coercion(noun): The use of express or implied threats of violence or reprisal or other intimidating behavior that puts a person in immediate fear of the consequences in order to compel that person to act against his or her will.
I feel no coercion due to the Patriot Act, other than “Don’t be a terrorist or commit crimes agains the US”. Gee, think I can manage that one.
Great point! Because if the attack on our country on 9/11 had occurred during Bill Clinton’s campaign, he wouldn’t have spent any money! He would have came through with more surpluses! Seriously though, good or bad, more money had to be spent because of an increase in global terrorism. Not to mention (from your own cited article):
And don’t forget prescription drugs for seniors! Surely the Democrats would have found a way to make that free, with no deficit at all.
You say squandered, I say spent. If you don’t agree with what he spent it on (and my guess? You don’t), then you will believe he squandered it. I think he spent part of it wisely, and squandered some of it due to political pressure (prescription drugs, anyone)?
I scanned the article. What does the Patriot Act have to do with an FBI computer error? So the FBI isn’t perfect. I for one am shocked. Not to mention the FBI apologized. Certainly, I’m not claiming that makes up for their mistake, but it is hardly the act of “Big Brother”.
Nope. Now you’re just being obtuse. Saying all Democrats tried to block Passion being released, is the same as saying all Republicans are trying to block F9/11.
You yourself generalized all democrats based on the actions of a few, that’s what this entire thread is about, your biased, partisan, ridiculous ramblings.
As I recall, before Florida, Gore got 270 electoral votes, Bush got 255. (I may be off, but I think Gore was ahead by about 15). The crucial 25 votes from Florida would have put Gore about 10 over what was needed, but instead just barely put Bush at the bare minimum for a win. So what happened in Florida? A margin of less than 200, with a voting irregularity margin of error of over 3000. A full recount might have changed this, but it was stopped by a partisan SCOTUS.
You really can’t blame Gore for running a poor campaign, not if you can afford to be bothered with facts.
Patriot Act? Who said anything about the Patriot Act? I am talking about the detaining of innocent Americans on the flimsiest association with terrorism. Do you support that?
I disagree! Bushco is racist (copyright, trademark, all rights reserved)! There is no way a Republican would be willing to offer food to anyone making less than $60k/year! If they can’t pad the bottom line of Halliburton they don’t deserve to live! Screw them! I mean what els…huh?..what?!?..we’re helping people?!! Shit! Now I have to find a new political party! Fuck me if I’m going to share the vast wealth of this nation with lowly humans! I’m a Republican damnit! I decide who is happy and who isn’t! What? No way there can be 240 million people! How the hell are we gonna get everyone to agree?
I was gonna say something about how most of the responses in this thread consist of little more than two-line drive-bys making fun of “pubbies” or “dummiecrats”, but then I realized that since there is no real content here, at least I’ve wasted a little less time reading through it than I maight have otherwise. So, er, carry on.
FWIW, I hate the idea of anyone, even enemies, being held without reason. But sometimes it happens. Myself, I’d be ready to kick ass if someone locked me up for no reason. Point is, even if I was picked up, there’s nothing I’ve done wrong, so it would be more an inconvenience than anything. Let whatever agency come and get me. Whatever you want to say about Bush, the Constitution is still in effect, and no one administration will cancel that out.
Hey Al Gore, use your fucking Predator software to monitor all our posts here. (Forgot about that?) I don’t do anything illegal with my PC so I really couldn’t care less if John Ashcroft himself is monitoring my internet traffic. I have nothing to hide, and other than the SDMB, my online use is pretty damn boring.
Oh, as far as my online use? When I call Incontinent Communications for the occasional tech support, the tech I talk to can read everything I type as I’m talking to him/her. Homeland Security is pretty much getting the ISP to tell them what they see. John Ashcroft, John Dilbert, either way, there are many that can see everything you type online.
Actually, in the first draft of my previous pointless drive-by, I included a line about how at least for once this sort of thing was posted to the correct forum.
Anyway, don’t mind me. Obviously, you seem to think this thread is accomplishing something useful and important, so have at it.
It’s interesting to see this open admission that “around here” defense of Mr. Ashcroft is not welcome. While I agree with that assessment, I’d also opine it’s hardy consistent with the Board’s stated mission of fighting ignorance.
If there is meritorious defense for Mr. Ashcroft, then by all means, let’s have it. If there is criticism based on fact, as opposed to wild exaggeration, let’s have it too.
I can’t count the number of fevered attacks on the Patriot Act I’ve read here, for example, and the number of times such attackers have sputtered meaninglessly when asked to define, specifically, where the Patriot Act says what they claim it says.
Sorry, Lib. My mistake. I did say that memory was a funny damned thing, though, didn’t I?
In any case, Wikipedia agree with you, except they make the distinction that the military ballots made up the majority of the overseas votes. This, of course, is quite predictable. Just as is the military voting overwhelmingly Republican. If you think the Dems hadn’t considered both of these points when they made their protest, you’re being naive.
Oh, I agree. Both sides fought tooth and nail during the whole fiasco. But the Republicans fought dirty. They cheated. They abused the power that they held over the process (as with the so-called “felons”). It all smacked of New Orleans and Chicago in the heydays of their scandals. Incidentally, you’re to be commended for admitting your mistake. Very classy.
Hope your sister is a zombie-cannibal since my mom died a few months ago, fuckstick. (Shit, I was starting to like you, but you had to go Cartman with the mom reference)
This shouldv’e been opened in the pit, huh?
