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Message |
    
tjohn
Citizen
Username: Tjohn
Post Number: 2285
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 7:59 am: |     |
A lot of people are concerned about Bush's faith-based initiatives and plan to replace the Constitution with the Holy Bible.
It is his other faith-based initiatives that have me more worried.
For example, it takes a lot of faith to believe that:
1. Invading Iraq somehow makes us safer from Bin Laden even though there have been no significant finds of banned weapons and even though everybody but Cheney concedes that Saddam had no meaningful prewar links to Al Qaeda.
2. Amassing enormous deficits and continuing to cut taxes and increasing spending will somehow not destroy our future economic health. |
Sylad
Citizen
Username: Sylad
Post Number: 223
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 9:21 am: | |
I put my faith in President Bush. This election is probably the most important election in the last 25-40 years. We need a leader that is dedicated to protecting the American way of life and to seek out injustice across the globe. You're living in a fantasy world if you think that Gore would have been able to lead our nation during the last three years. You're living in a fantasy world if you think Kerry can lead our nation in these times. His last major contribution came when he faught in the war, since that time he has switched his views as often as his underpants. He has no, zero, none, experience governing, for a multiple term senator he has made limited impact, he is not even leading any senate committees. I just don't undertand what makes him the front runner, is it that everyone else is so much weaker? I look at his record and his experience and I see a no impact senator from a liberal state, I have been trying to find something that would lead me to believe that he could lead our country and as of today I have found nothing. And that is scary.
I urge everyone to think long and hard about all the issues that are important to them and to really understand the view that these men have for our country. Too many people don't understand the issues or vote on one issue or just vote against someone. Don't vote for someong because of a soundbite, because your friends are voting for that person. Vote for the person that will better serve our entire country and make the most benefical impact on the world.
As for the deficit, as the economy recovers (and it is showing great progress) the deficit as a % of GDP will be a non-issue. Don't forget why the US economy is in the situtation...9/11 is a major reason.
If Kerry or another Dem does win I will embrace him as my President and I will put my faith in him, but I will also be praying for our safety and security much much more |
tjohn
Citizen
Username: Tjohn
Post Number: 2287
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 9:31 am: | |
Sylad,
9/11 is not the cause of the recession. The recession was the cyclical aftermath of the irrational exuberance of the late 90's.
As for Bush's leadership, he will leave us isolated and with very few friends in a world where international cooperation is increasingly important.
He should be working to rebuild the U.N. into a structure that has meaning in a post-Cold War world.
As for how we would have fared under Gore, that is anybody's guess. Nobody would have expected real leadership from Bush either.
The most unexpected evidence of Bush's leadership is that he has united the Democratic Party to a degree not seen for quite some time. You see, for a very large portion of the electorate, the choice really is Anybody But Bush.
And that is not leadership, either in peace or time of strife. It is a failure of leadership.
Bush could have moved to the center and formed a government of national unity so that we could better respond to international terror. Instead, he moved to the right and has seriously alienated about half of the nation. He has us engaged in an optional war in Iraq that may or may not have a happy ending.
He is pursuing economic policies that will leave us with a painful hangover for many years to come. |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 313
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 10:48 am: | |
sylad
well said! |
Sylad
Citizen
Username: Sylad
Post Number: 224
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 12:35 pm: | |
Reflective—Thank You.
Tjohn—I did not say that 9/11 caused the recession, I said it was a major reason that we are in this economic situation. I agree that the recession was caused by that happened in the late 90’s, who lead our county then? What policy did the previous administration put in place to stop the bleeding that started in early 2000? The only thing I remember was Greenspan lowering interest rates.
9/11 has and will continue to have a wide impact on our economy; it has affected many industries, transportation, insurance, tourism and in NYC it just about wiped out the FDNY. Countless people lost their jobs a direct result of 9/11.
I agree that the democrats are united, but by your own admission most are voting against President Bush. That scares me.
President Bush has not started to campaign, there is 8.5 months until the election. By mid-April you will see the republican leadership at all levels of government out and on message as to why the American people should reelect the President. There will even be a few prominent democrats explaining why they are supporting President Bush.
I am open minded I don’t agree with the GOP or President Bush on many issues, I have looked for reasons as to why Kerry should get my vote and I can’t find any. Perhaps that will change as we get closer to November and it if does I will let everyone here know why I have changed my mind.
This election could be very close and I hope that the day after the election people are thrilled with the outcome or at least ready to embrace the winner, as opposed to having election hangover that will last for four years.
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Duncan
Citizen
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 1530
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 12:53 pm: | |
I dare say the hangover will be abated if the president is actually elected, rathar than appointed
Alls Well That Ends Well. Playing through March 7. info at http://www.hometown.aol.com/theatr1010/ |
Southorangemom
Citizen
Username: Southorangemom
Post Number: 67
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 2:10 pm: | |
Here is my problem with Bush and his religious views: despite his protests to the contrary I don't believe he knows very much about other faiths. We don't all believe in Jesus Christ, and as American society becomes even more diverse [or multi-cultural, if you prefer that term], it behooves the President to act appropriately.
Here's my latest example:
during last Sunday's "Meet the Press" interview, Bush was discussing his meeting with various Iraqi leaders and what kind of society they wanted to have in the future.
"Now I'm a Methodist. And he's a Shia fellow." were the words he used in talking about some of the people present.
One can say he is a Shiite, or a Jew, or a Sikh....but a "SHIA FELLOW?"
Go back to college, George, and see if you can take one of those courses on comparative religions OR take a little bit of sensitivity training!!!!!!!
SouthOrangeMom
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gozerbrown
Citizen
Username: Gozerbrown
Post Number: 350
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 2:57 pm: | |
I'm not convinced that Bush's interest in faith-based services has anything to do with his religious beliefs. Lots of social services are provided by organizations which happen to be owned by religious organizations and they don't discriminate against those who aren't of that religion, nor do (most of them) make a habit of using their services for recruitment purposes.
Think about all the great things that Catholic Charities has done for the needy in this state. Although they may have a picture of the archbishop in their facility, they do not actively recruit for the Catholic church. (Indeed there are some organizations which offer social services contingent upon attending church services, but these are the minority of faith-based programs.)
Eliminating faith-based organizations from the social service picture in this country would seriously affect the needy. |
anon
Citizen
Username: Anon
Post Number: 974
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 6:04 pm: | |
Sylad: You can agree or disagree with a politician's views or policies. You can think he or she is a good leader or not. You can even admire a politician. But don't put your "faith" in a politician, any politician! He or she is just a human being with a human being's flaws, and frankly very often politicians are more flawed than the average person. |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 1966
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 6:23 pm: | |
I wish I lived in the fantasy world where Gore could have led over the last three years. Instead I live in the real world, where right-wing ideologues hold a working majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, and an influential bloc of zealots put their own partisan ambitions above the national welfare. These people would have hamstrung a Gore administration, even after 9/11 when the Democrats lined up behind Bush, and it's a disgrace. |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 463
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 2:00 am: | |
I keep waiting for Saturday Night Live to revive the skit where Belushi played Kissinger and Ackroyd played Nixon. Today thy'd have to update it with DUMBYA telling Ari Fleischer, "Pray with me Jew-Boy". Unfortunately it won't be so funny, Belushi and Akroyd were mocking PAST history. |
Cowboy
Citizen
Username: Cowboy
Post Number: 365
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 3:39 pm: | |
I applaud Sylad who brings well wanted wisdom to this discussion board. Sylad’s observations concerning John Kerry are authentic. The same rings true for similar remarks about Bush.
The major line of reasoning being: “think long and hard about all the issues that are important” and “understand the view that these men have for our country.”
I too don't understand what makes Kerry the front runner. Could it very well be that “everyone else is so much weaker?” And yes, President Bush is experiencing difficulty right now — and in many respects deservedly so. But I can't shake this feeling that the Democrats en mass are deluding themselves in believing Kerry to be the man they think he is. I mean, if he were remotely as robust and brilliant as everyone claims, don't you think people might have liked him a little sooner? His support was almost nonexistent barely a week before Howard Dean exploded.
From what I have been able to ascertain, Kerry’s voting record grants evidence of his stance on major issues. Then he frequently alters his posture. And Bush, well has he ever vetoed anything? President Bush has increased spending on everything from agriculture to education (which is up 48 percent).
Duncan: Advice, offer substance on the topic instead of your continued hatred of anything Bush.
Anon: Faith stems from hope and the desire to trust, yet your commentary is accurate.
Tom: Thank Goodness for fantasy worlds, you fit right in one.
Ukealalio: Keep waiting, Saturday Night Live isn’t funny anymore. Try Mad TV.
I have grown weary of the Democrats angry protests and pessimism. Please let them put forward anything encouraging to the election. I'm sick of the old clichés. At least bring forth some new clichés. ''Where were you in '72?'' Is that the new mantra?
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Sylad
Citizen
Username: Sylad
Post Number: 238
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 8:26 am: | |
Cowboy..Thank You. I am just trying to get people to examine the issues and think long and hard before they cast their vote. |
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