Bullshit. There were no nuclear power plants within my father's lifetime. The current rate of change in how and where we get energy from is astounding. Just curious what the rate of change in our energy needs to non-fossil methods have been over the last 10 years? How many nuclear power plants have been constructed in the last 10 years in the US? Oh, none were built. But I'm being somehow pessimistic :| You're completely correct. We have lost the knowledge of the ancient hidden mysteries of new-kle-ur power. I guess we might as well just keep mainlining the black shit until we're lost in economic dependency. That we haven't because we've been lead by short-sighted pussies does not mean we can't. But you said the current rate of change is astonding, when really it isn't. How many nuclear powre plants will be constructed in the next 10 years?

Bullshit. There were no nuclear power plants within my father's lifetime. The current rate of change in how and where we get energy from is astounding. Just curious what the rate of change in our energy needs to non-fossil methods have been over the last 10 years? How many nuclear power plants have been constructed in the last 10 years in the US? Oh, none were built. But I'm being somehow pessimistic :| You're completely correct. We have lost the knowledge of the ancient hidden mysteries of new-kle-ur power. I guess we might as well just keep mainlining the black shit until we're lost in economic dependency. That we haven't because we've been lead by short-sighted pussies does not mean we can't. But you said the current rate of change is astonding, when really it isn't. You really do make it pointless to try and discuss things with you. If you'd like to really take a look at just how much has changed in our technology for energy generation over the last 60 years and honestly consider what your recidivist attitudes will lead to you can do it without my hand holding. It is not a pretty picture for America or America's economy.

Even if this was the case and voting in Obama would do nothing to help 'ease' the Middle-East (Not that I agree with this sentiment) there's still the image of America that Canada, Europe, South America, Africa, Cuba, Australia, etc. see and if you guys vote in McCain then it's just a further example of how politically ignorant and idiotic you (Americans who voted for McCain) have sunk. Sorry but the American image is something you may not be aware of but everyone else sees it and hates what you guys have become in a matter of 8 years (maybe more but for the most part the past 8 years has been the deal breaker). Why would your opinion of who should be President affect my vote? You (I guess) don't live here, and beyond the global interests we all share, your interests don't always align with mine. Would you care if I didn't like your PM or whatever?

Tax Cuts Tax Cuts Terrorists Tax Cuts

Even if this was the case and voting in Obama would do nothing to help 'ease' the Middle-East (Not that I agree with this sentiment) there's still the image of America that Canada, Europe, South America, Africa, Cuba, Australia, etc. see and if you guys vote in McCain then it's just a further example of how politically ignorant and idiotic you (Americans who voted for McCain) have sunk. Sorry but the American image is something you may not be aware of but everyone else sees it and hates what you guys have become in a matter of 8 years (maybe more but for the most part the past 8 years has been the deal breaker). Why would your opinion of who should be President affect my vote? You (I guess) don't live here, and beyond the global interests we all share, your interests don't always align with mine. Would you care if I didn't like your PM or whatever? So are global relations pointless? Does America exist in a vacuum much like how you live in a vacuum? Would it hurt me if you hated my PM (Stephen Harper, Canada)? Not really. But thankfully the parliament system ensures me that I can get rid of a leader if he was doing such a shitty job that Bush is doing so it's a moot issue.

Even if this was the case and voting in Obama would do nothing to help 'ease' the Middle-East (Not that I agree with this sentiment) there's still the image of America that Canada, Europe, South America, Africa, Cuba, Australia, etc. see and if you guys vote in McCain then it's just a further example of how politically ignorant and idiotic you (Americans who voted for McCain) have sunk. Sorry but the American image is something you may not be aware of but everyone else sees it and hates what you guys have become in a matter of 8 years (maybe more but for the most part the past 8 years has been the deal breaker). Why would your opinion of who should be President affect my vote? You (I guess) don't live here, and beyond the global interests we all share, your interests don't always align with mine. Would you care if I didn't like your PM or whatever? There's the American attitude the world has come to know and love. Here's a clue... the sun is setting on the American empire... there is little or nothing we can do to change that. We can either work now to try and repair our image abroad, or sink into obscurity as global pariah's... Don't worry, I already know which one you neo-cons will choose...

If you'd like to really take a look at just how much has changed in our technology for energy generation over the last 60 years and honestly consider what your recidivist attitudes will lead to you can do it without my hand holding. It is not a pretty picture for America or America's economy. I think you're assigning positions to me that I don't hold. I previously said I pretty much agree that investments in alternate sources of energy are a good idea, and I certainly don't think we shouldn't reduce how much foreign oil we use. All I said was I don't think it's reasonable that we'll completely be off foreign oil in the next 50 or 60 years. So what are you basing the label "recidivist" on?

[Obama] wants to raise your taxes in very difficult times. I don't think you should raise people's taxes in any time. Ok, I hate to point out the obvious, but doesn't that statement commit us to ultimately paying no taxes whatsoever? (Or, admittedly, paying the present amount forever, but there's always a reason for some tax break or other...)

A country's opinion of you has nothing to do with deals you may or may not be able to make with them. Also, being disliked in general makes people more willing to invest into your failing economy!

If you'd like to really take a look at just how much has changed in our technology for energy generation over the last 60 years and honestly consider what your recidivist attitudes will lead to you can do it without my hand holding. It is not a pretty picture for America or America's economy. I think you're assigning positions to me that I don't hold. I previously said I pretty much agree that investments in alternate sources of energy are a good idea, and I certainly don't think we shouldn't reduce how much foreign oil we use. All I said was I don't think it's reasonable that we'll completely be off foreign oil in the next 50 or 60 years. So what are you basing the label "recidivist" on? Why would you say that? The increase in efficiency on photovoltaics and wind turbines in the last 30 years alone point to the next 50-60 years being a much more balanced energy situation. Especially since we finally scrapped some of the shittier designs as more research was done. Battery technology is getting to the point where energy storage in 2050 won't be impossible for fairly long periods of time. Etc. Oh, and we'll have 27 new reactors started in the next couple years, let alone decade. Our nuclear power generation capacity is about to increase by 1/3rd.

All I said was I don't think it's reasonable that we'll completely be off foreign oil in the next 50 or 60 years. May I ask what you are basing this on?

[Obama] wants to raise your taxes in very difficult times. I don't think you should raise people's taxes in any time. Ok, I hate to point out the obvious, but doesn't that statement commit us to ultimately paying no taxes whatsoever? (Or, admittedly, paying the present amount forever, but there's always a reason for some tax break or other...) He's just using the old campaign nugget of No New Taxes without the actual well known bullshit line. Constantly cutting taxes with no ability to tax increase is a bad idea overall and not fiscally sound. However, you can get the other team to do the tax increases in order to save your ass, and then blame them for being the bad guys. It's good uncle/bad uncle!

So are global relations pointless? Does America exist in a vacuum much like how you live in a vacuum? I already alluded to the fact that we do share a limited set of common interests and all things being equal, I'd rather have friendly relations with any given country. But your argument seems to be "pick the guy we want or we'll hate you and call you names". Sorry, that doesn't make any kind of case for anything.

There's the American attitude the world has come to know and love. Here's a clue... the sun is setting on the American empire... there is little or nothing we can do to change that. We can either work now to try and repair our image abroad, or sink into obscurity as global pariah's... Don't worry, I already know which one you neo-cons will choose... Well it definitely adds to the evangelicals eschatological narrative. I wouldn't be surprised if we polled those "hard working" americans, they would actually prefer the 'us against the combined dark forces of the world' option.

So are global relations pointless? Does America exist in a vacuum much like how you live in a vacuum? I already alluded to the fact that we do share a limited set of common interests and all things being equal, I'd rather have friendly relations with any given country. But your argument seems to be "pick the guy we want or we'll hate you and call you names". Sorry, that doesn't make any kind of case for anything. More if you don't vote for the guy we like our trans-atlantic relationship will needlessly suffer relative to if you had picked that other guy.

So are global relations pointless? Does America exist in a vacuum much like how you live in a vacuum? I already alluded to the fact that we do share a limited set of common interests and all things being equal, I'd rather have friendly relations with any given country. But your argument seems to be "pick the guy we want or we'll hate you and call you names". Sorry, that doesn't make any kind of case for anything. Closer to "we already hate you. policies proposed by guy X makes us still hate you. policies proposed by guy Y may make us hate you less." I think we can both agree that Bush's policies have put a severe dent in our country's image.

Here's a clue... the sun is setting on the American empire... there is little or nothing we can do to change that. itt defeatocrats

More if you don't vote for the guy we like our trans-atlantic relationship will needlessly suffer relative to if you had picked that other guy. That might be true, but I don't think it rises to a level that demands consideration when you consider the other issues involved in picking a President. It's not a global popularity contest.

More if you don't vote for the guy we like our trans-atlantic relationship will needlessly suffer relative to if you had picked that other guy. That might be true, but I don't think it rises to a level that demands consideration when you consider the other issues involved in picking a President. It's not a global popularity contest. Based on previous posts, you're seemingly claiming that nothing about a Presidential candidate, outside of their voting record and policy promises, is worth consideration.

Here's a clue... the sun is setting on the American empire... there is little or nothing we can do to change that. itt defeatocrats I've always loved this moniker, if only for the irony that Republican policy has gone a long way towards enabling actual defeat of American interests.

Here's a clue... the sun is setting on the American empire... there is little or nothing we can do to change that. itt defeatocrats This is what the country with the BEST relationship with the U.S. thinks of them. It's not that hard to get Europeans to like you. Just say a couple of poorly pronounced sentences in their mother tongue, quick photo op with a monarch who hasn't had power in 200 years and you're done. But you somehow fucked it up. Spoiler: show spoiler hide spoiler Look, they called it a disaster.

[Obama] wants to raise your taxes in very difficult times. I don't think you should raise people's taxes in any time. Ok, I hate to point out the obvious, but doesn't that statement commit us to ultimately paying no taxes whatsoever? (Or, admittedly, paying the present amount forever, but there's always a reason for some tax break or other...) He's just using the old campaign nugget of No New Taxes without the actual well known bullshit line. Constantly cutting taxes with no ability to tax increase is a bad idea overall and not fiscally sound. However, you can get the other team to do the tax increases in order to save your ass, and then blame them for being the bad guys. It's good uncle/bad uncle! Which one touches you?

Here's a clue... the sun is setting on the American empire... there is little or nothing we can do to change that. itt defeatocrats I've always loved this moniker, if only for the irony that Republican policy has gone a long way towards enabling actual defeat of American interests. Good to know.

Here's a clue... the sun is setting on the American empire... there is little or nothing we can do to change that. itt defeatocrats I've always loved this moniker, if only for the irony that Republican policy has gone a long way towards enabling actual defeat of American interests. Thank you!! That's what makes this thing so freaking funny...

More if you don't vote for the guy we like our trans-atlantic relationship will needlessly suffer relative to if you had picked that other guy. That might be true, but I don't think it rises to a level that demands consideration when you consider the other issues involved in picking a President. It's not a global popularity contest. Yes, it really kind of is, Deacon. The President is our face to the world, and who we choose does send a message. When people say that the sun is setting on the American Empire, they're not saying that we're losing, it means that the era of unilateralism without consequence has ended. One of our choices tells the world we're ready to work with them, the other choice tells the world that we continue to be happy with going it alone.