Yes, we can.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

McCain voted with Bush over 90% of the time, and he's been in Washington for 26 years. Yet people like that he's using the word "change". (not you, Moonliner.) Bwahahaha!

Well, couldn't the same be said of Obama's choice in Biden? There's certainly nothing to do with change there - he's been in Washington longer than McCain.

Also, I'm curious as to where that 90% of the vote comes from. I've heard that as well, but have also heard that this includes even ceremonial and numerous proclamations and unanimous senate votes, for such things as "we proclaim today to be soccor mom day" or whatever, getting unanimous approval and ceremonial ruibber stamps of the President's signature.

Again, I have not researched it at all. Just what I've heard, so I'm curious.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Well, couldn't the same be said of Obama's choice in Biden? There's certainly nothing to do with change there - he's been in Washington longer than McCain.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I who cares about VP?

[Moonliner]

So here is what I found so far....

Obama sponsored a bill which would have increased the level of family sponsored immigrants from 226,000 to 567,000. McCain voted no.

Obama voted for an amendment that declared English to be the common language of the United States. John McCain voted no.

Obama voted against the flag desecration amendment while John McCain voted yes

Obama did not vote on the moveon.org resolution that criticized the group for bashing General Petraeus. McCain voted yes.

Obama voted for an amendment that opposes criticism of our military. John McCain voted against this bill.

Obama voted to grant habeas corpus to persons being detained by the US. Mccain voted against it.

Both rejected the same sex marriage amendment

Obama voted for a congressional committee to study how contracts were to be handed out in Iraq and Afghanistan. McCain voted no

Obama voted against Alito and Roberts. McCain voted yes.

Obama did not vote on the economic stimulus package. McCain voted yes.

Obama voted for a temporary crude oil profits tax. McCain voted against it.

Obama voted to provide 500 million to help vets deal with PTSD and substance abuse. McCain voted no.

Obama voted against CAFTA. McCain voted yes

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I who cares about VP?

Well, I read in the paper today there's a 1 in 5 chance of any sitting U.S. President dying in office. I have no idea what that stat is based on. It was printed in the L.A. Weekly.

But John McCain, if elected, would be the oldest serving president in U.S. History.


That combined with the absolute loathing I hold for his V.P. choice leaves me concerned about the Vice Presidency more than I ever have been for any other election.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Well, I read in the paper today there's a 1 in 5 chance of any sitting U.S. President dying in office. I have no idea what that stat is based on. It was printed in the L.A. Weekly.

But John McCain, if elected, would be the oldest serving president in U.S. History.


That combined with the absolute loathing I hold for his V.P. choice leaves me concerned about the Vice Presidency more than I ever have been for any other election.

That stat would be based on the fact that out of 43 Presidents, 8 have died in office (making it actually slightly less than 1 in 5).

And whether the odds are slightly increased or not remains irrelevant to me. I'm voting for the Presidential candidate and I have to assume that the one that makes it in there is going to be the one that is doing the job. Unless the VP is someone so entirely anathema to the reasons I'm voting for the primary candidate that it would be impossible for one to even understand why they'd choose to run together, it just doesn't matter in the least to me.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Well, I read in the paper today there's a 1 in 5 chance of any sitting U.S. President dying in office. I have no idea what that stat is based on. It was printed in the L.A. Weekly.

But John McCain, if elected, would be the oldest serving president in U.S. History.


That combined with the absolute loathing I hold for his V.P. choice leaves me concerned about the Vice Presidency more than I ever have been for any other election.

(William Henry Harrison + Zachary Taylor + Abraham Lincoln + James Garfield + William McKinley + Warren Harding + Franklin Roosevelt +John Kennedy) divided by 43 presidents = ~ 18% or 1 in ~5.5

However, those are just the ones that died. I think you would have to add Nixon to that list since he did not finish his term. That brings us to 20% or exactly 1 in 5.

Of course I think it might be more accurate to count the number of terms rather than the number of presidents. We are currently in the 55th term. So that gives us ~ 16% or 1 in 6.25 chance of a VP becoming president on any given term.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I who cares about VP?

You haven't....however Palin's experience has become a major issue in the media, meaning that obviously many people do care. A whole bunch of people on this board seem to care. My comment wasn't intended to suggest you did.