You want an answer?

Of course that’s using the “victim card.” He was a prisoner of war. Not that facing racism and racial discrimination is any better (I do know a thing or two about that from firsthand experience, after all), but having your arms bound behind your back and tied to your ankles and beaten and tortured has a way of making things real.

Opening up Camp David and the Secret Service absurd? Perhaps. But balanced against the idea of the President reimbursing the country for perks of the office, is it really that absurd?

Yes, I did feel the same about John Kerry because he and his wife was filthy rich like Senator McCain and his wife are filthy rich as well. I never had the same opinion about President Bill Clinton, because I honestly didn’t even know much about how much money he and his wife had when he ran for President. And President George Bush could probably pay back some because he has quite a sum of money. But that is besides the point because I was specifically referring to Senator John McCain and how he could earn my vote. Not that I think the should have to do it.

Opening up Camp David and Secret Service as a private security firm is an absurd idea and I have no idea how you pulled that out of what I was saying. I mentioned that they should pay for or reimburse the government for their usage since they have more than enough money to cover their costs and not burden the tax payers since he wants to cut frivolous spending. Well, anything that is frivolous other than the frivolous “war” we are waging in Iraq. He thinks it is okay to spend billions and billions of dollars a day occupying a country that wants us out for the next how ever many years he feels.

I am only suggesting that McCain offer to do this, not that it be mandated by the government. And, yes, Rick Warren is a perfect example of this. Maybe if our President’s saw this more as a ministry or as if they were serving the American people than it being their right we would have a different mindset in the White House.

“Both of them were shaped by their individual life experiences and the reality is that Senator Obama’s still shapes his life whereas Senator McCain’s is pretty much done.”

Well, if it’s a life-changing and life-shaping experience, I would certainly stop short of telling anyone that just because it’s “pretty much done,” it’s not really a salient point anymore. I know that my wife and I learned a lot from our past relationships, for example, and we still talk about how those experiences shape where we’re at today, even if those relationships are now years past, or “pretty much done.”

So, reiterating the previous question: did you ever feel the same about Senator Kerry, or have you felt the same about President Clinton after his Presidency? After all, he’s made far more money than he ever did as President–surely based on your view as it stands, he should reimburse the country?

Why not open Camp David to retreat groups? Air Force One for public travel? Privatize the Secret Service as a private security firm? Sounds silly, doesn’t it? Fact is, the office of President of the United States carries with it a whole lot of perks and privileges, and taxpayers aren’t exactly ignorant of them.

If this really was an issue, then perhaps a movement should be started to create federal legislation that outlines how a sitting President, depending on level of income prior to their Administration, should assume the job and the responsibilities that come with it and foot their own bill out of their own pocket. I guess Rick Warren would be the perfect role model for this, what with how he’s chosen to forego his salary at Saddleback. Then again, being President is not really a ministry, is it?

You are right that using the words “I think I may puke” is strong, but like I said I do highly respect his service and sacrifice for our country. I just wonder how many times it has to come up when it seems that it is mainly being brought up to gain a political edge and garner sympathy. And the other guy can’t bring up something like that without being accused of using it as an advantage.

Senator Obama made something like $5 million dollars last year from the sales of his books and hardly even close to being the millionaire that Senator McCain is, so I don’t expect that of him. However, someone who between him and his wife are worth $100 million can certainly afford to reimburse the country for the usage of our taxpayers money when they have the wealth that they have. It is comparing apples and oranges. And jus thow long has Senator Obama ever claimed a salary of more than a million dollars? I believe only the last couple of years, whereas Senator McCain probably has for the past 2 decades or more.

Michael Phelps swam for Club Michigan and had a lot of help in developing the Michigan swim program. I never said he swam for them. I said he was a Michigan Man and he is also a devoted fan and has been for a long time. Check out the tattoo on his right hip.

“I have made no secret that I will not be voting for Senator John McCain. But I will change my mind if he declares that not only will he get rid of frivolous spending on things like studying the DNA of black bears in Montana, but that he will also not take a salary while he is President or make tax payers pay for the catering service in the White House or maid service or gas for Air Force One, etc.”

Just out of curiosity, does Senator Obama plan on doing the same? It would make sense if he does, since he’s all about change and not being politics as usual. Were you asking the same questions of John Kerry in 2004, with his heiress-to-a-fortune wife?