The OFFICIAL United States Presidential Election Thread! IV

[Ned]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
as far as i can tell, anyone who voted for bush on values was already with him in 2000. That was just a way of keeping his base.


He has, as far i am concerned no mandate on cultural issues. Most of which a Prez has little direct effect on anyway.

The only thing he DOES have a mandate to do is to win in Iraq, and to fight radical Islamist terror.

LoTM, are you kidding?

[Ned]

On Limbaugh after hours, Rush predicted that Bush would replace Rehnquist with Thomas as Chief Justice.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Ned
On Limbaugh after hours, Rush predicted that Bush would replace Rehnquist with Thomas as Chief Justice.

maybe he'll sexually harass the blind justice lady

[Arrian]

The problem is with lack of freedom and democracy that encourages impoverished youth to joint radical organizations that seeks "revenge" against the "external" cause of the poverty. The solution is to bring freedom and democracy to a land bereft of rights and hope.

I think it's a bit more complex than that. After all, the 9/11 terrorists were not poor, uneducated types.

The lack of democracy in the Middle East, *coupled with governments that are perceived as lackeys of the hated USA* provides rich recruiting material for the extremists. A democratic government might actually stand up to the USA - or more likely make a show of it. Even if it did not, the basic implication of living in a democratic nation is that you had a hand in selecting your government and thus its actions are legitimate representations of the people's will. Since the governments in the ME are *not* democratic, the extremists can say - correctly - that they have no recourse but to act on their own, independent of their government (and in opposition to it). Whereas in a democracy they could fight for change within the system.

The real danger to us, IMO, comes from middle-class intellectuals (of a type) who reject modernity. The "Arab Street" (uneducated, poor) gives them cover and low-level footsoldier types, sure, but the leadership and the sort that can pull off a 9/11 style attack are more sophisticated.

ANYWAY, my basic point is that democracy may be an answer, but I think we must come to terms with the fact that real democracy in the ME will - at least at first - be somewhat hostile to us.

-Arrian

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Originally posted by Sava
I hope Al Qaeda nukes a red state.

If they nuke any state were all in trouble.

Bin Laden, you'd best listen to me, stay away from Tennessee.

[mrmitchell]

Well, what's next for the Republicans?
(A: going downhill)

---

Go Hillary-Bill '08!

[Lefty Scaevola]

Originally posted by Asher
Lesbians hate Dick, Gays hate Bush.
Funny how that works.

lol one of the better laughs today.

[Lefty Scaevola]

My god is smarter than any of your gods, and he apparently does not give a fyling flip fart about gay marriage. Its is fine by me. I do not see why persons just a bit different from me should not have all the legal a social benefits of marriage, nor do I believe that any or all relegions hold title on the institution or name of marriage. Both I believe are firmly planted in the state.
However I will trade that issue to allies in exchange for support on low taxes, tort reform, and judges with judcial restraint. I want to get some greater fical discipline as well, but there seems little prospect of cutting expense with the War on Terror.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Ned


The problem is with lack of freedom and democracy that encourages impoverished youth to joint radical organizations that seeks "revenge" against the "external" cause of the poverty. The solution is to bring freedom and democracy to a land bereft of rights and hope.

If we could create more Democracy in the middle east then that would help the problem is Arabs truly don't believe in anything close to a seporation between religion and state so given free elections they will vote in Islamist regimes. Given that the Islamists believe God wants them to enforce Sharia I'm not sure those fundimentalists would willingly step down if they lost a future election.

[JohnT]

Anybody find a breakdown on military votes, especially for those sevice personnel who spent time in Iraq?

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Originally posted by Agathon
America hates gays. . .

No, we Americans don't like what gays are doing (there's a difference), which is detroying the moral character of our nation and thus destroying our nation.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Lefty Scaevola
My god is smarter than any of your gods, and he apparently does not give a fyling flip fart about gay marriage. Its is fine by me. I do not see why persons just a bit different from me should not have all the legal a social benefits of marriage, nor do I believe that any or all relegions hold title on the institution or name of marriage. Both I believe are firmly planted in the state.
However I will trade that issue to allies in exchange for support on low taxes, tort reform, and judges with judcial restraint. I want to get some greater fical discipline as well, but there seems little prospect of cutting expense with the War on Terror.

Less then 1/5 of the deficit is caused by increased military spending. The other 4/5 is caused by tax cuts, new entitlement spending, and things like the farm subsidies.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Ned
On Limbaugh after hours, Rush predicted that Bush would replace Rehnquist with Thomas as Chief Justice.

isnt it widely noted that Thomas never writes opinions, and usually defers to Scalia?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Oerdin


If we could create more Democracy in the middle east then that would help the problem is Arabs truly don't believe in anything close to a seporation between religion and state so given free elections they will vote in Islamist regimes. Given that the Islamists believe God wants them to enforce Sharia I'm not sure those fundimentalists would willingly step down if they lost a future election.

as im sure you know,theres sharia and theres sharia. Most muslim states, including the "secular" ones we support have muslim family law. As a matter of fact Israel has a version of muslim family law for muslims. Islamism usually refers to a more thoroughgoing islamization of society, and its electoral prospects are much less clear.

[:) Smiley]

They'd need a China-style Cultural Revolution to even begin to shake off sharia. Too bad we messed up that chance back in the 80s.