Larc,
You realize, of course, that continuing this protracted line of discussion, a dissection of Clinton's achievements, takes the discussion away from my original thesis, one that you have done nothing to annul the arguments I have made about dubya. I want you to know, I realize it, too. As far as the following comments on the four subject you mentioned, I will give you my personal views:
1. NAFTA. You brought it up.
Orgininally, I was opposed to the concept. Now, I favor it. It appears that it was meant to boost the economy more in Mexico than here. Overall, I like that idea. In my state a right to work is up for a vote and the debate is heated. Many of the arguments mirror those surrounding NAFTA, one of which you mentioned -- the decrease in American wages. There are no easy answers in world economy.
2. The Family Leave Act and its importance compared to previous legislation.
I am not aware of the changes that they FLA made on previous legislation. Overall, though, it was a law that required the support of a President who had an inclusive perspective, who sees the world as being full of different types of people with different needs. Someone like Clinton.
3. The Brady Bill.
I'm still a little suspicious of laws like this one. I wonder who the real target is. Has it made the streets safer? I don't know... I've never seen an assault rifle on the street, before or since the law was passed.
4. The Laffer Curve in Economics and its implications.
I have not and most likely will not study economics to any great extent. My only brush with the subject academically was one semester in eighth grade. As I recall, the text was poorly written and the teachers seemed even more disinterested in the subject than the class, intent on getting it over with as soon as possible. There may have been some mention of 'curves' but I'm fairly certain there was not one word said about them in connection with "Laffer." I'm sure it is of extreme importance... could you help me out?
Now, here's a couple of things I'd like to get YOUR viewpoints on, if you don't mind.
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1. George W now admits that he was found guilty, arrested, and convicted for of drunk driving. He also had his driver's license suspended. He's had a drinking problem for many years, still may, but that's not the problem. Just about every one of the Founding Fathers was a bigtime boozer, so I can't fault Jr. The problem I have is that he's repeatedly lied about it.
At various times, he said there was no arrest, he said there was no court hearing, he said he only drank once a month. All lies. Now, after basing his campaign on restoring "integrity" to the White House and the "family values" bullshit, how do you feel knowing that
a) he's lied again and again about his problem (and other things, too) and,
b) he carries the distinction of being the only U.S. President who was elected after being convicted of a crime.
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2. Everyone knows that during the war years Clinton was a pot smokin', draft dodgin' hippy as opposed to dubya -- a gung-ho GI itching to "do his duty." Riiiight. In view of the fact that golden boy is about to send young men to their deaths in battle, consider this:
In 1968, the fighting and dying in Vietnam was at it's fiercest. When he was two weeks from being drafted, when the National Guard in Texas had a waiting list a year and a half long, Bush and his family friends pulled strings and he was admitted the same day he applied. Bush himself admits lobbying commander Staudt, and oil buddies called high level state politicians who approved him. Staudt's unit was infamous for housing politically connected and celebrity draft dodgers -- Senator Lloyd Bentsen's son was in the unit. So was Senator John Tower's. The oil buddy who had helped pull the strings for dubya had two sons in the unit.
Okay. Two months after joining, he took 2 months leave to go to Florida to work on the campaign of a Republican senator. It wasn't the last time he took a vacation from the Guard -- he took off in 1970 to work on his dad's campaign, and an extensive 'vacation' again in 1972 to work in Alabama. It was about this time that he went AWOL. National Guard records show no sign of him attending any drills or performing any service for nearly a year. Still, Bush was not disciplined but received an honorable discharge.
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3. How he came to be a part owner of the Texas Rangers - mentioned way earlier.
Thanks.
tj