# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=605 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 606 --- ## [Democrats, listen up if you'd like to win the election.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-listen-up-if-youd-like-to-win-the-election/463026)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-listen-up-if-youd-like-to-win-the-election/463026 "2008-09-16T15:14:05Z")
Okay, I’m going to let you in on an open secret. I can tell you why Democrats continually lose Presidential elections. I can tell you what Americans want. The good news is it has nothing to do with your policies. It … --- ## [Obama Voters: Chill - He's No Fool](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-voters-chill-hes-no-fool/463678)
**Author:** [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-voters-chill-hes-no-fool/463678 "2008-09-16T14:43:48Z")
I have a friend in California and she is (quite seriously) planning to move to Europe if Obama loses. She is about ready to have a coronary from reading polls and watching CNN like some political crack whore. It is all I… --- ## [Female Fan of Palin? Consider this...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-fan-of-palin-consider-this/463592)
**Author:** [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2008, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-fan-of-palin-consider-this/463592 "2008-09-16T14:24:44Z")
Say the McCain/Palin ticket prevails. We remain in Iraq, Afghanistan, and/or get into it with Russia. There’s no way that’ll happen, you say. We don’t have the troops. True enough, from what I’ve heard. What if there’s … --- ## [Greenspan says this we are "more than likely" to enter recession](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greenspan-says-this-we-are-more-than-likely-to-enter-recession/463613)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2008, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greenspan-says-this-we-are-more-than-likely-to-enter-recession/463613 "2008-09-16T12:29:59Z")
From here. He says it’s the worst crisis of his career. Is Greenspan overstating, understating, or nailing the extent of the problem? --- ## [McCain as Liar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-as-liar/463755)
**Author:** [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-as-liar/463755 "2008-09-16T04:13:57Z")
Over the last week or so, a lot of media outlets have started pushing back on McCain’s advertising. Mainstream pundits are writing columns calling him a liar; news outlets are openly and with a bit of hostility challeng… --- ## [Racism ,how big a factor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107)
**Author:** [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107 "2008-09-16T02:07:32Z")
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/27964489.html Heres a column in the Enquirer discussing the factor of race in the election. pollsters in Penn. were told by 12 percent of the exiting voters hat race mattered. How… --- ## [How/what will move the battleground states?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-what-will-move-the-battleground-states/463778)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-what-will-move-the-battleground-states/463778 "2008-09-16T01:36:18Z")
According to Rasmussen, McCain and Obama are tied in Pennsylvania, (with Zogby saying McCain is ahead by 5 points), tied in Virginia (though Zogby sez McCain leads by 6 there; that’s seriously weird), and has McCain with… --- ## [McCain called a liar to his face on THE VIEW](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-called-a-liar-to-his-face-on-the-view/463421)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-called-a-liar-to-his-face-on-the-view/463421 "2008-09-15T21:44:14Z")
Apologies if there’s already a thread. I couldn’t find one, but my search feature is wacky at the moment. McCain goes on The View and is flat out said to be a liar (well, specifically, that he promotes lies about Obama… --- ## [HRC in; Biden out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hrc-in-biden-out/463423)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hrc-in-biden-out/463423 "2008-09-15T18:03:35Z")
It’s not out of the realm of possibility. To what effect…? --- ## [Computer + entropy thought experiment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-entropy-thought-experiment/463365)
**Author:** [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-entropy-thought-experiment/463365 "2008-09-15T17:45:25Z")
Say you put a computer into a box that can recycle the heat generated by the computer back into electricity (which goes back into powering the computer) with 100% efficiency (we’ll pretend the computer leaks energy only … --- ## [Isn't Sarah Palin basically a female George W. Bush?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-sarah-palin-basically-a-female-george-w-bush/463561)
**Author:** [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-sarah-palin-basically-a-female-george-w-bush/463561 "2008-09-15T16:54:54Z")
I wrote this in another thread: So I ask, aside from gender, how is Palin different from Bush? --- ## [Has Sarah Palin scared Obama/Democrats/liberals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sarah-palin-scared-obama-democrats-liberals/462886)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-sarah-palin-scared-obama-democrats-liberals/462886 "2008-09-15T16:42:59Z")
I hope this won’t be considered “yet another Sarah Palin thread.” Hopefully it won’t, because I’d like to focus on others’ reactions to her, and not the woman herself. Many of her supporters say that, based on the volu… --- ## [Why don't politicians ever make malware more of an issue.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-politicians-ever-make-malware-more-of-an-issue/463659)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-politicians-ever-make-malware-more-of-an-issue/463659 "2008-09-15T16:18:55Z")
It seems to me that pledging to go after malware creators, wherever they are, smoking them out of their holes and making hideous examples out them would be a dynamite issue for either side. Everybody from the most tree-h… --- ## [McCainites for lower taxes: do you make over 250G?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccainites-for-lower-taxes-do-you-make-over-250g/462926)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccainites-for-lower-taxes-do-you-make-over-250g/462926 "2008-09-15T14:41:15Z")
This is for those who support McCain primarily \* because he will tax Americans (he says) less than Obama will: Taking Obama at his word that he will cause the taxes of those earning over $250,000 to go up (while keeping… --- ## [Should I vote in November?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-vote-in-november/463418)
**Author:** [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-vote-in-november/463418 "2008-09-15T13:18:24Z")
\[Mods - this may be better fit for IMHO. Your call\] Of course you should vote, I hear you saying. What kind of stupid question is that? Voting is a sacred duty… and I agree with that. But it’s a bit more complicated th… --- ## [Mediocrity and equality of opportunity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocrity-and-equality-of-opportunity/463289)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocrity-and-equality-of-opportunity/463289 "2008-09-15T12:52:57Z")
Note: While I use Palin as an example in this OP, I’m not interested in talking about Palin so much as what Palin represents. If you just want to talk about Palin, there’s lots of threads for that. I want to talk abou… --- ## [How Long Will German Firms Be Tainted by Holocaust?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-german-firms-be-tainted-by-holocaust/463669)
**Author:** [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-german-firms-be-tainted-by-holocaust/463669 "2008-09-15T12:43:34Z")
I bring this up because of the following story: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2008/09/12/2008-09-12\_giants\_jets\_end\_stadium\_naming\_negotiati.html Essentially, the German financial conglomerate Allianz was … --- ## [What's something you don't like about your own party's platform?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-something-you-dont-like-about-your-own-partys-platform/463374)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-something-you-dont-like-about-your-own-partys-platform/463374 "2008-09-15T10:26:22Z")
In interest of Doper bipartisanship and to show we’re not all Flavor-Aide drinkers, what’s something about the platform of the party you plan to vote for you’d change if you could? (This is really more imho, but given … --- ## [Palin punts in the interview with Charlie Gibson](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 310\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178 "2008-09-15T05:19:30Z")
In tonight’s portion of the his interview with Sarah Palin, Charlie Gibson asked two direct questions (among others) that Palin tried to evade. To his credit, Gibson persisted, rephrasing each question in a more direct … --- ## [Mayor Palin tried to force her local Library to ban books she didn't like.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayor-palin-tried-to-force-her-local-library-to-ban-books-she-didnt-like/461900)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 353\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayor-palin-tried-to-force-her-local-library-to-ban-books-she-didnt-like/461900 "2008-09-15T04:29:19Z")
I think this deserves its own thread. Let’s see hpw the Palin apologists spin their way out of this one. NYTimes This is is pretty stark and indefensible. This, along with her desire to teach creationism in public sch… --- ## [Obama campaign finally fights back--What do you think?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-finally-fights-back-what-do-you-think/463286)
**Author:** [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-finally-fights-back-what-do-you-think/463286 "2008-09-15T02:31:46Z")
The Obama campaign has release two new ads, both of which are more aggressive in tone than we’ve seen before. Check them out here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gG53SH A friend of mine t… --- ## [Karl Rove Says McCain Attack Ads Go Too Far](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-says-mccain-attack-ads-go-too-far/463593)
**Author:** [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-says-mccain-attack-ads-go-too-far/463593 "2008-09-15T02:30:00Z")
Rove: McCain went ‘too far’ in ads Man, it’s like being called a sleazeball by Larry Flynt… --- ## [Obama loses then wins the election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-loses-then-wins-the-election/463607)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-loses-then-wins-the-election/463607 "2008-09-15T00:31:53Z")
A few things happen but are not impossible. McCain wins a few key states by a few votes (like Michigan), so he wins the electoral college but loses the popular vote. A few Democrats seeing a chance to pull an end-aroun… --- ## [Do Republicans understand the economy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-republicans-understand-the-economy/463439)
**Author:** [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-republicans-understand-the-economy/463439 "2008-09-14T22:52:18Z")
I often hear that Democrats don’t understand the economy. That they are idealists whose ideals harm the economy in practice. It almost seems to be “common knowledge.” And yet, reality strongly disagrees with this “commo… --- ## [How important is experience for a presidential nominee?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-experience-for-a-presidential-nominee/463556)
**Author:** [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-experience-for-a-presidential-nominee/463556 "2008-09-14T20:16:59Z")
I’ve heard both Republicans and Democrats rallying over the lack of experience the other party has (both for Obama and Palin), but it made me start to think… Exactly how important is executive experience for presidential… --- ## [PASSIONS: Why is this election so different?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passions-why-is-this-election-so-different/462148)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passions-why-is-this-election-so-different/462148 "2008-09-14T19:09:57Z")
I’ve usually been able to smile and nod and agree to disagree when arguing politics, but I’ve had moments in this election when I had to literally leave a room or when I had to hold my jaws shut until my teeth hurt becau… --- ## [A compromise on universal health care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-compromise-on-universal-health-care/463511)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-compromise-on-universal-health-care/463511 "2008-09-14T16:36:04Z")
First of all, I’m an asshole. I have busted my ass and spent a lot of money, time, and energy to become a professional in a field with health insurance available (education). But this doesn’t mean that I am so uncompas… --- ## [Palin Red Lips Supporters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-red-lips-supporters/463152)
**Author:** [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-red-lips-supporters/463152 "2008-09-14T15:18:05Z")
Does this look a little freaky to anyone else? Is this a widespread thing? --- ## [Obama ridicules McCain's disability](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 170\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493 "2008-09-14T15:08:56Z")
In his new ad, Obama points out the fact that McCain doesn’t use a computer to make him look woefully behind the times. The fact is that due to his torture in Vietnam, McCain can’t do many things that involve fine motor… --- ## [How much does the average American know about non-Christian religions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-the-average-american-know-about-non-christian-religions/463422)
**Author:** [@SomeBodyUK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SomeBodyUK)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2008, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-the-average-american-know-about-non-christian-religions/463422 "2008-09-14T11:56:42Z")
I’m a British guy in California. A week ago, a pastor approached me in the street, and said I should be a Christian cos “other religions are incorrect and Jesus is the the true path to salvation”. I asked him a few quest… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=604) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=606)