It sure is hard knowing what to believe anymore. From Bush’s pals at Fox News,there is this conflicting report on the job situation:
“In a second reort , the department said the number of new people signing up for unemployment benefits rose for the second week in a row, reflecting the lingering impact of Hurricane Charley (search). Economists were expecting claims to go down.”
Lib, I apologize for cutting your post back, I just did not want to be redundant.
However, Lib brought up a really good point that maybe should be discussed more- it seems everyone sort of passed it by. When it is presented like that (Lib’s summary is almost dead on- maybe not in the same words, but the message was the same) one can really see a trend there that falls in line with GW’s campaign strategy. It is kind of odd, he is running a negative campaign against Kerry accusing him of being negative. It just might work.
Although I think his speech was pretty lame, in light of what Lib pointed out, and factoring in his target audience, he nailed it if that message was delivered.
Quite frankly, I really don’t think he cares, at all (and I mean at all- not even going to lift one finger as compared to most politicians), about the many people who are “anyone but Bush”. Henceforth, he directed his speech to the 47% (or less) of the population needed to get him re-elected. These are people in the key states of the midwest and the South (a little in the industrial heartland too) who have, in some cases, a disproportionate number of electoral votes as a consequence of their population and the rules of the electoral college. He has proven that as long as you can get one more electoral vote, you can totally disregard what over half of America thinks of you.
Very cunning, strategic and, I think, scary. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure many of the Dem’s strategists think the same way.
I think, no matter what happens this election, there will not be a mandate from the people (although I am sure Bush will say there is if he wins). I only hope that the notion of majority rule, minority rights is not washed away in a sea of religious bigotry, warmongering and frivolous calls for Constitutional Amendments.
It looks more likely that as of Sept. 15 I will be just that. Doesn’t seem worth the money. Peolple like you don’t exactly endear guests to become members.
As far as the comment about Billy, just in case I was unclear: I wouldn’t put it past him. The man is a habitual liar and if he wants Hillary in the whitehouse then he can’t hope for Kerry to win. It’s quite conceivable to me that he is faking it and he knows how much power his voice carries to the populace of sheep we have here. I wish him no ill and if he is indeed getting bypass I hope it all goes well. If for nothing more then for his kid. But I was raised in Arkansas and I know what a steaming pile he is. You’ve only known him for 8 years, I’ve known him all my life. People seem to love him, for whatever reason that may be. My skin crawls when I see him. People like you will do what ever the hell he tells you. If he endorsed Bush tomorrow I’m sure you’d vote as he tells you. Fucking drone.
And fuck me? I don’t think so. Besides, you wouldn’t like it, I’d just lay there.
I couldn’t agree more but I don’t see Kerry as a better alternative. I would support John Edwards because he really seems to care about people. I would also support John McCain because he is a decent person and someone I believe would make our military strong. But John Kerry is douchebag and possibly not quite as much as Bush.
BTW- I live in Arkansas so I’ll just be watching it all on the news. Have no fear, you won’t die next to me.
Damned shame that, what with the paucity of those who spew idiocy around here and all.
Yeah, you and Safire. And he channels Nixon and dead Kurds. Helluva group you’re throwing in with, Sparky.
Well, I hesitate to speak for others, but if he told me to vote for Bush, I’d beat him to death while asking, “Where did you put the real Clinton, you maniac?” And he did a lot of things that I disagreed with. Learn that there are many different kinds of people before you go painting them with that oh-so-broad brush you’re clutching in your greasy little mitt.
Oh, if it fell to me, you would move. I can assure you of that.
A lot of things bothered me about Bush’s speech last night but one that particularly stands out is that part where he went on about Kerry’s supposed endorsement of “conservative values”. Perhaps I haven’t really been paying attention the last few months, but I don’t recall Kerry ever saying anything about supporting so-called “conservative values”. Did I miss something or did Bush just construct a King Kong-size strawman for him to knock down? :dubious:
O.K., I have yet to get a satisfying answer to this question from anyone in this forum, but what specific things about Kerry make him just as bad as Bush?
I personally really liked Bush’s speech. Made me laugh a LOT.
My favorite part, though, was when he was bashing Kerry for wanting more taxes. Sure, fine, whatever, both systems seem to work pretty well. But what killed me was him refering to Kerry raising taxes as a “thing of the past.” What?! Did I miss something or is he really saying that raising taxes are an outdated system? He also added that his system was a system of the future, one where we are really truly fucked.
What did I miss?
Umm… probably the part where American politics stopped resembling debate class and started taking after WWF RAW trash talk segments.
The core Republican “base” doesn’t care what George W. Bush says, as long as he continues to appeal to the reptilian brain ideals of 1) might makes right, 2) he with the most bluster and bravado is best, and 3) the home team will always prevail!
I swear, looking at Republican and Democratic conventions reminded me of nothing so much as Raiders and Broncos pep rallys.
Neither team is necessarily “better” than the other… but don’t suggest that to the fanatics!
And in the meantime, those who continue to set real policy are getting away with murder and looting on historic scales.
You’re such a stud. I’m flattered. Does this mean we can be friends or am I still on the “do not invite list” for the next dopefest? If you will be my friend I might even join the board.
Blowero It’s his politics. His weak views on the military. Saying things like his pledge to have a more sensitive war on terrorism. The fact that he will probably gut the military and raise my taxes. His views on the U.N. Fuck the U.N. I’m with Pat on this one. We don’t need to be a member and we don’t need them telling us how to protect ourselves. It just scares me. I’m not saying Kerry didn’t have a right to protest the war in Viet Nam but he did say some very nasty things at a time when our boys were being called baby killers and spit upon when they returned home. He didn’t help that situation one goddamn bit.
On the other hand the fact that I personally know people stationed in Iraq and that Bush has put them in harms way just so he can puff up his chest bothers me too. “Bring it on” indeed. Arrogant bastard. But it’s too late to just up and leave now. We should have dealt with Afghanistan first and then went into Iraq. I’m not against removing Saddam but the timing was very poor judgement.
So once again, it’s the choice between 2 evils and Bush slightly tips the scale in his favor. And that is a sad fucking commentary.
Oh, good Lord. Unless you were there to knock down half the tin-foil crap put out by the “I’m just sayin” left-wing members of this board, than you can go to hell.
It’s what the wanted to hear but that doesn’t mean it was honest.
Platitude. We do have problems- many of Bush’s own creation- and these problems cannot be “hoped” away.
Cheap pandering. And Kerry never said he was a hero.
This should be more correctly characterized as:
Kerry: Bush is corrupt [which he is].
Bush: I am compassionate [which he is not]
This is a redux of your first example and my response is the same. It’s answering a question about real problems with an empty platitude.
Platitude, platitude platitude. How is Bush going to create jobs. I’ll supply my own strength, honor and courage.
No we don’t.
Things are complicated. Bush is simple.
What does that even mean? Should we honor our own treaties and the international community or not? The stars can kiss my ass.
It’s not safe and free from John Ashcroft or the Patriots Act. Nor do I have any confidence that it’s safe from terrorism.
See how shallow this stuff is. What opportunity?
Our people are diverse and they do not have one goal.
Sure they deserve it, but how is Bush going to provide it? Drug companies do engage in price gouging. What’s Bush going to do about it.
BTW, the administration just announced today that Medicare premiums are going to be increased by 17% in January. 17%. That’s a huge increase for many seniors who are on fixed incomes already. That’s compassionate conservatism for ya.
Bush put that soldier in combat for no good reason.
Kerry never said that, number one and number two “people are resourceful” is nothing but a hollow rationalization for cutting benefits to people who need them. And this is coming from a man who has lived onn generous handouts his entire life and who has never in his life ever had to be “resourceful.”
Invest in children how? What thing is sure, if we don’t start finding some alternative energy sources (new technology) there aren’t going to be any children.
Kerry will cut taxes on the middle class and roll back Bush’s irresponsible giveaways to the rich. Bush will give more money to the rich and shift more burden to the middle.
And if you don’t have the ability to amass any retirement funds, to hell with you…and to hell with everything you’ve already paid into SS.
a.) Kerry’s right about both head start and wasting untold sums of money to jail pot smokers and hookers. b.) Corporate handouts are the answer? c.) This strikes a little close to the bone for me because I’ve worked on childhood intervention programs. I’ve worked directly with people who worked in Head Start. These are good programs and they work. In the long run they really are more cost effective than blowing ten times the amount of money on a bloated penal system after it’s too late to save somebody.
God has no place in presidential politics. God is not on anybody’s "side (and I don’t think Kerry said that) and American style “freedom” is a gift of the US Constitution, not of God ( a Constitution that Bush wants to alter to eliminate freedom, btw).
In a way, this example sums up the contrast:
Kerry: We have to try
Bush: We should do nothing. God will take care of us.
OK. Can I bring you anything?
Well, the google search you suggested returns links to liberal blogs, but no actual news sources, far as I could tell. (I got bored after about 4 pages of links, sorry).
If you have a real cite for the alleged “beautiful mind” quote on GMA, be a dear and post it for the rest of us.
Well, a snowball would be pretty cool. Got some money ride’n on that one.
I had hoped that I made myself clear earlier.
Diogenes, you smarmy, self-serving, sack of fetid, rotting shit-fer-brains - you have been marginalized. You are the guy who sings in the shower, and thinks he’s Pavarotti. Think again.
Pull your head outa your ass and listen, just for a moment.
Didn’t you read the notice I gave you earlier?
Your “well” has been poisoned - by you. You have nothing valuable or interesting to add to this, or any other discussion. You are an empty tank. Your ability to type on your keyboard has betrayed you - you don’t have anything to offer in the form of intellgent discourse. You thought you were being clever, but in fact, your ego is bellowing like a stuck cow.
You’ve used up your allotted posts. You’re done. Finished. You have gone on and on and on here for far too many months, and now it is over.
It is time to move on to a different forum where you can spill your bile, and garner attention. Here, in this forum, you are off to the side - a yammering voice that has been reduced to a never-ending, simpering voice of unreason and whine.
"Someone LISTEN to me! I am Diogenes the Cynic! I have status in the SDMB Pit! Hear my words! I can TYPE!"
Not anymore. Go the fuck home, you panderer. Your tired, repetitive rhetoric has run its course. You have screwed yourself. From this point forward, you are an outcast of your own making.
You are over.
Aren’t you supposed to be ignoring him?
I think about them in odd ways, myself.
But then I’m not ordinary.
(those are vacations that you take in Mexico, right?)
Awww. Com’on. Sure, some posters piss me off too. But in the end we are all Dopers, and we’re all buddies here and no one should really take what you say that personally.*
So let’s all have a coupla beers and be friends again!
*Unless you say anything about tattoos, Spaniards or burritos.
Dear Guest, please explain how someone can purposely cause their body to have heart blockages.
Also how to fudge the x-rays or wherever it shows up.
Also to get the doctors to go along with this.
The man must have amazingly body control to will this upon himself, yes?