<p>I’m just wondering, is Obama or McCain on the top of your lists?</p>
<p>I really wanted Edwards and Romney to get the nominations.</p>
<p>Xiggi,</p>
<p>If you’re finished with your tirade, perhaps you might try to answer my questions? Also, I’d appreciate it if you would demonstrate a little common courtesy and refrain from characterizing me as “seriously delusional.” I merely asked you some questions about your post. I didn’t attack you personally. I would hope to be treated similarly. Thanks.</p>
<p>Gbesq, I did answer your question. </p>
<p>Fwiw, rather than describing a response as a tirade and complaining about "characterizing you as “seriously delusional,” may I suggest you reread my response which was prefaced by an if, as it reads … “if you believe the Iraqis who endured the Clinton cynical genocide loved us more in 2000 than today, you are seriously delusional.”</p>
<p>It is well underway in that the bad loans have mostly been written off, the companies making bad loans are dead or have been absorbed, and normal loans are available to people with good credit and income. That may not make your five properties ready to sell yet. You are in in a bad market if there are lots of foreclosed units. Why would you even try to sell now? You can’t work magic and I doubt the properties are in 100% showroom condition. You might need to wait until 2009, markets take time to adjust and think business school would have taught you you don’t turn an aircraft carrier around in a second. There are good signs that many areas are already hitting the bottom. That’s where you start. It’s been less than a year since we learned there even was a problem and Congress finally passed a bill THIS WEEK. Nobody–not even Obama has a magic bullet to fix things overnight. But if he wins this problem will be in the rearview mirror by the time he takes office.</p>
<p>Barrons, I think you are missing the fact that many lenders will still have their ARMs reset in the next two years, and we will be continuing through this cycle for at least that long. Honestly, I believe this is true if for no other reason than because many of the buyers of the 11 properties we have sold were able to purchase with no money down and mediocre credit - - I suspect they got 2 year fixed mortgages, and then adjustments to their rates. Those 11 (and tens of thousands like 'em) are still out there, and many of them will default on their loans. I’ve heard the refrain from a few Wall Street CEOs in the past year that we have hit the bottom of this… and many of them are now out of jobs or hanging on by their fingernails as the market continues to drop. I received comps from my realtor AGAIN today (2nd time in two months) showing that the prices are continuing to drop, and we need to drop our price to stay competitive. In response to your question regarding why we are still in the market, I did not sign up to be an estate executor for life. It has been three years (tomorrow) since my family member died, and this job has taken a huge toll on my life. The court prefers that the estate be closed by the 3 year point, the heirs certainly wish it would be, and so do I! That said, we have rented the properties that have mortgages (really no choice in this market), but not the ones that have no outstanding mortgages. So anyway, I do not believe this problem with “be in the rearview mirror” of the next President. I actually think Obama has a pretty good understanding of financial markets compared to McCain; it is not widely publicized, but Obama had a job right out of college (before his community organizing) where he worked as a researcher and a writer for a firm that produced some kind of publications for overseas corporations regarding complex financial instruments in the US markets. He is also a smart cookie and a quick study, which is vital to getting us out of the holes that the current administration has dug for the past eight years.</p>
<p>xiggi:</p>
<p>Have you traveled outside of the United States? Do you have family living in different parts of the world?</p>
<p>I think you just don’t get it. Pick up some books on foreign policy and educate yourself about the topic.</p>
<p>NewJack88, do you have a few suggestions for good books on foreign policy that you read?</p>
<p>Newjack88, I think it is an error to assume that we’d all think like you do if we would just read the “right” book or walk a mile in your worldly shoes. To answer your questions directed to xiggi, I’ve traveled outside the US and have family living in different parts of the world. Yet for the more part I agree with xiggi’s points. Just because we don’t agree with you doesn’t make us xenophobic simpletons.</p>
<p>xiggi:</p>
<p>Read whatever you can get your hands on. I found Fareed Zakaria’s The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad rather enjoyable.</p>
<p>Also, I want to refine my suggestion. I would suggest that you read books that cover historical events. A good read is The Conquerors: Roosevelt, Truman and the Destruction of Hitler’s Germany, 1941-1945 by Michael R. Beschloss.</p>
<p>Lastly, I have a suggestion for you. When reading these book use your newly found knowledge to challenge your old opinions and determine whether or not you ought to reassess them. I would highly discourage you reading these books and blindly agreeing with the author’s thesis.</p>
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<p>I don’t care whether or not you agree with me. I care about challenging people who hold onto strong opinions they can’t defend or that don’t make sense.</p>
<p>Many posters in this thread do not understand that Obama’s popularity around the world translates into more American influence around the globe. For example, Obama has a much greater chance of persuading the Germans to take a larger role in Afghanistan than McCain does simply because Obama has more clout than McCain does due to his popularity.</p>
<p>Forget what people told you in high school to make you feel better about yourself if you weren’t popular: popularity matters.</p>
<p>NewJack, where did you exactly get all that erudition and knowledge that allows you to tell people “they do not get IT” or “have opinions they can’t defend or that don’t make sense.”</p>
<p>Your high school must be something really special! They will miss you next year.</p>
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<p>Actually, it is. I was quite fortunate to have overqualified teachers.</p>
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<p>You can’t dismiss the fact that popularity matters in international affairs. Think about it. Are you more likely to work together with someone you like or dislike?</p>
<p>Also, when I said, “I think America’s image would be further tarnished around the world,” I was talking about how, in the eyes of many at home and abroad, an Obama loss would confirm people’s belief that most white Americans are prejudiced against persons of color.</p>
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<p>Sorry, but the person/President who has the greater insight, knowledge judgement & experience in dealing w/ those foreign leaders, and the one who has most earned their respect will have the greater chance of persuading them to do anything.</p>
<p>Contrary to what the Obama supporters would like to believe, McCain has already earned the respect of foreign leaders over decades of being on the scene.</p>
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<p>Where did you get that idea? Was it something you just plucked out of thin air? Obama’s race has NOTHING to do with my not voting for him - why should you or anyone assume that it’s any different w/ other people? I’m not saying there aren’t people who won’t vote for him based on race, but I really believe that that’s a very small number.</p>
<p>bz2010:</p>
<p>You’re completely ignoring the politics of other countries…</p>
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<p>The foreign media. This one is from Al Jazeera English:</p>
<p>[YouTube</a> - Race a factor in US presidential election - 19 May 08](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8J9laUNgL4]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8J9laUNgL4)</p>
<p>This is the sort of news my relatives are receiving back in Nigeria, and most of them believe the only reason why Obama would lose is because he’s not white. Many European, Middle Eastern, etc. pundits have voiced similar opinions.</p>
<p>As for it being a “small number,” I disagree. 23% of Clinton backers in West Virginia said that race was a deciding factor in who they chose to vote for. </p>
<p>Honestly, I think that the number of whites not voting for Obama for race related reasons is quite high. It doesn’t make sense that whites say that he doesn’t share their values when Obama is the one whose family is more representative of American family values.</p>
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<p>That IS a small number. ;)</p>
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<p>Not necessarily - there are lots of blended families & 2nd marriages in America & lots of people who have adopted children. Actually, the “traditional family” may even be close to a minority nowadays. Family values are about loving eachother & raising children together - both the McCains AND the Obamas reflect that.</p>
<p>If “whites” are saying that Obama doesn’t reflect their values (got some data for that?), it probably has more to do with other things than the structure of their family (i.e. pro-life, gay marriage, 2nd amendment, addressing illegal immigration, etc.). And I bet there are plenty of minorities who, if they really looked at Obama’s stance on those issues , would say he doesn’t share THEIR values either.</p>
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<p>That’s almost 1 in 4. That’s a lot. If Obama were ahead in the polls by 23%, would it still be a “small number?”</p>
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<p>[NYT:</a> Obama isn’t closing racial divide - The New York Times - MSNBC.com](<a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25696726]NYT:”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25696726)</p>
<p>Bz was joking that 23% of Clinton supporters is a small number…meaning she has few supporters. Inaccurate, sure, but a clear joke.</p>
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<p>That was 23% of Hillary supporters, correct? Small number. Sorry you didn’t get the joke.</p>
<p>I watched the video link you posted. First of all, I don’t think al Jazeera is a very credible source, and this is backed up by the fact that the clip was extremely biased, only interviewing a vey small segment of society in an attempt to portray all Americans in a certain way.</p>