"If any of you are offended by my belief in evolution, then please know, that down the hall there is a geology class where they learn about things from millions of years ago that led to our discovery of fossil fuel. So, the next time you get in your car to drive to your church, know that you are using something that was discovered because of our belief in evolution, while you go to that place where they teach you not to believe in it." -Dr. Paddock
I LOVE MY PHYSICS TEACHER.

Sorry if this gets annoying! =/







Ps; Just watched Little Women. Great actresses/actors. I love that movie!

First 2008 Presidential Debate! Foreign Policy and National Security. Jim Lehrer as the anchor.
Notes...


1952 - Eisenhower quote: "We must achieve both security and solvency. In fact, the foundation of military strength is economic strength"
Question: "Gentleman, at this very moment tonight, where do you stand on the financial recovery plan?" Two minutes.
Obama:
-Involved in two wars, and worst financial crisis since the Depression.
-Impact on all sectors of the economy.
-Need to move swiftly and wisely and protect tax payers.
-Make sure that we have oversight over the process.
-Make sure that tax payers have the chance to get the money back and maybe gain some.
-Make sure that none of the money goes to head CEO bank accounts.
-Make sure that we help homeowners. Root problem has to do with foreclosures.
-Need to make sure the middle class is getting a "fair shake."
McCain:
-Mentions Senator Kennedy is in the hospital.
-He hasn't been feeling too great, but he's feeling better tonight.
-He is seeing Republicans and Democrats sitting down to find a solution.
-He's been around a little while.
-The point is, he's seeing Republicans and Democrats sitting together.
-Has to be a package with options, and other elements.
-He went to Washington.
-Cough.
-"To all Americans, this isn't the beginning of the end of the crisis; this is the end of the beginning if we come out with a package that will keep these institutions stable. We have a lot of work to do."
Question: Back to the point, what do you think about the recovery plan. Talk back and forth to each other. We have five minutes to negotiate a deal right here. Giggle. Are you in favor of this plan?
Obama:
-Constructive work is being done.
-Optimistic about coming together with a plan.
-How did we get into the situation in the first place?
-Two years ago, he foresaw that we'd have a problem. Last year, wrote to see if secretary of treasurer would do something about it.
-The economic philosophy is the problem.
McCain:
-He, also, warned about it "and all that."
-The issue of responsibility.
-Eisenhower wrote a letter. And another letter.
-Need to start holding people accountable and reward people who succeed.
-Greed is rewarded.
-People will be held accountable, he promises.
Obama:
-McCain is right about responsibility, but not only when there is a crisis.
-For years, it's only what's best for Wall Street, but not for Main Street.
-Need to find underlying issues.
-Health care systems broken, energy systems not working.
-Fundamentally disagree.
-Need to hold ourselves accountable.
-Average person having their own crisis, and we need to pay attention to them.
McCain:
-We have to fix the system. Fundamental problems.
-No doubt, we have a long way to go.
-I have a fundamental belief in the goodness and strength of the American worker...
-I have a fundamental belief in the United States of America...
-I believe our best days are ahead of us.
Question: "Are there fundamental differences between your approach and Senator Obama's approach to what you would do as President to lead this country out of the crisis?" Two minutes.
McCain:
-Get spending under control in Washington.
-"Gateway Drug"
-Three million dollars to study the bears in Montana.
-He has a pen, and it's kind of old.
-Will veto with that pen.
Obama:
-McCain is right about the process being abused, which is why he suspended all requests in his home state until they clean it up.
-Senator McCain is proposing 300 billion dollars in tax cuts to the wealthiest corporations in the country.
-In McCain's tax plan, CEO's are getting an average of 700 thousand dollars in tax cuts.
-In Obama's program, he calls for a tax cut to 95% of Americans.
-The ordinary American gets a little extra money.
-Over time, that should be better for economic growth.
McCain:
-Obama sucks.
-It has tripled in the last five years and has gone so out of control that it corrupts people.
-Must be cleaned up.
-He has fought against it.
-He's been called the "sheriff" giggle
-He wasn't called Miss Congeniality.
-I want to cut spending and keep taxes low.
Obama:
-Lists things he does.
-Back to original point. No one is denying it has tripled.
-He will go line by line to make sure it's not wasting money.
-Can't afford another four years of Bush's tax beliefs.
McCain:
-The business tax. 2nd highest; 35%. Ireland; 11%.
-Wants to cut business tax so they will stay in the States and won't go to Ireland.
-Tomorrow, or the next time, sometime next week...
-The point is, I want people to have tax cuts. I want every family to have, blahblahblah.
-Worst thing to do is raise taxes on anybody.
-Might be interested in Obama's definition of rich.
Obama:
-95% of you will get a tax cut.
-If you make less than $250,000 a year, you will not see one dime's worth of tax increase.
-McCain is right about high business taxes.
-Problem: many loopholes.
-McCain wants to add an additional tax cut over the loopholes.
-McCain intends to tax health benefits.
McCain:
-He knows they have to move on, but he wants to talk more.
-Walking the talk and talking the talk.
-McCain talks about how he's been the one who's been doing all this good stuff for America. I don't give a shit.
-Give the Americans a choice. Choose whether they want the existing tax code or the new one.
-Obama has shifted his beliefs many times.
-McCain says a lie about Obama. Wo0p.
Obama:
-Tells the truth about the lie McCain mentioned.
Question: "As President, what priorities will you have to give up to pay for the financial recovery plan?"
Obama:
-A range of things may have to be delayed.
-It's hard to anticipate what the budget will look like next year.
-Have to have energy dependence. In ten years time, decrease dependency on Middle Eastern oil by increasing it at home, and working with other sources of energy.
-Have to fix health care system. Average deductible just went up 30%. Will make businesses and families better off.
-Have to make sure we're competing in education. Math, science, etc. Make sure college is affordable.
-Have to rebuild infrastructure. Need to do things structurally. Eliminate programs that don't work.
McCain:
-Have to cut spending.
-Need to examine every agency of government.
-Opposes ethanol.
-Have to do away with cost plus contracts. Need to have fixed cost contracts.
-Defense spending is very important and vital.
-He knows how to do that. He killed it.
-Need to examine every agency of government. (again)
Obama:
-There will be things that have to be delayed.
-Make sure that we are investing in energy. That is a big project.
-McCain is right about making cuts.
-Called McCain "Tom" hahaha!
-Google for Government: list every dollar of federal spending, so the tax payer can see.
McCain:
-Spending freeze on everything except defense.
Obama:
-There are programs that are underfunded that need to be funded, for example, childhood education.
-Need to bring Iraq war to a close.
McCain:
-...some of those being in countries that "don't like us very much." (No shit, McCain!)
-Need offshore drilling and nuclear power.
-700,000 jobs by building 45 nuclear power plants by the year 2030 (or some number like that).
-Climate change.
-He's proud of his work there, with Senator Clinton.
Obama:
-There is no doubt that it will affect our budgets.
-In order to make tough decisions, we need to see where our priorities are.
McCain:
-Don't want to hand health care to the government.
-Wants the families to make the decisions with their doctors, not the government.
-Need to cut spending.
-Adjust spending around to take of veterans.
-He wants to make a recipe.
-Spending got out of control.
-Owe China five hundred "biyon" dollars.
Obama:
-Hard to swallow.
McCain:
-Has not been elected Miss Congeniality. (again)
-"I have a partner that is a good maverick with me now."
Question: "Much has been said about the lessons of Vietnam; what do you see as the lessons of Iraq?
McCain:
-Very clear lessons: cannot have a failed strategy that will then cause you to nearly lose a conflict. (Eh?)
-War was mishandled.
-Requires additional troops.
-The current strategy has succeeded, and we are winning in Iraq. Will come home with victory and honor.
Obama:
-Should we have gone in the first place?
-Six years, he stood up and opposed the war.
-Haven't finished the job in Afghanistan.
-Al Qaeda is stronger now.
-Still spending 10 billion dollars a month.
-The lesson to be drawn: "Never hesitate to use military force. I will not, as President, in order to keep the people safe. But we have to use our military wisely. And we did not use our military wisely in Iraq."
McCain:
-The next President won't have to decide if it was right or not, he will have to decide how we leave and when we leave.
-Oh no! Senator Obama didn't ask for a meeting with the General!
Obama:
-He's very proud of Biden.
-McCain was right about violence being reduced.
-McCain likes to pretend the war started in 2007, but it started in 2003.
McCain:
-Obama doesn't understand the difference between a tactic and a strategy.
-Two-fourths of a July ago... (Isn't two-fourths a half?)
-Obama voted to cut off the funds for the troops.
Obama:
-McCain opposed funding for troops because he didn't believe in a time table.
-Obama opposed it because it was a blank check and had no time table.
-He does know the difference between a tactic and a strategy.
-The question is if it's wise or not.
-Afghan needs more troops and resources because it's weakening.
-The war on terrorism started in Afghan, and it should end there.
-End war responsibly, in phases.
-Capture and kill Bin Laden and crush Al Qaeda.
-We don't have enough troops in Afghanistan because we still have more troops in Iraq than we did before the surge.
McCain:
-Bin Laden and General both think the same thing: Iraq is the central battle ground.
Question: "Do you think more U.S. troops should be sent to Afghanistan? How many and when?"
Obama:
-Yes, as quickly as possible.
-Al Qaeda and Taliban crossing the border and attacking our troops
-I would send two to three additional brigades to Afghanistan.
-In Iraq, no one had that had anything to do with 9/11 was there before we went in. Al Qaeda wasn't there before we went in. Yet we have 4x more troops there than we have in Afghanistan.
-Al Qaeda is the greatest threat against the U.S.
-We need to also press the Afghan government to make sure they are working for their people.
-Deal with growing poppy trade.
-Got to deal with Pakistan.
-Al Qaeda and Taliban have safe havens in Pakistan.
-Pakistan hasn't done what they need to do to get rid of the safe havens.
McCain:
-Will not cut off aid to Pakistan.
-We need the support of the people of Pakistan.
-The strategy in Iraq will have to also be done in Afghanistan.
-Obtain allegiance of Pakistani people.
-He is confident.
-Not just the addition of troops that matter, but also the strategy.
-Will not publicly state that he will attack Pakistan.
Obama:
-I never said I meant to attack Pakistan.
-I said that if the US has Al Qaeda, Bin Laden, top level lieutenants in our sites, and Pakistan is unable or unwilling to act, then we should take 'em out.
-I think that's the right policy.
-McCain is right about being prudent in what they say.
-McCain is right that it's difficult.
McCain:
-Back in 1983, when I was new to the Senate, one of the people I admired most was Reagan. And when he wanted to send in troops to Lebanon... I voted against that because I was afraid that they couldn't make piece. Tragically, I was right.
Then, we had the first Gulf War. I was supported that. I supported going into Bosnia. It was the right thing to do. blahblah-I-have-a-record-blah.
-A woman gave me a bracelet with her son's name on it. He was killed in combat outside of Baghdad. I will wear his bracelet with honor. Promised her to do everything to not make her son's death in vain.
-I know what it's like when an army is defeated. The war I was in, when we had an army. (duh they had an army; it was a war. ?)
Obama:
-I have a bracelet, too. She asked me to make another mother not go what she went through. No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain. We honor all the service they provided.
-Are we making good judgments about keeping America safe, precisely because going into battle is such an enormous step?
-We took our eye off Afghanistan... they are still sending out video tapes... No one is talking about defeat in Iraq, but we are having big problems in Afghan because of that decision.
-McCain said to "muddle through" it. You can't "muddle through"
McCain:
-I've been to these places, and I know what our security requirements are.
-We will prevail in Afghan, but we need the new strategy and we need it to succeed.
-Obama doesn't understand the connection.
Question: "What is your reading from the threat in Iran right now to the security of the United States?" Two minutes.
McCain:
-If Iran gets nukes, it's a threat to Israel.
-Cannot allow a second holocaust.
-Form a league of democracies.
-Russians are preventing significant amount of actions.
-Group countries with common ideas and values. We could impose "significant, meaningful, painful"...with a positive affect.
-Together, we can, affect Iranian behavior.
-Iranians are putting the most lethal IED's in Iraq that are killing young Americans.
-Serious threat. We can act with our friends and allies and reduce the threat.
Obama:
-The single thing that has strengthened Iran has been the war in Iraq.
-McCain is right about not tolerating it.
-We need tougher sanctions.
-We need cooperation from Russia and China.
-Tough, direct diplomacy with Iran.
McCain:
-Obama said twice that he would sit down with *long names here* of Spain without preconditions. These people want to take Israel off the map. Oh noes!
-I'll sit down with anybody, but there must be preconditions.
Obama:
-I reserve the right, as President, to meet with anybody at the time and place of my choosing if I think it will keep America safe.
-McCain's own advisor thinks they should meet with Iran without preconditions, agreeing with Obama.
-There is a difference between preconditions and preparations.
-Bush administration, McCain's own advisors, all think it's important, yet McCain is still resistant. He wouldn't even meet with the prime minister of Spain. Spain is a NATO ally!
McCain:
-I won't set the visitor schedule before I'm President. I don't even have a seal yet.
-Obama doesn't understand that without preconditions... by sitting across the table from someone who called Israel a stinking corpse and wants to take it off the map... you legitimize those comments! This is dangerous, not just naive!
-The average South Korean is three inches taller than the average North Korean. (Thanks for the fun-fact, McCain.)
-North Koreans have broken every agreement they've entered into.
Obama:
-McCain is saying it as if there wouldn't be any preparations.
-The idea is that we do not expect to solve every problem before we initiate clause.
McCain:
-So we sit with him while he says that he wants to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth, and we're supposed to just sit there and say, "No you're not" ?? Oh please!
-By the way, Dr. Kissinger would be interested to here this conversation.
-[continues to interrupt Jim]
Question: "How do you see the relationship with Russia? Do you see them as a competitor? Do you see them as an enemy? Or do you see them as a potential partner?"
Obama:
-Our Russian approach has to be evaluated.
-Their actions in Georgia were unacceptable.
-It's important that we have a unified alliance.
-To Russia, You can't be a superpower and act like a dictatorship.
-We should insist that countries like Ukraine was welcome to join NATO.
-There are areas of common interest with Russia.
-Some of their loose nukes could land in the hands of Al Qaeda.
-You deal with Russia based on the national security interests of the U.S.
-The way they have been behaving lately needs a sharp response.
McCain:
-He was interested in Obama's reaction.
-"I look in Mr Putin's eyes, and I saw three letters: a K, a G, and a B." [smirks]
-Their aggression in Georgia is unacceptable.
-It had everything to do with energy.
-We will support the inclusion of Georgia and Ukraine.
-We should make it clear that Russia violated the agreement.
-I also went to Russia. It was clear their intentions against Georgia.
-We want to work with the Russians, but we have every right to think the Russians will behavior badly.
-Ukraine should understand that we are their friend and ally.
Obama:
-McCain and I mostly agree on these issues.
-Rebuild Georgian economy and I called for the billion dollars that is currently there to help rebuild.
-We have to have foresight and anticipate these problems.
-Putin is feeling powerful.
-We have to have an energy strategy. Increase domestic production.
-We use 25% of the world's oil.
-Alternative energy.
-McCain has voted against it in the past.
McCain:
-Offshore drilling is very important and will help temporarily relieve energy requirements.
Obama:
-Has never objected to nuclear waste, he only said that it was for safe handling of it.
Question: "What do you think the likelihood is that there would be another 9/11 type of attack on the continental United States?"
McCain:
-I think it's much less than it was the day after 9/11.
-We have a safer nation, but we're a long way from safe.
-We need to make sure that we have trained interrogators so we never torture a prisoner ever again.
-Work more closely with our allies, and I know I can work "much more closely" with them.
-America is safer today than it was in 9/11, but that doesn't mean we don't have a long way to go.
-We need to do a better job along borders.
Obama:
-We are safer in some ways, for example, airports.
-We have a long way to go.
-Need to harden chemical sites.
-The biggest threat we face right now is in a suitcase.
-A terrorist getting his hands on nukes is our biggest threat.
-We need missile defense.
-Al Qaeda.
-We can't simply be focused on Iraq; we need to go to the root cause which is Afghan and Pakistan.
-The way we are perceived in the world is going to affect the capacity of cooperation.
-We are less respected now than we were.
-We have to restore that sense that America is that shining beacon on a hill.
McCain:
-Obama doesn't understand that if we fail in Iraq, it encourages Al Qaeda. They will put a base in Iraq.
Obama:
-The last eight years, the priority has been Iraq. In the meantime, Bin Laden is still out there. In the meantime, we have challenges, for example with China, where we are borrowing money.
-We have weakened our capacity to resonate power around the world because we see everything through this single lens.
-Our economy... we are spending 10 billion or more every month. That means we can't spend money on health care or education.
-We haven't adequately funded veterans care.
McCain:
-Obama doesn't have the knowledge or experience. [Obama laughs. (: ]
-I know the veterans well. I know that they know that I will take care of him. [lawl.] Taking care of them will be my job.
-Reform, prosperity, and peace.
-I don't need any on-the-job training. I am ready right now.
Obama:
-His father wanted to come to the States because it was seen as the place where your dreams could be achieved if you try.
-We are not seen the way we used to be seen.
-We will invest in education, and having ordinary people live their dreams.
McCain:
-Seeing prisoners being maltreated made him sad.
-As President of the United States, I know how to heal the wounds of war...


Oct 2nd, next Thursday, the Vice President candidates will debate! Make sure to watch it everyone! :]