to try to balance the federal budget - I wanted to see what it would take. It’s absolutely crazy! I’ve posted some thoughts and attempts below, and I thought it would be interesting to … --- ## [Police drag protesters from blocking Palin motorcade](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-drag-protesters-from-blocking-palin-motorcade/468885)
**Author:** [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-drag-protesters-from-blocking-palin-motorcade/468885 "2008-10-22T02:35:02Z")
Police drag protesters away from blocking Palin Motorcade. What the hell? I’m not a fan of Palin’s but why? Who cares if her motorcade goes by? Who are these “Red Pill” bozos? I can’t find anything on them as of this ti… --- ## [Are "swaps" a good or bad thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-swaps-a-good-or-bad-thing/468879)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-swaps-a-good-or-bad-thing/468879 "2008-10-22T00:01:43Z")
So often I hear folks ask "Who is to blame for the current financial crisis, home buyers who obtained mortgages they could not afford, or the banks that lent them money? But in the cases of real estate mortgages, at lea… --- ## [If Osama bin Laden was found tomorrow...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-osama-bin-laden-was-found-tomorrow/468678)
**Author:** [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-osama-bin-laden-was-found-tomorrow/468678 "2008-10-21T23:41:17Z")
Scenario: You wake up tomorrow morning (or Nov. 3rd, if you like) and see the news that Osama bin Laden has been captured in Pakistan. Would you change your vote to McCain? Would you change your vote to Obama? Would … --- ## [What would happen if massive amounts of gold became available?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-massive-amounts-of-gold-became-available/468828)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-massive-amounts-of-gold-became-available/468828 "2008-10-21T23:13:53Z")
Per several ongoing threads regarding gold, which I didn’t want to hijack: The point has been made repeatedly that it would be utterly impossible for the amount of economic activity in the world today to be backed by gol… --- ## [Can OPEC cut production without cutting their own throats?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-opec-cut-production-without-cutting-their-own-throats/468937)
**Author:** [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-opec-cut-production-without-cutting-their-own-throats/468937 "2008-10-21T21:28:03Z")
Link. We cut consumption, they cut production. Who blinks first? Is it possible for the US, India and China to restrict their demand for oil enough that OPEC will have to maintain production just to balance their books?… --- ## [Lets Talk About ACORN](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-acorn/468906)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-acorn/468906 "2008-10-21T20:05:50Z")
I can’t recall hearing about them until recently and visited Wikipedia to learn more. To start off, allegations of fraud and their impact on the election are a non issue for me. That is I don’t believe they are relevant… --- ## [Specific Obama Criticisms (Socialism) -- Counterpoints?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-obama-criticisms-socialism-counterpoints/468876)
**Author:** [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-obama-criticisms-socialism-counterpoints/468876 "2008-10-21T18:24:53Z")
I know Dopers have got much better Google-fu than I do, and I’m betting these questions have been answered already (perhaps here?). I’ve been debating with a Republican friend and she’s got some criticisms of Obama’s po… --- ## [Wow! This is disturbing - Howard Stern Obama Clip](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-this-is-disturbing-howard-stern-obama-clip/468400)
**Author:** [@jojobean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jojobean)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-this-is-disturbing-howard-stern-obama-clip/468400 "2008-10-21T15:52:20Z")
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=194983 Like Obama/McCain/whoever, but this is insane. Sorry if this was posted before. --- ## [Presidential Nominee Medical Files](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nominee-medical-files/468838)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nominee-medical-files/468838 "2008-10-21T15:45:12Z")
Should The American public be made aware that an nominee lost both his testicles due to mumps several years ago? --- ## [What happened in North Carolina? \[Election Polling\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-in-north-carolina-election-polling/464077)
**Author:** [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-in-north-carolina-election-polling/464077 "2008-10-21T13:51:54Z")
For a long time, NC was considered a potential battleground state. Obama did well here in the Primary. There are a lot of urban areas and a lot of young professionals who typically poll well with Obama. On the flip side,… --- ## [Undecided Voters:](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/undecided-voters/468559)
**Author:** [@Professor\_So\_And\_So](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Professor_So_And_So)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/undecided-voters/468559 "2008-10-21T13:39:22Z")
With all of the obvious differences between the two presidential tickets in this election, I’m having a hard time understanding what the reasons may be for still being undecided at this point. I feel that anyone paying … --- ## [Abortion clinic protestors: terrorists?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-clinic-protestors-terrorists/468535)
**Author:** [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-clinic-protestors-terrorists/468535 "2008-10-21T04:27:11Z")
What would happen if we classified abortion clinic protestors as terrorists? I suspect that the objective is the same: to control public behavior through fear, intimidation tactics, and so on. To clarify: standing ou… --- ## [This Presidential campaign is so unfocused it is truly weird.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-presidential-campaign-is-so-unfocused-it-is-truly-weird/468839)
**Author:** [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-presidential-campaign-is-so-unfocused-it-is-truly-weird/468839 "2008-10-21T04:24:52Z")
Here we are about two weeks away from the election and the “important” campaign issues are nowhere near the forefront. Where’s the discussion about the environment, energy independence, urban problems, mass transit, the… --- ## [Boston Question: mayor james curley: How Corrupt was He?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-question-mayor-james-curley-how-corrupt-was-he/468740)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-question-mayor-james-curley-how-corrupt-was-he/468740 "2008-10-21T03:01:03Z")
I was reading a biograpgy of Curley: he was a Boston legend, having served for many years as mayor 9he was at other times a MA governor, and representative in Congress). The concensus seems to be that curley was very cor… --- ## [McCain says Obama's cash will lead to scandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-says-obamas-cash-will-lead-to-scandal/468671)
**Author:** [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-says-obamas-cash-will-lead-to-scandal/468671 "2008-10-21T02:50:21Z")
Is this McCain’s new line of attack? I may not have gotten the drift, but is McCain now saying that Obama has somehow illegally gained his campaign funds? http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081019/pl\_politico/14719 --- ## [More good cites for U.S. vote fraud by the GOP?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-good-cites-for-u-s-vote-fraud-by-the-gop/468849)
**Author:** [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-good-cites-for-u-s-vote-fraud-by-the-gop/468849 "2008-10-21T02:42:59Z")
I emailed some friends and some siblings a discussion of the fact that more and more early voters in West Virginia have reported that their touch-screen votes for Obama and other Democrats were automatically switched to … --- ## [YPM makes ACORN look like a bunch of pikers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ypm-makes-acorn-look-like-a-bunch-of-pikers/468556)
**Author:** [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ypm-makes-acorn-look-like-a-bunch-of-pikers/468556 "2008-10-21T02:10:47Z")
Linky YPM, a voter registration group hired by the GOP, allegedly deceived Californian voters into registering as Republicans. From the linked article The article (from the LA times) mentions there are investigations… --- ## [What do you make of this Obama request for investigation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-make-of-this-obama-request-for-investigation/468810)
**Author:** [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-make-of-this-obama-request-for-investigation/468810 "2008-10-21T00:12:21Z")
Obama camp has sent a letter to the DOJ to investigate leaks in the ACORN investigation. An investigation of an investigation? Is this Obama trying to quell any fraud or a smear against McCain? Or both? Does anyone kno… --- ## [Chicago Tribune endorses Obama (first time they ever endorsed a democrat)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-tribune-endorses-obama-first-time-they-ever-endorsed-a-democrat/468436)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-tribune-endorses-obama-first-time-they-ever-endorsed-a-democrat/468436 "2008-10-20T23:13:08Z")
Linkage to story. So, a right leaning noteworthy newspaper has thrown in for Obama. I am curious if anyone here who is undecided or intending to vote for McCain find their argument persuasive? Or if not this alone the… --- ## [Joe the Plumber](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber/468253)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 160\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber/468253 "2008-10-20T21:16:20Z")
Joe the Plumber got plenty of mention in last night’s debate. But I wasn’t clear exactly what his situation was, and why Obama didn’t respond a little differently. If Joe was in position to buy a business that made ove… --- ## [Meet Ayers. \[Fixed spelling.)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-ayers-fixed-spelling/468420)
**Author:** [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-ayers-fixed-spelling/468420 "2008-10-20T20:49:44Z")
http://current.com/items/89410378\_who\_is\_the\_real\_bill\_ayers Here is the first interview of Ayers I have seen. This is the boogie man of Palins dreams. He explains that when he said he wishes he could have done more to … --- ## [Assisted Suicide - For or against.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assisted-suicide-for-or-against/468720)
**Author:** [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assisted-suicide-for-or-against/468720 "2008-10-20T20:21:36Z")
I was reading in a paper at the weekend an article about the parents of a paralysed young man assisting in his suicide by flying him to a clinic in Switzerland. See link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7677488.stm I t… --- ## [John McCain wants to spread the wealth around](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mccain-wants-to-spread-the-wealth-around/468225)
**Author:** [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-mccain-wants-to-spread-the-wealth-around/468225 "2008-10-20T19:50:12Z")
There were lots of remarkable moments in last night’s debate, but one of the most interesting to me was McCain’s sudden lurch at Obama about the latter’s encounter with Joe The Plumber (and Natural Law Party member, and … --- ## [What is the evidence that McCain and Palin are racists?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341)
**Author:** [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-evidence-that-mccain-and-palin-are-racists/467341 "2008-10-20T19:07:50Z")
I’ve heard a fair number of Dopers accuse McCain and Palin of closet racism over the last couple of months. Some people appear positive that impulsive McCain or ruthless Palin is going to cut loose with some racial slur… --- ## [Resolved: Republicans Commit Voter Fraud](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-republicans-commit-voter-fraud/468704)
**Author:** [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-republicans-commit-voter-fraud/468704 "2008-10-20T18:38:16Z")
http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2006/8/25/gop\_leader\_arrested\_by\_tbi\_for\_voter\_fraud Republicans whine a lot about voter fraud. The ACORN controversy being one incident. Someone has pointed out correctly that at l… --- ## [Very seriously: why would anyone vote for McCain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-seriously-why-would-anyone-vote-for-mccain/468013)
**Author:** [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Replies:** 183\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-seriously-why-would-anyone-vote-for-mccain/468013 "2008-10-20T16:54:09Z")
I’m very serious. Because it seems painfully clear to me that politics and policies are utterly beside the point by now. Between Palin’s clear lack of fitness to be standing ready to take over from Mr. 72 and not that … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=589) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=591)