2004 Election
 

Who do you think looks like the best candidate on the 2004 ballot? I haven't done so much research on them. So I'd like to hear about the candidates.

Sure!

George W. Bush: I think you have your opinion on him already.

Democratic (placed in order by chance to win the nomination according to conventional wisdom):

Howard Dean: Current front-runner. Favours more internationalist approach to foreign policy, favours civil unions as in his own state of Vermont, wants regulation of businesses such as airlines and media.

Wes Clark: Former general in NATO operations in the Balkans. Favours also an international force on foreign policy, most specifically NATO, supports the rights of gays to civil unions and to be able to openly serve in the military, would introduce a voluntary national service scheme along the lines of Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you..."

Joe Lieberman: Most familiar from 2000. Fiscally more left-wing, socially conservative. Very fastidious Jewish background, also in favour of an internationalist foreign policy. Often sides with Israel on Mid-East issues.

Dick Gephardt: Mid-Western old labour Democrat. Socially moderate except on issues such as abortion (pro-choice). Heart lies with "bread-and-butter" economic concerns, very big on protection of work.

Dennis Kucinich: Most Progressive of the bunch. Favours troop withdrawal from Iraq to be replaced by UN force. Believes in public ownership of basic utilities (prevented an Enron-style power takeover whilst mayor of Cleveland in the 1970s- lost next election and then won it back later) and regulation of certain industries. Pro-choice formerly Pro-life. Vegan (YAY!).

Al Sharpton: A joke. I was going to try, but no. Al is unfortunately a sideshow.


Who best? In my opinion Kucinich, but if you seek someone to defeat George Bush, Wes Clark is your man. Personable, military credentials, Southern, well-spoken.
But that's just me.

Ah yes. Ol' Al is running. That made me laugh. A lot.

Also, seeing as I hardly trust NATO (Remember Kosovo?), I can't really trust anyone who feels strongly for NATO.

Actually, you've got it wrong on Dean. He isn't promoting Civil Unions for the nation in any way. While yes, he did allow the Civil Unions measure to take place here in Vermont, on the issue himself, he has taken the view that its a matter for each and every state to make the call on individually.

On the issues:
* Promote Rural Agriculture: Dean, would promote items such as a new Dairy compact to help out the rural economy (the Dairy compact, a measure which was nixed by the Bush admin is something that kept milk prices fair)

* Repeal the Tax cuts. Yes, you can argue there's good as well as bad, but its so botched that you're better off doing without it entirely, at least in Dean's opinion.

* Education: Revive and expand the Head Start programs Bush is trying to repeal. And work for a better policy than Bush's dismal "No Child Left Behind" measures.

Well, that's just a taste. Feel free to check out everything else at:

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/P...ment_education

Sky Warrior Bob

Oh man. This sucks. I hate George Bush so very much. So damn very much. But you see the democrats have absolutly no one. Yea these guys are very qualified for it, but you know, the president always gets that little bonus. Bush still has a year to go, and if this Sadam thing proves weapons and the whole Iraqi war screw any chance of another Democrat getting in for another 4 years. But if it doesn't, who knows, things could turn around completly.

Last year was a great election. Gore and Bush, both at completly equal levels and very similar. Sure it was a lose-lose situation, but still, good election.

Sure, Dean's a fellow to watch
 

But I believe the Democratic party's chances evaporated completely with the capture of Hussein. This is a lot like the situation in 1996, but in reverse. If you remember, the incumbent Clinton had a few good things going for him (though this one has more than a few), and the Republicans couldn't muster a strong enough candidate to oust him.

George W. Bush on the issues:

*Maintain the fiscal policy that brought the U.S. out of the Clinton tax hike/Dot com bust-era recession, and is now steadily improving the economy and unemployment rate
*Restrict but keep legal abortion in america
*Maintain a tough stance in the war on terror
*Continue opposition to Racist policies such as Affirmative action, as well as racially bassed selection procedures in America's colleges and universities
*Oppose socialization of healthcare and therefore tax policy
*Maintain a fair tax rate
and so much more...
For more info, see http://www.whitehouse.gov

Like passed the patriot act as a trailer to another law.
Broke the Geneva convention by not allowing inspectors to see POWs.
Kept the country in a state of constant fear.
Has yet to provide a justification for a pre-emptive strike on Iraq.
Has yet to capture Osama Bin Laden.
Has admitted openly that Iraq is in no way connected to terrorism but continues to elude that it is.
Cut veterans' and soldiers' benefits during wartime.
Presided over the largest national debt in recent memory (if not ever).
Has classified documents showing Saudia Arabia to be connected to terrorism, and has made no move against them, either politically or physically.
Has angered the insane dictator of North Korea, who has nuclear weapons, by putting him in an 'axis of evil' and has done nothing about him.
Has single handedly destroyed most of our friendships with other powerful countries.
Ignored cries for help in countries that were trying to over throw facist regimes that were just as bad as Saddam.

I think I'll stop now. This is just to prove that the democrats still have plenty to sling at him.

Its a wait N' see sort of thing IMO. If things begin to go sour in Iraq again (and there has been at least one car bombing since), then Bush might not be as secure. Also, the opposition to Bush is much more omnipresent then it was in the Bush/Gore race.

Back then, people really didn't see a difference between the two, and couldn't care less who got in. Now, while I won't say this is true for all people, but there's a number of people now who are far more opposed to Bush than they were in his initial election. Bush has burned some people on enviormental issues, women's issues, steel tarrif issues, goverment spending, and the black vote.

Plus, the new overtime regulations can't be sitting well with everyone.

Of course, some rather flashy stuff has happened in Bush's term, and that will get him some positive attention.

Really its a matter of wait N' see. Personally, I think if Dean wins & takes on Clark as his running mate, he'll have a more than fair shot. Also, I don't think the Democrats are as uninteresting as the media portrays them. Some of them are a fair more interesting than Bush, and if you'd look into their non-media coverage, you'd find that out.

Sky Warrior Bob

I really hope the people registered to vote actually vote!! Really, last election showed a record low of voters. Yet, millions of 3rd world citizens are dying for their right to vote! And, of course, most of the people complaining about Bush didn't even vote. And Bush won by around 500 or so votes!

Yea, okay. Everyone legal enough to vote god dammit do it. And if you know someone who won't, then knock them out, stand behind them, hold them up and "help them vote." If anyone asks about why his/her eyes look a little.....off then mimic thier voice to go "I'm just dissapointed at stuff..." and keep walking.

And didn't bush lose the vote? The popular vote that is. Stupid Electorial system....