Here wash means doesn't affect either side.

1.  Do you consider yourself Dem / GOP / Independent (Other)?
2.  Does Admin actions Pre 9/11 hurt GOP / DEM / WASH?
3.  Does Decision to Invade Iraq hurt GOP / DEM / WASH?
4.  Does Political Unrest in Iraq hurt GOP / DEM / WASH?
5.  Does Economy hurt GOP / DEM / Wash.
6.  Do Gay Marriage Debates Hurt GOP / DEM / Wash?
7.  Do Carry's issues with Catholic Church Hurt GOP / DEM / Wash?
8. If you had to vote today, whom would you vote for?

My Answers:

1. Independent
2. GOP
3. Wash
4. GOP
5. GOP
6. DEM
7. Wash
8. Kerry

-- Modified on 4/21/2004 7:44:51 AM

1.  Do you consider yourself Dem / GOP / Independent (Other)?
2.  Does Admin actions Pre 9/11 hurt GOP / DEM / WASH?
3.  Does Decision to Invade Iraq hurt GOP / DEM / WASH?
4.  Does Political Unrest in Iraq hurt GOP / DEM / WASH?
5.  Does Economy hurt GOP / DEM / Wash.
6.  Do Gay Marriage Debates Hurt GOP / DEM / Wash?
7.  Do Carry's issues with Catholic Church Hurt GOP / DEM / Wash?
8. If you had to vote today, whom would you vote for?

My Answers:

1. Independent
2. GOP
3. GOP
4. GOP
5. GOP
6. Wash
7. Kerry
8. Kerry, just because Ross Perot isn't running. -- it's a joke!

Or are you friends with Mr. Wally Odell, the owner of Diebold, and friend and big time campaign contributor to G.W. Bush, who also said he was "committed to helping deliver Ohio's Electoral votes to GW Bush in 2004", in a letter to the Ohio Republican Party.

You do know, Diebold don't you ? You know, the Electronic voting machines many of us will be forced to use come November, the machines with no way of keeping track of votes, other than what they decide to tell us, no paper trail, no hanging chad's, no chance for whoever THEY don't want to win ...

More Info = http://www.blackboxvoting.com/

Libertarian
Wash
Wash
GOP
DEM
Wash
Wash
Any statesman

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not part of the VRWC out to disenfranchise your vote. I'm a libertarian who has many disagreements with GWB's policies. The main issue of this election, for me, is national security and sovereignty. I think removing Saddam from power was the right thing to do. And unlike many of the posters on this board, I can truthfully say that if Clinton had followed through in 1998 in invaded Iraq I would have fully supported him. I don't let unreasonable hatred and party affiliation cloud my judgement. The reason I believe John Kerry will lose is because the man won't take a stand based on principles to save his life. He will subjugate U.S. foriegn policy to the U.N., which is nothing but a club for dictactors who have bungled nearly every international crisis they have been a part of (the UN oil-for-food scandle for example).

Another reason Kerry will lose is for things like this:

"PITTSBURGH (AP) - Does John Kerry, who supports higher automobile fuel economy standards, own a gas-guzzling SUV? He does, but says it belongs to the family, not to him.

Kerry thought for a second when asked whether his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, had a Suburban at their Ketchum, Idaho, home. Kerry said he owns and drives a Dodge 600 and recently bought a Chrysler 300M. He said his wife owns the Chevrolet SUV. ``The family has it. I don't have it,'' he said."

The man doesn't have the balls to just say "Yes, I own an SUV, what of it?" He is not a leader.

RLTW

1) Libertarian, but I vote for the MAJOR party candidate most in sync with my views, not a fringe Libertarian w/no chance to win

2) Hurts GOP

3) Hurts all of America, and therefore hurts GOP, as they own it

4) Hurts GOP

5) Wash

6) SHOULD hurt GOP, but will be a wash

7) This is a wash - Anyone who actually cared was already a Bush voter

8) Kerry  - I wouldn't vote for Bush as Dog Catcher.

Kerry did answer. He said his wife owns it.

In my family, I own my vehicle (it is in my name) which only I drive, and my wife owns her vehicle (it is in her name) which we both drive, and is considered the family car, but I don't claim ownership.

And what does this little spin have to do with supporting higher standards for vehicles? He has first hand knowledge of the terrible things a 14 mile per gallon vehicle does. Would you prefer his millionaire wife not play the part of a rich bitch and drive a something smaller like a Hyundai Santa Fe? and get perhaps 25 miles per gallon.

Blasphemy

-- Modified on 4/24/2004 6:20:20 AM

RLTW, I can respect your opinion there ...

Quite frankly I may even go so far as to say I even agree with you to a large extent. I do think the Democratic parties downfall may be the lack of a strong direction and inspired leadership. Few if any, (I can't recall one off the top of my head), had the fortitude to step up and challenge G.W. Bush and his actions during and/or just after 9/11, and that was a glaring weakness that has been exploited fully by the GOP. In retrospect though it's difficult to fault the democrats for this as they truly were in a no win situation. If they didn't fall in line with what Bush was doing and saying during that time they were labeled as un-patriotic, terrorist loving whack's and every attempt was made to discredit them and/or have them fired. (I'm thinking of Bill Maher & the Dixie Chicks here in particular) And this issue has come back to haunt Kerry, as well as a few others. But come on the SUV thing is just ridiculous media folly, and I agree with you that Kerry should have just nipped it in the bud first opportunity and be done with it. You can also think of Howard Dean, the Democratic front-runner going into the primaries, he tried to show a fiery passion and show some leadership, but took it one little YELL to far, and was then decimated by the media and late-night talk show folks. Subsequently he lost any chance he had. It's truly sad that our leaders in any way help get chosen or swayed by a swing in the fickle media but that's the reality of the day.

However, where I disagree with you is that you think this makes Kerry a poor option for a modern day President. You may like the fact that GW Bush is so simple minded that he only has one direction, straight ahead full blast and damn anything that gets in his way attitude; what I tend to think of as the "John Wayne" effect that so many of the staunch conservatives seem to love about the guy. In my opinion it has obviously made America that much more hated around the globe, and for every ONE Saddam Hussein he disposes of another TWO, THREE, FIVE or TEN more will sprout up. Hell it already looks like GW Bush will turn over control of Iraq to yet another puppet regime made up of former Saddam government leaders, with US troops to stand watch. But come on, you don't see that turning into the same damn mess a few years down the road ?

Where I can at least appreciate Kerry more than you, seems to be that I can respect that he is a man that would rather think about his choices and try to weigh both sides of an issue before taking what he feels is the best action. I'll grant you he might not always do what I think is the correct action, or say what I would, but since when has it become a bad characteristic to realize you either might have made a mistake and change your mind, or to take the time to read the fine print before you vote on a bill, only to realize while the basic premise may be sound, i.e. "more funding for troops" but that the execution and/or bloated "pork" that may be in the bill could be yet even more harmful.

Honestly I would rather have a man as President, that has been to War, knows how destructive it can be, and has enough compassion and concern in him that he would hesitate before wanting to send young men (and women) off to their death for no real intelligent reason, than say a coward like GW Bush and his band of merry men that have never seen war and are all to willing to throw away human life for merely their own personal selfish reasons, and lie to us about it all along the way.

You may think you feel safer that Saddam Hussein has been removed, but what about Usama Bin Laden he's STILL out there, what about Al-Zawahiri, what about Al-Nasser, what about the next guy and the next and the guy after him, what about ALL these guys … http://www.fbi.gov/mostwant/terrorists/fugitives.htm

You feel safe; I feel like we've disturbed the hornets' nest and while we got one, he will be the least of our worries ...

1. Dem
2. GOP, Wash
3. GOP
4. GOP Wash
5. GOP
6. GOP
7. DEM
8. Kerry

/Zin

My Answers:

1.  Registered Democrat w/ an Independent mind ...
2.  Hurt's GOP more w/ Woodwards & Clarke's recent Books
3.  Decision to Invade Iraq hurts GOP
4.  Political Unrest in Iraq hurts GOP
5.  Economy hurts GOP
6.  Gay Marriage Debate Hurts GOP more, but borderline Wash
7.  Carry's issues w/ Catholic Church Hurts DEM, though shouldn't
8.  Voting for Kerry (aka ANYONE BUT BUSH)

But I don't believe GWB is stupid or simple minded. Anyone who serves two terms as a Governor and gets elected President isn't stupid, no matter how much you dislike him. Save the "well it was his family connections" argument for someone else, because that shit happens on both ends of the political spectrum. You toss around the word coward alot, but anyone who has the guts to make difficult decisions and risk their political future on the results is no coward. In contrast, Kerry waffles every time the wind changes. Did he have courage in Vietnam, absolutely, anyone who willingly goes into battle is OK by me. But Kerry has lost the courage to stand on his principles, it's so obvious it's as painful as watching Bush at a press conference.

The Dixie Chicks were not shut out of business by some government/ industry conspiracy. Instead of voicing their opinion in an intellegent way, they made a stupid, ill-informed comment in a foreign country and the majority of their listeners got pissed about it. Freedom of speech does not equal freedom from critisism or consequences.

Regarding Iraq, just the humanitarian aspect of deposing Saddam should be reason enough. Iraqis suffered terribly under him. And there is no doubt that he was a destabilizing force in the middle east. The U.S. has gone to war before based on that, and as I posted earlier, I believe that if a Democratic Administration had invaded Iraq and the situation were exactly the same as it is now, Democrats would be supporting it. I see alot of hypocricy on this board in that respect.

The hornet's nest analogy is interesting to me. Maybe some would not want to disturb the hornets nest they find in their yard. Willing to suffer the occassional sting, instead of confronting the threat. Not me. The hornets will be persued and destroyed. Will some sting before they die, sure, but eventually things will be better.  And no matter which boogie man is on the loose, Saddam, Usama, or the Killer Rabbit, I always feel safe because I'm armed to the teeth.

RLTW

, either in lives or money.

You'd think the Republicans would be the first to understand that.

I don't base my ideas about dealing with terrorism and other  threats to our country on a book detailing the opinions of one man. My views are based on years spent in an Army Ranger Battalion, experiencing first hand the reality of the world we live in.

RLTW

I am a voracious reader. I simply stated that my opinions on national security are based more on real life experiences than on any particular book which expresses the author's perception of reality. You would do better to not make such arrogant assumptions.

RLTW

Just what's right in front of you on the ground.  That would be like having your rangers fight without officers developing a battle plan.

1.  Do you consider yourself Dem / GOP / Independent (Other)?
    Republican.
2.  Does Admin actions Pre 9/11 hurt GOP / DEM / WASH?
    Wash.
3.  Does Decision to Invade Iraq hurt GOP / DEM / WASH?
    Wash.
4.  Does Political Unrest in Iraq hurt GOP / DEM / WASH?
    Wash.
5.  Does Economy hurt GOP / DEM / Wash.
    Democrats.
6.  Do Gay Marriage Debates Hurt GOP / DEM / Wash?
    Democrats.
7.  Do Carry's issues with Catholic Church Hurt GOP / DEM / Wash?
    Democrats.
8. If you had to vote today, whom would you vote for?
    Bush.

1. Dem (by realistic default)
2. GOP
3. GOP (more the true reason - If Osama was captured then it would favor Bush and so hurt Dems (politically) but we would all benefit)
4. GOP
5. Wash
6. Wash
7. Wash (don't know)
8. Kerry (again, by default)

difficult, I would say impossible, to hate someone with as much gracious feminity as you possess.