Page created 14 Jul 2004 by dex
URL: http://www.rockthevote.com/
A wise man once said we need an entree where people confess and explain their political bent. So here it is. Make mine vanilla, double thick, hold the whip cream please.
I'll throw in my two cents.Politically, I think our system is an outdated, ineffective, detrimental, counterproductive, festering cesspool of greed and malpractice and moral depravity.
I think our best political recourse as mere citizens is to do more than Rock The Vote.
You don't like George Bush? why? because his speech writers suck? because he sounds like an idiot? because of his administration (albeit led by him, but I'd venture to say that a good lot of what is done in the name of the Bush Administration is perpetrated/carried out/led/initiated by the other bigwigs in his camp.) that's fine. but exactly what do you see that's so positive in the other contenders? All I see is more hot air.
I think we need to take initiative to change the world in our own hands. Let's get off our asses and do something about the atrocities being carried out in the name of bipartisan politics. Even if I disagree with you about politics, I will respect you more if you can name one thing that you are actively doing to change this world for the better.
If you asked me that question, I would answer that I am a leader in several areas and through that am helping build up a church that I see a lot of positive things coming out of. I see lives transformed, and needs being met, and growth in the ability of this Church to affect the community around it.
anyway, I think voting is for people bad at math. it's a nice gesture, for sure. but really, I don't see my vote changing anything. I'd rather spend my time working on my role as a leader in the community that I belong to.
and you all have the right to disagree with me, so...
flame on.
I guess my thoughts on the subjective usually tend to be defensive of the REPs and argumentative with those who would attack the current administration. However, I should at least temper that by saying that I don't endorse the REP platform either. nor do I think the things perpetrated in the name of the Moral Majority, or the Religious Right, or whatever, are appropriate. God did not create a people for himself so that we could be a voting bloc, or shoot abortion clinic doctors, or tell homosexuals that they are going to Hell, or get rich from the blood and sweat of the poor and oppressed and downtrodden and disadvantaged. (i realize that this is also quite the stereotype here. I welcome discussion from both sides...)I also think our USA-centric view of things (although understandable) is misguided, and that Nationalism as a tenable Political Structure in a Global Community, such as the one humanity shares here on Earth, is short-sighted and arrogant. I don't believe that I should be entitled to things that other human beings are deprived of because I was born on a different side of an arbitrary line. I think that advantage is ingrained in Americans too deeply, and that is partly what makes us lazy and selfish. And I hate SUV's (unless they are thoroughly justified).
justified.
actually lottery tickets and gambling are for people bad at math. voting is the core of our democracy.and actually casinos want people who are bad at math to gamble because the house always wins. But I suppose those with superb statistcal skills and a serious poker face can take some money from the house.
poker players don't play against the house, which is why it's the only beatable casino game.voting is the core of the illusion of democracy.
Sometimes I wonder what this country's majority really wants? I have a hard time believing that so many people would seriously back any of the candidates. Maybe I've been in a bubble too long, but 90% of politics (and TV) just seems alien to me.There's a quote I once read about Democracy being a government that delivers what it's people want, and the scary thing is what the people want.
I keep saying that if we elect Bush back into office, then we'll get what we deserve. We have no one to blame but ourselves.
...ive actually been having these thoughts creep into my head that make me think about voting for him. (that, and my mom could possibly be out of a job if he looses. if anyone wants to know why, i'd be happy to go into details; its quite interesting.)
now i know i've heard everything...
Kerry asks the public "do you really want four more years of Bush?" I look at Kerry and ask "do we really have choice?"
Got the following e-mailed to me. I have no idea how true it is or how representitive of the hole this snapshot is, but it's kinda interesting.DEMOCRATS Military Record: * Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71. * David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72. * Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72. * Al Gore: enlisted Aug. 1969; sent to Vietnam Jan. 1971 as an army journalist in 20th Engineer Brigade. * Bob Kerrey: Lt. j.g. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam. * Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-47; Medal of Honor, WWII. * John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V,Purple Hearts. * Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea. * Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver Star & Bronze Star, Vietnam. Paraplegic from war injuries. Served in Congress. * Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-53. * Tom Harkin: Lt., Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74. * Jack Reed: Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91. * Fritz Hollings: Army officer in WWII; Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons. * Leonard Boswell: Lt. Col., Army 1956-76; Vietnam, DFCs, Bronze Stars, and Soldier's Medal. * Pete Peterson: Air Force Captain, POW. Purple Heart, Silver Star and Legion of Merit. * Mike Thompson: Staff sergeant, 173rd Airborne, Purple Heart. * Bill McBride: Candidate for Fla. Governor. Marine in Vietnam; Bronze Star with Combat V. * Gray Davis: Army Captain in Vietnam, Bronze Star. * Pete Stark: Air Force 1955-57 * Chuck Robb: Vietnam * Howell Heflin: Silver Star * George McGovern: Silver Star & DFC during WWII. * Bill Clinton: Did not serve. Student deferments. Entered draft but received #311. * Jimmy Carter: Seven years in the Navy. * Walter Mondale: Army 1951-1953 * John Glenn: WWII and Korea; six DFCs and AirMedal with 18 Clusters. * Tom Lantos: Served in Hungarian underground in WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg.REPUBLICANS Militray Record-- and these are the guys SENDING PEOPLE TO WAR: * Dick Cheney: did not serve. Several deferments, the last by marriage. * Dennis Hastert: did not serve. * Tom Delay: did not serve. * Roy Blunt: did not serve. * Bill Frist: did not serve. * Mitch McConnell: did not serve. * Rick Santorum: did not serve. * Trent Lott: did not serve. * John Ashcroft: did not serve. Seven deferments to teach business. * Jeb Bush: did not serve. * Karl Rove: did not serve. (Bush's Machiavelli) * Saxby Chambliss: did not serve. "Bad knee." The man who attacked MaxCleland's patriotism. (You know what should be done to him!) * Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve. Neocon warhawk * Vin Weber: did not serve. * Richard Perle: did not serve. Neocon warhawk * Douglas Feith: did not serve. * Eliot Abrams: did not serve. * Richard Shelby: did not serve. * Jon Kyl: did not serve. * Tim Hutchison: did not serve. * Christopher Cox: did not serve. * Newt Gingrich: did not serve. * Don Rumsfeld: served in Navy (1954-57) as flight instructor. * George W. Bush: failed to complete his six-year National Guard; got assigned to Alabama so he could campaign for family friend running for U.S. Senate; failed to show up for required medical exam, disappeared from duty. * Ronald Reagan: due to poor eyesight, served in a non- combat role making movies. * B-1 Bob Dornan: Consciously enlisted after fighting was over in Korea. * Phil Gramm: did not serve. * John McCain: Vietnam POW, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit,Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. Remember how the Bush campaign trashed him in the Republican primaries in 2000? * Dana Rohrabacher: did not serve. * John M. McHugh: did not serve. * JC Watts: did not serve. * Jack Kemp: did not serve. "Knee problem, " although continued in NFL for 8 years as quarterback. (Win one for the Gipper!!) * Dan Quayle: Journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard. * Rudy Giuliani: did not serve. * George Pataki: did not serve. * Spencer Abraham: did not serve. * John Engler: did not serve. * Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer. * Arnold Schwarzenegger: AWOL from Austrian army base. (Our gift from Austria)
Pundits & Preachers * Sean Hannity: did not serve. * Rush Limbaugh: did not serve (4-F with a 'pilonidal cyst.') * Bill O'Reilly: did not serve. * Michael Savage: did not serve. * George Will: did not serve. * Chris Matthews: did not serve. * Paul Gigot: did not serve. * Bill Bennett: did not serve. * Pat Buchanan: did not serve. * John Wayne: did not serve. * Bill Kristol: did not serve. * Kenneth Starr: did not serve. * Antonin Scalia: did not serve. * Clarence Thomas: did not serve. * Ralph Reed: did not serve. * Michael Medved: did not serve. * Charlie Daniels: did not serve. * Ted Nugent: did not serve. (He only shoots at things that don't shoot back.)