USA Election 2004

by Simon 242 Replies latest social current

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  Abaddon

  Yeru:

  Were the people who added the flag to your avatar British? I've not really commented on it before (file under 'too easy'), and knowing Americans realise that it would be possible for some to make that pic in a non-irnic fashion, but an English person would be more able to swallow their own tongue than do that pic without knowingly 'taking the piss' of certain American sterotypes...

  Anyway; 2004 election...

  I think the US and the UK had better wake-up and smell the coffee.

  You are not in real democracies. You are in countries run by political oligarchies bought to power by a system of representative democracy that isn't even proportionally representative, but is rather a 'first-past-th-post' system that virtually gurantees the stability of effective two-party states.

  All it does is make political policy see-saw between one end of politics and the other as one part or the other gets into power. Progress is like tacking against the wind; you zig-zag rather than make a straight line. Other democracies with proportional representation have to govern by consensus; they make progress slowly, but at least it's normally in a straight line without the reversal of policiies that typify transitions of power in the US and the UK.

  If you're really interested in saner, more stable, democratic govenment, either move or start l;obbying for change.

  I also find saying. "we'll, maybe Bush didn't lie about WoMD" akin to saying "well, maybe our current adminsitration is incompetent" as it is kind of an either or. Lie to hide a blowjob vs. incompetence that lead to deaths of US citizens; which is worse? As all politicians lie, I think competence or lack of it is the issue we should focus on, in Britain and America.

  Anyway, Kerry has amusing hair
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  patio34

  Hi Abaddon, good assessments, especially the lying vs. incompetence aspect.

  Also, about USA citizens perceiving that they live in a true democracy instead of a oligarchy. It reminded me of what Bush said after 9/11 "Why do they hate us? They hate us because we're free." That, to me was an outright lie and as simplistic as talking to a 3 year old. Why don't they hate other democracies and free people? Why do they call only the USA the "Great Satan"? There are a lot of democracies and free people that they don't hate. And there are a lot of reasons they DO hate the USA.

  Pat
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  Englishman

  I will take Bush over the socialists running against him.

  Say what you like about Bush, the guy has hung in there and never wavered. He likes Tony Blair too, so he obviously is a good guy at heart. He's the best Britain has got, folks!

  I await my deletion.

  Animal :)

  You have to do something REALLY BAD to get deleted. So I guess that's not likely in your case.

  Englishman.
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  patio34

  Eman, about your comments about Bush:

  But, since you're such a nice guy , and enjoy a or two (like me!), we'll just let it go . . . for now

  Cheers!

  Patio
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  Badger

  Dean Quit today...

  He was my first choice...Here's to you, doctor...
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  Richie

  Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! (We are NOT going to win in Massachussetts, in Maryland, in California, in Arizona, in Nevada, in Oregon, in Florida, in Maine, in North Dakota, in South Dakota, in Washington, in Colorado, in Rhode Island........ppppppfffffttttttt) Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

  Richie :*)
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  Yerusalyim

  Abbadon,

  As I recall it was JH who added the flag...but I have a poor memory.

  Where do I begin to answer the other nonsense. You call Bush incompetent? Where is he incompetent?

  You're correct, the US is NOT a true democracy, it's a federal republic...there is a difference.

  It IS our freedom that they hate, and our wealth, and the fact that we're not muslim. When people think of consumerism, they're not thinking about Italy, they're thinking about the US.

  Richie,

  You're funny.

  Edwards did ok yesterday. I actually think he's the harder candidate for Bush as oppossed to Kerry.
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  Badger

  Richie:

  That's WHY i liked him. He was the Al Smith of today: the Happy Warrior. I hope Kerry finds a place for him in his administration when he wins.

  I'm glad you're here....Yeru needs some company on the right on this board.
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  seattleniceguy

  Why do they hate us? They hate us because we're free.

  I remember when I heard Bush say this. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, it was so incredibly simple-minded. All I could do was shake my head, and think, "You really are an idiot, aren't you?"

  Also, E-man said he admired Bush for hanging in there and not swerving. I keep hearing Bush supporters say this. Why is this a automatically a good thing? Isn't the capacity to realize a mistake and change course much better than stubbornly refusing to yield? I would respect Bush enormously if he said, "My fellow Americans, over the past weeks, I have come to understand that our present tack is not right. We are alienating the world and building future hatred from extremists. I want to change the direction we are heading." I think he would have the respect of the nation and the world for the courage to say that.

  To me, that would be true leadership, true maturity. The wisest leader is able to change course when the facts show that he should.

  SNG
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  plmkrzy

  Why do they hate us?

  Because in their minds/teachings the god they worship told them to hate us. We simply represent Satan. period. The wealth and whatnots only serves as their proof.