John Kerry's plan for America

Lets take a closer look at what John Kerry plans to do for national security:

1. He wants to lead a new era of broad alliances to execute a more effective war on terror.

2. To help win the war on terror and strengthen the military to meet new threats, Kerry wants to increase our troop strength by 40,000 and double our special forces capability.

3. Deploy all the power in America's arsenal -- military, diplomacy, intelligence, economic power and the force of our values -- to keep America secure.

4. Lead the world in a mission to lock up and safeguard nuclear weapons material so terrorists can never acquire it.

5. He plans so secure vulnerable bomb-making materials, prevent the production of new materials for nuclear weapons, and work to end nuclear weapons programs in hostile states like North Korea and Iran.

6. He wants to keep us safer at home by investing in our first responders; securing and protecting our nuclear and chemical facilities; bolstering port, rail, and aviation security; and strengthening and improving information sharing.

John Kerry has a record of fighting to reduce the federal deficit. He was one of the first Democratic Senators to support the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings deficit reduction plan. He voted for President Clinton's 1993 deficit reduction plan and the 1997 Balanced Budget Act. Now lets take a closer look at what he plans to do for the economy and jobs:

1. He wants to cut taxes on the middle class, including tax cuts to make health care and education more affordable.

2. Restrain spending, ensuring that all discretionary spending, other than security and education, does not grow any faster than inflation.

3. He wants to addresses America's other deficit (the rapidly rising cost of health care and the tens of millions of uninsured) with a plan to make health care more affordable for all Americans.

4. According to Kerry, deficit reduction is good for the economy and jobs. His plan is expected to give America's businesses the confidence they need to start hiring again, keep interest rates down, and avoid the looming crisis that could result from the growing deficits.

5. Kerry and Edwards have a plan to help create millions of high-paying jobs. America's dynamic entrepreneurs and talented workers are capable of creating millions of jobs each year. This was done before. In Clinton's first term, the economy created more than 11 million new jobs, and with the right policies in place, this is expected to be accomplished again.

6. According to Kerry and Edwards, making America more competitive means investing in more jobs at higher wages.

7. A plan to jumpstart job growth right now includes a New Jobs Tax Credit to provide a payroll tax holiday for new hires in manufacturing, other businesses affected by outsourcing, and small businesses.

8. End tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas and use the savings to cut the corporate rate by 5%, providing a tax cut for 99% of taxpaying corporations.

9. Cut the deficit in half in the first Kerry term as president, cut health care premiums by up to $1,000 a year, and move America towards energy independence to bring down energy costs.

Lets take a closer look at what he plans to do for the economy and jobs:

1. Address the soaring cost of health care that will cut premiums by up to $1,000 and help insure an additional 27 million Americans who don't have health coverage.

2. Put medical decisions in the hands of doctors and their patients and stop bureaucrats who know nothing about medicine from making life and death decisions.

3. Unlike Bush's Medicare prescription drug plan that only gives money to pharmaceutical companies, Kerry wants to provide prescription drug relief that allows Americans the discounts available in Canada.

4. Give tax cuts to small businesses to help them cover their workers.

Lets take a closer look at what he plans to do for education:

1. The "John Kerry and John Edwards' National Education Trust Fund", to provide the necessary funds to raise standards and ensure all children can reach them.

2. Ensure that the accountability measures in "No Child Left Behind" actually work. The plan is expected to help 1 million more students graduate in the next five years.

3. Recruit or retain 500,000 teachers over the next four years, reward excellence and require results for our kids.

4. To relieve the fiscal pressure on states that causes tuitions to rise, Kerry and Edwards have proposed $25 billion in aid to states. Their plan includes $50 billion in tax credits to help Americans afford all four years of college.

Lets take a closer look at what he plans to do for Energy:

1. Implement a comprehensive energy plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

2. Invest in domestic renewable energy like wind and solar, and improves auto fuel efficiency -- and at the same time create the new manufacturing and technology jobs of the future.

3. Provide incentives to help Americans use energy more cleanly and efficiently.

4. Create a new partnership to expand the supply of natural gas.

5. Implement a plan that will ensure that 20% of electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020.

6. Cuts the government's energy bill 20% by 2020 -- saving taxpayers $14 billion over the next ten years.

Lets take a closer look at what he plans to do for the environment:

1. Strengthen the Clean Air Act by plugging enforcement loopholes, reducing mercury emissions, and stopping acid rain. They support aggressive action to meet ozone and particulate air quality standards.

2. Address emissions of the gases that contribute to climate change through programs that drive technology change and create jobs.

3. Reverse the Bush administration's weakening of drinking water standards and support comprehensive protection of the nation's wetlands, watersheds, and coastlines.

4. Renew the nation's commitment to the Superfund program by working with Congress to reinstate make sure polluters in the oil and chemical industries pay to clean up their messes.

5. Promote environmental justice by creating Environmental Empowerment Zones where federal Superfund cleanup dollars are expected to be spent on a priority basis.

Lets take a closer look at what he plans to do for Science and Technology:

1. Create a business environment that encourages investment in innovation and break down barriers to future High-Tech job growth and economic expansion by eliminating capital gains taxes for long-term investments in small businesses.

2. Wire every possible corner of America and provide first responders with a secure broadband network by 2006

3. Invest more in the research likely to create the industries and jobs of the future and lead to discoveries that will help us improve millions of lives and better understand the world we live in.

4. Let scientific findings drive scientific decisions and make scientific reports public so all Americans can make informed decisions.

5. Improve K-12 math and science education and expand America's science and engineering workforce to help the scientists of tomorrow.

If you had told me that your list was of things that you wanted to do, I would have assumed that you were a child, trying to form what you considered a perfect world. However, since you tell me that those things are John Kerry's Plan for America, I have to believe that you are naive and John Kerry is either a fool, or he says those things as fodder for fools.

First of all, Kerry has no idea how to bring many of his wishes, about. Aother large group of the items are not affected, to any great extent, by the President. Another group of the items are presently being attended to, despite Kerry's attempts to convince the electorate, to the contrary. And lastly, Kerry has either no record, during his 20 years in the Senate, of addressing the rest of those issues, or has continually taken stands which go diametrically against what he now says he will do.

Time to wake up and smell the coffee.

Finally, someone has come up with the answers for all of America's problems. Thank you, aldanatech.

How will we pay for these programs? By increasing taxes, or just what? I personally agree with these ideas, but was wondering how we can do such things like putting "a great teacher in every classroom".

It is a WONDERFUL goal, aldanatech. I wonder exactly the price of all this while fighting terrorism, and suffering the tremendous emotional and fiscal setbacks 9-11 caused.

This is a great post, Aldantech, because it simply lists the most important issues that both candidates should be talking about. I know that Kerry did, but I didn't hear from the Bush camp on many of those issues. I was impressed that Kerry even mentioned equal pay for women. I haven't heard about that since the 70's.

If Kerry can even accomplish some of the goals you listed, this country will be in a much better place than it is now. I've seen the past four years under Bush and all I want is to see him out of office.

Bush thinks its all about the war on terror and war in Iraq, but it isn't. Its everything else that he doesn't address on Kerry's list. He is fiscally irresponsible and we won't talk about his horrendous job loss record.

Its time for a change. I am hoping that every American will cast a vote and make themselves heard. You can make a difference. This race will be very close and your vote counts tremendously. Please do it.

Mr Aldanatech,
I'm sure you're a very nice, well-intentioned person but please oh please take your head out of the rosey utopian sand and open your eyes. Why do liberals always think that tax cuts for the middle class and tax increases for the rich will solve everything? Are you aware that the top 5% of wage earners already pay over half our taxes? I guess you feel that's not enough. The fact is that our system is already paying for more than it can afford. Sir- do you REALLY, REALLY believe that we can reduce taxes for the middle class (again), increase taxes on the rich (again), pay for all these dreamy programs you include in your Kerry list AND reduce the deficit? My God man- you are either unbelievably ignorant or childishly blind or both. As a fellow American I love you. As your fellow man I respect the fact that you obviously care, but please, please don't insult my intelligence any further with this kind of nonsense. My best to you.
Ben Kauffman in Middle America-Columbus, Ohio.
P.S. The next time a bureaucrat in Washington "creates" a well-paying job please let me know so I can send him an application. Did it ever occur to you that such a nonsensical suggestion might be an insult to the thousands of small business owners in this country who work ungodly hours for decades to really "create" jobs. John Kerry wouldn't know how to "create" a job if his life literally depended upon it.

In National Security:

1. Launch And Lead A New Era Of Alliances
********Allowing the UN to make the call of when the US has the right defend herself.
2. Modernize The World's Most Powerful Military To Meet New Threats
********Just like he did in the Senate, by cutting programs and reducing capital for "R&D".
3. Deploy All That Is In America's Arsenal
********More appropriately, what's left in it and what little there will be if he gets elected
4. Free America From Its Dangerous Dependence On Mideast Oil
********Because Oil is such a deadly threat to National security

In Economy and Jobs:

1. Create Good-Paying Jobs
*******I'd vote for that, a government that is going to create more jobs, oh, wait, that is in the arena of business's to do so
2. Cut Middle-Class Taxes To Raise Middle-Class Incomes
*******This he has talked about a lot but as of yet has not uttered a word as to how he will or how it would be feasible after budgeting capital for all the "programs" he desires to start.
3. Make Washington Live Within A Budget
*******He's had 20 years to do that as a Senator. Why hasn't he done it yet? More importantly, how? Given all his other "policy" and "program" he will be in the red before he gets 20% of it going, where is he going to get the money from?
4. Invest In The Jobs Of Tomorrow
*******You bet he will, he'll use his full 4 years to increase his bottom line as much as possible.

In Health Care:

1. Cut Your Premiums
*******By this we mean that the federal government will begin to dictate to private companies. Or maybe this is one of the magic programs he wants to fund. Let's see, 200/month for 12 months x 90million people, that's 216 billion dollars/year. If he gives everyone 200 a month for premiums. Wait though, the average premium for a family is 1400/mth, still leaves 1200 that has to come from your pocket and what about those that can't afford the 1400? He wants to fund them completely. That's 7billion of itself. You are now in for 207billion dollars. Next we have to ask, again, where is the money coming from? Am I being obtuse? Read the next point aldantech makes about how Kerry is going to save America.
2. Cover All Americans With Quality Care
*****Already covered this one
3. Cut the Cost of Prescription Drugs
*****By speeding time to market, tell me again, how does that effect price so drastically? Oh, you are going to subsidize this as well? Again, where is the money coming from?
4. Cut Waste And Inefficiency
*****Yes, this is something that he has proven he will do. You can see it in his track record in the Senate. We paid him to be on the Senate Intelligence committee and he never showed up for the meetings. Way to go John for making sure my tax dollars were so well spent.

In Energy Independence:

1. Explore And Develop New Energy Sources
2. Develop Tomorrow's Technology Today
3. Make America Energy Independent Of Middle East Oil
*****He still hasn't said how he plans to do so on any of these other than some vague comments aluding to some even more vague maybe's. On point numbers 1 and 2, I ask again, where is the money going to come from? The government can't stimulate this without funding and you can't fund without capital.

In Homeland Security:

1. Track And Stop Terrorists
2. Protect Our Borders And Shores
3. Harden Vulnerable Targets
4. Improve Domestic Readiness
*****All for it but again, where is the funding?
5. Guard Liberty.
*****I believe that any President is sworn to do this, unfortunately it is an ideal, not an objective, measurable only in the processes of how he handles other issues at hand.

In Education:

1. Meet Our Responsibilities To Our Schools
2. Continue Reform And Put A Great Teacher In Every Classroom
3. Offer 3.5 Million After-School Opportunities Through "School's Open 'Til Six"
4. Make College Affordable For All And Expand Lifelong Learning
******Again, funding?

In the Environment:

1. Create Cleaner, Greener Communities
*****Kyoto
2. Enact A Conservation Covenant With America
*****Kyoto
3. Protect Our Health By Reducing Dangerous Air Emissions
*****Kyoto
4. Restore America's Waters
*****Massachussets. How clean is the water there again?

In Science and Technology:

1. Strengthen Our Economy And Fuel High-Tech Job Growth
2. Bridge The Digital Divide
3. Invest In The Breakthroughs Of Tomorrow
*****On these first three, funding
4. Let Scientists Do Science Again
*****Without thought to ethic. Moreover, I, as being morally oppossed to some of the "research" and "science" he proposes, will be forced to fund this science with my tax dollars. So much for sticking up for liberty.

For Veterans:

1. Improve Veterans' Health Care
****News flash---The Senate controls Veteran's health care and in the last 20 years, JK has done squat to improve veteran health care. He has however voted to cut funding, right along with his pal TeddyK.
2. Improve Veterans' Quality Of Life
*****Does this mean that I can start screaming about my QOL as a vet? I wasn't aware that my QOL was so low.
3. Keep Faith With Those Who Serve Today
*****That's good because he d**n sure didn't do it the last time it really mattered.

For Women:

1. Help Balance Work And Family
*****funding
2. Close The Pay Gap
*****funding
3. Protect Women's Health And Right To Choose
*****pandering
4. Open College Opportunities
*****funding and pandering

You know, I use that word funding a lot. There is a good reason for it. Kerry claims he is going to reduce the deficit, reduce taxes and increase or create funding for all of these "projects". (There ya go ladies, you are now officially a "project". He is going to fix everything that is wrong in your lives.) Question: There isn't money in the budget for it now, he has stated that. Just where do you think that it is going to come from? He's going to increase taxes on the rich? Yeah, that's why the Kerry's paid less than 12% on last years return. Instead of ponying up his share, they took every loop they could find. Moreover, he hasn't introduced a single bill in 20 years of Senate work that would cut taxes. The only thing that he has ever had his name on is the roll calls when voting on tax bills proposed by others. Incidently, he has voted to raise taxes more than he has voted to lower them.

Yeah, he has plans for other issues. He also has plans for the United States and our independence as well as our liberties. Remember, in Kerry's book, it's okay to tramp on one persons liberties and rights in the interest of anothers. As long as it's popular, who cares right?

Sleep on America

Nor was it the reason for the invasion with such haste, nor was it the reason given to allies when looking for support, nor was it the main objective of the Iraq invasion,nor was it...

Well whatever, of course it will be better for resident, nobody has EVER contested otherwise, even though it has not gone nearly as expected and is still not in such a place yet.

The constant referrals from Bush regarding new recruits being trained is such hogwash.

I don't know if you saw it or not but just the pther day 44 men were ambushed and their busses were stopped when they were returning from Military graduation ceremonies near the Iran border.

They were killed execution style while laying face down outside the busses.

Now I know this is a bit of a segue from your comment, sorry, but in the same sense, we MUST be aware of the realities. These people didn't live under such violent hostility under Saddam. Although repressed they still lived their lives without living in constant fear as often said.

Iraq is a horrible place for us to imagine living in, but for them it really wasn't so bad. Saddam kept terrorists away and didn't have such close ties as once suspected, it doesn't fit that a dictator would support or work with nomad terrorist groups.

If anything he would protect the people of his country for them just so he can remain in power.

So yes, it is nice that those who CHOOSE freedom MAY one day see the realities that it has to offer. On the other hand, it is FAR from anywhere near such a state and an end is not in sight yet.

The United States of America's military forces AND the people of Iraq need much greater support than you are receiving now. Bush will FAIL at obtaining it.

Kerry WILL succeed in reducing the burden on American taxpayers as well as American troops. Even though I am not American, I don't like to see ANY country's people dying uneccessarily under the thumb of such a stubborn and untrustworthy leader.

Bush stated clearly, he had enough support, he is delusional.

He won't even TRY to do anything about it, Kerry will. You need it, the choice is VERY simple. One guy cares, the other is too stubborn to know better.

I post this article written by Mathew Malweller, a professor of Political Science at Central Washington University. I verified that he wrote the article, and here is his article, my email to him, his reply and my response. I invite everyone to consider it's impact.
*********************************
Thanks for responding.

Outstanding article!
It describes my exact thoughts on the importance this election is for the future of America.
You are to be commended for this article - I salute you, Sir.

***************************************
Mathew Manweller wrote:
Well, it's true that I wrote it and it was in the Daily Record.

Matt

Central Washington University
Asst. Professor of Political Science
manwellerm@cwu.edu
509-963-2396
********************************
Hello - I was wondering if there is any truth in the below article.

Please email me back to verify this.
************************************
ACTUAL ARTICLE FOLLOWS:

Subject: Fwd: Interesting Article

It was written in the Ellensburg, Washington Daily Record on Wed. Oct. 6, 2004 by Mathew Manweller who is a Central Washington University
political science professor. The title of the article was "Election determines fate of nation."

"In that this will be my last column before the presidential election there will be no sarcasm, no attempts at witty repartee. The topic is
too serious, and the stakes are too high.

This November we will vote in the only election during our lifetime that may truly matter. Because
America is at a once-in-a-generation crossroads, more than an election hangs in the balance.

Down one path lies retreat, abdication and a reign of ambivalence.

Down the other lies a nation that is aware of its past and accepts the daunting obligation its future demands. If we choose poorly, the consequences will echo through the next 50 years of history.

If we, in a spasm of frustration, turn out the current occupant of the White House, the message to the world and ourselves will be twofold.

First, we will reject the notion that America can do big things. Once a nation that tamed a frontier, stood down the Nazis and stood upon the
moon, we will announce to the world that bringing democracy to the Middle East is too big of a task for us. But more significantly, we will signal
to future presidents that as voters, we are unwilling to tackle difficult challenges, preferring caution to boldness, embracing the mediocrity that has characterized other civilizations.

The defeat of President Bush will send a chilling message to future presidents who may need to make difficult, yet unpopular decisions.

America has always been a nation that rises to the demands of history,regardless of the costs or appeal. If we turn away from that legacy, we
turn away from who we are.

Second, we inform every terrorist organization on the globe that the lesson of Somalia was well learned. In Somalia, we showed terrorists
that you don't need to defeat America on the battlefield when you can defeat them in the newsroom. They learned that a wounded America can become a defeated America. Twenty-four-hour news stations and daily tracing polls will do the heavy lifting, turning a cut into a fatal blow.
Except that Iraq is Somalia times 10.

The election of John Kerry will serve notice to every terrorist in every cave that the soft underbelly of American power is the timidity of
American voters. Terrorists will know that a steady stream of grizzly photos for CNN is all you need to break the will of the American
people.

Our own self-doubt will take it from there.
Bin Laden will recognize that he can topple any American administration without setting foot on the homeland.

It is said that America's WW II generation is its 'greatest generation.'
But my greatest fear is that it will become known as America's 'last generation'. Born in the bleakness of the Great Depression and hardened
in the fire of WW II, they may be the last American generation that understands the meaning of duty, honor and sacrifice.

It is difficult to admit, but I know these terms are spoken with only hollow detachment by many (but not all) in my generation. Too many citizens today mistake 'living in America' as 'being an American'. But America has always been more of an idea than a place. When you sign on, you do more than buy real estate. You accept a set of values and responsibilities.

This November, my generation, which has been absent too long, must grasp the obligation that comes with being an American, or fade into the
oblivion they may deserve. I believe that 100 years from now historians will look back at the election of 2004 and see it as the decisive
election of our century.

Depending on the outcome, they will describe it as the moment America joined the ranks of ordinary nations; or they will describe it as the
moment the prodigal sons and daughters of the greatest generation accepted their burden as caretakers of the City on the Hill."

I post this article written by Mathew Malweller, a professor of Political Science at Central Washington University. I verified that he wrote the article, and here is his article, my email to him, his reply and my response. I invite everyone to consider it's impact.
*********************************
Thanks for responding.

Outstanding article!
It describes my exact thoughts on the importance this election is for the future of America.
You are to be commended for this article - I salute you, Sir.

***************************************
Mathew Manweller wrote:
Well, it's true that I wrote it and it was in the Daily Record.

Matt

Central Washington University
Asst. Professor of Political Science
manwellerm@cwu.edu
509-963-2396
********************************
Hello - I was wondering if there is any truth in the below article.

Please email me back to verify this.
************************************
ACTUAL ARTICLE FOLLOWS:

Subject: Fwd: Interesting Article

It was written in the Ellensburg, Washington Daily Record on Wed. Oct. 6, 2004 by Mathew Manweller who is a Central Washington University
political science professor. The title of the article was "Election determines fate of nation."

"In that this will be my last column before the presidential election there will be no sarcasm, no attempts at witty repartee. The topic is
too serious, and the stakes are too high.

This November we will vote in the only election during our lifetime that may truly matter. Because
America is at a once-in-a-generation crossroads, more than an election hangs in the balance.

Down one path lies retreat, abdication and a reign of ambivalence.

Down the other lies a nation that is aware of its past and accepts the daunting obligation its future demands. If we choose poorly, the consequences will echo through the next 50 years of history.

If we, in a spasm of frustration, turn out the current occupant of the White House, the message to the world and ourselves will be twofold.

First, we will reject the notion that America can do big things. Once a nation that tamed a frontier, stood down the Nazis and stood upon the
moon, we will announce to the world that bringing democracy to the Middle East is too big of a task for us. But more significantly, we will signal
to future presidents that as voters, we are unwilling to tackle difficult challenges, preferring caution to boldness, embracing the mediocrity that has characterized other civilizations.

The defeat of President Bush will send a chilling message to future presidents who may need to make difficult, yet unpopular decisions.

America has always been a nation that rises to the demands of history,regardless of the costs or appeal. If we turn away from that legacy, we
turn away from who we are.

Second, we inform every terrorist organization on the globe that the lesson of Somalia was well learned. In Somalia, we showed terrorists
that you don't need to defeat America on the battlefield when you can defeat them in the newsroom. They learned that a wounded America can become a defeated America. Twenty-four-hour news stations and daily tracing polls will do the heavy lifting, turning a cut into a fatal blow.
Except that Iraq is Somalia times 10.

The election of John Kerry will serve notice to every terrorist in every cave that the soft underbelly of American power is the timidity of
American voters. Terrorists will know that a steady stream of grizzly photos for CNN is all you need to break the will of the American
people.

Our own self-doubt will take it from there.
Bin Laden will recognize that he can topple any American administration without setting foot on the homeland.

It is said that America's WW II generation is its 'greatest generation.'
But my greatest fear is that it will become known as America's 'last generation'. Born in the bleakness of the Great Depression and hardened
in the fire of WW II, they may be the last American generation that understands the meaning of duty, honor and sacrifice.

It is difficult to admit, but I know these terms are spoken with only hollow detachment by many (but not all) in my generation. Too many citizens today mistake 'living in America' as 'being an American'. But America has always been more of an idea than a place. When you sign on, you do more than buy real estate. You accept a set of values and responsibilities.

This November, my generation, which has been absent too long, must grasp the obligation that comes with being an American, or fade into the
oblivion they may deserve. I believe that 100 years from now historians will look back at the election of 2004 and see it as the decisive
election of our century.

Depending on the outcome, they will describe it as the moment America joined the ranks of ordinary nations; or they will describe it as the
moment the prodigal sons and daughters of the greatest generation accepted their burden as caretakers of the City on the Hill."

But your conclusions seem to be based on Kerry's past with no reveiw of Bush's actions since in office.

I am not interested in your taxes or economy at all, that is your issue and has little bearing on myself.

The war that used to be against terrorism and was turned into an excuse to invade Iraq is my issue though.

Bush says it is going fine and he has the support he needs, I see otherwise.

Kerry says he will obtain greater alied support
for the burden on America, I feel he has a better chance than Bush and will be received more varourably. If he does nothing for jobs and economy in the US, I still feel he will NOT walk away from Iraq and will have a better result when seeking allied support.

My issue over and therefore your country exists outside of my life.

What did you mean by real job and paying taxes?

I promise you, I pay a HELL of a lot more in taxes than most people here do. I pay taxes on US income and Canadian.

I don't mean I earn more than anyone here, but I get taxed to the hilt on US residuals which can be up to 46%, as low as 24%.

Another reason I have moved all focus to the European market now.

How's he going to do that aldanatech? Chirac and other world leaders have already public said that they will not support any activity in the US, regardless of leadership? Or are you implying that he will get the support from the members of the security counsel he swears he has met with but they swear otherwise and have outright said he is lying?

Further, lets say he is going to recover all of the 200billion and 400 billion more just magicly appears. His programs call for a minimum of 2.6trillion dollars (in new funds) that is 2,600 billion, a shortage of 2,000 billion. On the high end it it is 6+trillion. Is he going to get that by taxing businesses? Sure, and they will be more than happy to pass that on to the consumers. US. Why not just levy those taxes outright on us? Well, he can't do that, how would be pay the new taxes he is going to have to introduce.

It's not rocket science. His math just doesn't compute with his policy.

Countries told GEORGE W BUSH they would not support him going to war on the unproven premise that WMD wre being stockpiled. Several of thse countries were in favour of it as a last resolution, GWB didn't wait for inspections to finish, even though they were proceeding on schedule, his people hadn't found anything.

He was ready to remove Saddam LONG before 9/11, they had asked CIA intelligence gatherers to FIND a way to pin terrorism and 9/11 on Saddam, it's a farce and a big lie. You bought it, millions of Americans bought it, not too any other people bought it.

BUT...Britain wants to liberate Iraq yet is refusing to offer more support under the current situation. Change the situation and get a decent representative into England and you will gain greater suport. That's just one of many countries who will favour Kerry over Bush, they will back him because HE didn't F-up, Bush did and now Kerry's left to clean up the mess, in true Bush style.

We KNOW Bush won't succeed, that is a given fact, he tried that already. I am quite confident the Kery will find a way to reduce the burden of this war on troops and taxpayers pockets.

but I really don't feel he discredited HIS service in Nam. He was trying to raise awareness to the horrors that are ALLOWED to occur. Others higher ranked than him also said that they just allowed it because nobody above them said anything and so on and so on.

He is obviously still proud to have served his coountry even though he disagreed with the war the government chose to send him to and the manner in which it was conducted.

That was my take anyway.

While I totally agree that I think its scary that people with the legal right to vote in the country will possible vote solely on emotions of "I really don't care what Kerry stands for, I just know he's not Bush". If any rational human being spends some brain energy on that concept for a few minutes -- you have to admit its pretty pathetic to use as a strategy to determine the next leader of the USA.

But that said...I've seen folks on the other side as well...folks who are voting for Bush solely because he is.....get this and I kid you not.....from Texas!

That is equally scary.

I have an occassional chat buddy who is in Texas, she and several of her friends and neighbors are voting for Bush because he is a Texan.

Am I the only one who think's both the "Anyone but Bush" and "Well Bush is Texan" mindsets are insanely stupid?

At least have some reasons of some relevance to their policies/plans for who you are voting for -- expend some brain cells on the decision at least.

It is clear that you feel in order to be free you must be completely independant of alliied input.

The thing is though, your freedoms are within your country. Freedom to speak, create, prosper, secceed etc. These are personal fredoms that we value as citizes of free societies.

Bush LIED (sorry Max, blatantly mislead due to his own reluctance to confirm intelligence) to allies. He TRIED to get them in on his little plan to topple Saddam. It is not new news that he had planned to do so long before 9/11 and when 9/11 happened, it was seen as an excuse to attack Iraq.

Well, nobody else had the same personal bone to pick, they were focused on al-Qaeda's growth, (remember the guys who attacked the US and killed 3000). al-Qaeda IS an immediate threat to the entire world, not Saddam.

They can see right through Bush as anyone else with SOME vision can also, Bush wanted allies to ivest lives and money of thier own people to complete his personal vendetta against Saddam, as Bush sr. would say, 'not gonna do it.'

NOW, when the chance to remove a man who has mislead and deceived the entire world, who has placed some countries at a far greater risk than ever before and wishes to CONTINUE on his path for personal benefit at his people's expense, they see Bush just as they see Saddam, a madman that people actually believe while he drags the country through the mud for his own gains.

They were spit on by Bush, not the other way around as you would always like to feel you are the poor victims.

Why would they stand behind such a plan of complete madness and be taken away from the focus that needs to be placed on terrorism that IS an ACTUAL pending threat on Western Europe?

GWB basically said, well, American's FEEL safer now, screw Europe we are going to Iraq.

Since that time, they have seen more lies and deception from one of the most underhanded and corrupt governments since WWII Germany, a man on a personal mission.

So what reason do THEY have to support Bush? just one please.

As for Kerry, well they must understand that he is seeking to take over in the middle of one of the most nonsensical and unending wars ever. They must feel some sympathy for the next guy who has to try and rectify Bush's mistakes and they will support him. Kerry is in good standing with these allies, they support him and will help him succeed during his term.

Bush is just destructive trouble, why let him destoy other economies and people's lives? Why support what they don't believe in?

Now if Bush had kept you business inside your country or even NOT LOST focus on the main objective of thwarting the largest growing terror organization on the plaet in his WAR ON TERORISM, he just MAY have support and people wouldn't be so vocal about him.

BUSH took his agenda to the world stage, it wasn't the world getting in on your business as you would like to suggest.

Sorry for dragging it on but i couldn't just say, they like Kerry more than Bush as that is not the issue at all.

I was just sitting here reading and posting, waiting for a freind to drop by and I started thinking...these guy have a choice between a failed oil tycoon and a lawyer.

Man, I certainly understand the predicament you voters are in, but HOW, out of 300 million + citizens, did you end up with such a narrow choice of two questionable men?

Really, who's in control of your democracy down there? It's like a nightmare version of Lets Make a Deal,

"Do you want what's behind door A or Door B?"

"Well Monty I think I'll keep the money!"

"Ha ha, noooooooo, sorry. Door A or door B?"

"Well I don't want to choose either door, can't I just keep the prizes I've won so far and forget the doors?"

"Dammit, DOOR a OR DOOR B!?!"

"geez, I'm not too sure, well I supopse I'll pick Door A!"

"Door B it is ! You LOSE your vacation to Cabo, here's a 2 for 1 cupon at MacDonalds.!"

Wow, and you FOUGHT for this?

Just come to Canada. The provinces have set aside something like 90,000 fhots for Americans and have permitted Canadian doctors to administer them on, I think the 30th.

For Canadians they say not to worry because there will still be enough for the elderly and children to get thier dose.

IT IS STILL NOT FLU SEASON THOUGH!!!!

Doctors say it isn't needed for at leat another month yet.

DAMN!!! Just missed getting my bet in for the 2nd race, enough TR for one day, costing me money now! :)

Would you like me to continue and point out your arrogance and foolishness in stating your opinion of American political candidates (in which you take no part except to post on a DB)?

Or do you see for yourself why your posts leave a bad taste and impression of Canadians?

We don't have one party running our country either, and not every Republican disagrees with John Kerry and not every Democrat disagrees with Bush. Please STFU, thanks in advance.

well done, except you didn't answer that question or comment on the statement itself, I never mentioned your government, your response was a defense of your government, as always

quite clever

Here is some fun stuff for you kids to chew on!

Reporting campaign nonsense
The items that follow are taken from local newspapers and television stations. They represent incidents of assault and threats on GOP supporters or offices. The Sludge Report has not seen any reports like these where Kerry/Edwards supporters are targets of attacks like these.
Question: Do you think Dan Rather will report on this nationwide pattern of intimidation, trespass, vote suppression, and rights denial?

October 22, 2004
Local Bush/Cheney headquarters robbed

The Cinncinatti Enquirer October 22,2004
DOWNTOWN - Cincinnati's headquarters for the Bush/Cheney re-election campaign was broken into overnight.
Money and a sign were taken from the office, on Seventh Street near Court Street. The thieves got in by breaking out a window.
The office was also ransacked, officials said. It also houses other Republican organizations.
No one had been arrested.

Two Arrested for Hurling Pies at Columnist

Associated Press October 21, 2004
TUCSON, Ariz. - Two men ran onstage and threw custard pies at conservative columnist Ann Coulter as she was giving a speech at the University of Arizona, hitting her in the shoulder, police said.
University police arrested the men but did not release their identities.
In her half-hour speech Thursday night, Coulter trashed Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and derided liberals and Democrats while saluting conservative students who attended her speech.
Coulter writes a column for Universal Press Syndicate. Her appearance was sponsored by the UA College Republicans.

October 5, 2004 04:03 PM
GOP Campaign Headquarters Attacked by Gunfire
The Knox County Republican Party's campaign office located at 4618 Kingston Pike was attacked by gunfire this morning. At least two shots blasted out the front doors to the office. No one was at the campaign office, though employees were present at nearby businesses. Knox County Republican Chairman Chad Tindell said "We are shocked by this type of violence. This is not any sort of political debate, but is simply violence by political partisans which puts people's lives in danger. We are very thankful no one was hurt". The story was covered by all the local news and was the lead story on the Rush Limbaugh national radio program and Drudge Report website.

AFL-CIO Protestors Ransack Headquarters
ORLANDO, Fla. ? A group of protestors stormed and then ransacked a Bush-Cheney headquarters building in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, according to Local 6 News.
Local 6 News reported that several people from the group of 100 Orlando protestors face possible assault charges after the group forced their way inside the Republican headquarters office.
While in the building, some of the protestors drew horns and a mustache on a poster of President George W. Bush and poured piles of letters in the office, according to the report.
?We told them to leave, they broke the law,? Republican headquarters volunteer Mike Broom said.
Two protestors received minor injuries when the crowd stormed the building, including a Republican volunteer.
One of the protestors said she wanted to send a message.
?We want to send a clear message to Bush, we want him to take his hands off our overtime pay,? protestor Esmeralda Heuilar said.
Local 6 News learned that most of the protestors were from the AFL-CIO and were taking part in one of 20 other coordinated protests around the country.
A spokesperson with the AFL-CIO told Local 6 News that the Orlando protest did not go as planned.

Labor Activists Invade Bush's Campaign Sites
The Tampa Tribune ^ | October 6, 2004 | Ellen Gedalius/William March
Labor Activists Invade Bush's Campaign Sites By ELLEN GEDALIUS and WILLIAM MARCH The Tampa Tribune Published: Oct 6, 2004
TAMPA - Labor activists stormed President Bush's campaign headquarters in Tampa on Tuesday, part of an orchestrated event nationwide involving thousands of people protesting his policies on overtime pay. No one was injured or arrested in Tampa, police said. Miami and Orlando also were among the 17 cities in swing- voting states where the AFL-CIO organized such events.
Protesters, including construction and hospital workers, were armed with postcards and petitions expressing their disapproval of Bush's overtime policies. Some held signs reading: ``Don't Take Away Our Overtime.''
Activists put at least one sign on a wall of the headquarters at 800 W. Platt St., pleading with Bush to ``keep his hands off overtime pay,'' said Eddie Acosta, an AFL-CIO member who organized the Tampa rally.
The Bush administration issued new overtime pay rules in August. Proponents say the changes could make about 1 million more workers eligible for overtime. Critics contend 6 million could be reclassified as exempt from overtime pay.
Bush ``knows we're frustrated with this,'' said John Cox, an AFL-CIO member based in Orlando. ``We thought this is the best way we can get our message heard.''
Stan Fields, a Bush campaign coordinator in Tampa, said the message was lost in the tactic as dozens of demonstrators rushed into the headquarters about 1 p.m.
``They were stamping. They were chanting,'' Fields said. ``Literally, you couldn't hear inside this building. This place was rocking.''
Al Higginbotham, Hillsborough County Republican Party chairman, said he arrived late to the scene and was told demonstrators, although not making physical contact with campaign workers, had moved within a few inches of them to impede them from leaving.
Joseph Agostini, spokesman for the state GOP, complained that just hours before Tuesday night's vice presidential debate, ``a forum for civil discussion of issues, we have these organized labor thugs using terror tactics in America.''
The demonstrators did not disrupt business, said Rob Ray, Hillsborough County Democratic Party vice chairman.
``That's what they always try to say about working people - that when you demonstrate together for a cause, you're being a mob or a thug,'' Ray said. ``No one was hurt. We abided by what the police officers asked us to do.''
Protesters stayed in the public area of the headquarters or on the street, and they left when asked, said police spokeswoman Laura McElroy.
``They might have been boisterous or somewhat intimidating, but they didn't threaten anybody,'' McElroy said.
Still, Republicans were alarmed.
``It's a shame that the campaign has gone to the point that they'd use strong-arm tactics against volunteers,'' Higginbotham said. ``It's unsettling to people who are volunteering to a cause they believe in, and I can assure you that folks I'm associated with will never be involved in an effort like that.''

Action News Philadelphia 10/20/04
This is a link to a Channel 6 report. A ?documentary? anti-Kerry film called ?Stolen Honor? was to be shown at the Baderwood Theatre in Jenkintown. Threats to the theatre owners prompted them to cancel the showing. The NY Times in their review said that this film ?should be seen by all Americans?. What is in this film that makes Kerry supporters trample on other?s First Amendment rights?
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/101904_nw_stolenhonor.html

Letter To AFL-CIO President John Sweeney
Mr. John Sweeney
President
AFL-CIO
815 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
October 11, 2004
Dear Mr. Sweeney:
Over the past several weeks, acts of violence and vandalism have occurred at Republican and Bush-Cheney campaign headquarters across the country. In addition to the injuries, property damage and disruption associated with these acts, these events have created a threatening and intimidating atmosphere abhorrent to our democratic process.
On October 5th, according to news reports, witnesses, police reports and admissions of your members, the AFL-CIO, as part of a national strategy, protested at more than a dozen of our campaign and party headquarters across the country. In many locations, the protestors attempted to enter, or entered, campaign or party facilities. As one protestor said, "Actually, we're storming into an office." In Orlando, Florida, injuries and damage were sustained. Protestors forced their way into the facility, fracturing the arm of one staffer, and vandalized the office. In Michigan, protestors entered a headquarters and engaged in activities apparently intended to disrupt volunteers trying to make phone calls.

Protests by your organization come on the heels of several other incidents at Bush-Cheney '04 offices around the country, including a break-in at our Seattle office where laptop computers were stolen from the Washington State Bush-Cheney ?04 executive director and the state Republican Party 72-hour director. Just last night in Canton, Ohio, a Bush-Cheney '04 staffer was forced to lock herself in an office while another break-in was in progress. The facility was seriously damaged and property was stolen. Additionally, gun shots have been fired into Bush-Cheney '04 offices in West Virginia, Florida and Tennessee, windows broken in West Virginia and campaign staffers threatened. In Wisconsin, a supporter of the President had a swastika burned into his front yard simply because he had a Bush-Cheney '04 lawn sign. We urge your support in helping us ensure the safety of all individuals working on our campaign and others as we are making every effort to secure the safety of all participants in the political process.
I hope you will put an end to protest activities that have led to injuries, property damage, vandalism and voter intimidation. We will hold you and your organization accountable for the actions of your members and urge you to immediately discontinue any coordinated protest efforts that result in damage to our facilities, or injury to people who may hold different political views than your members, but who share an equal right to be involved in the political process without suffering violence, intimidation and threats.
Respectfully,

Gov. Marc Racicot, Bush-Cheney '04 Campaign Chairman

New York Post
October 31, 2004 -- THIS campaign is ending just in time before someone gets hurt. John Kerry's stepson, Chris Heinz, 31, displayed his mother Teresa's famous lack of rhetorical restraint at a recent campaign event with a group of Wharton students. Philadelphia magazine reports: "Heinz accused Kerry's opponents - 'our enemies' - of making the race dirty. 'We didn't start out with negative ads calling George Bush a cokehead,' he said, before adding, 'I'll do it now.' Asked later about it, Heinz said, 'I have no evidence. He never sold me anything.'" Heinz also reminded writer Sasha Issenberg of Pat Buchanan by saying, "One of the things I've noticed is the Israel lobby - the treatment of Israel as the 51st state, sort of a swing state." Buchanan was blasted as an anti-Semite years ago when he cited Israel's "amen corner" in Congress.

No you didn't make a post about any government, and I never said otherwise, but you did make comments on John Kerry and George W. Bush, who just happen to be running for the position of US President.

My point was...again..please read my commments and just in case you "forget" here was my response:

"Would you like me to continue and point out your arrogance and foolishness in stating your opinion of American political candidates (in which you take no part except to post on a DB)?

Or do you see for yourself why your posts leave a bad taste and impression of Canadians?

We don't have one party running our country either, and not every Republican disagrees with John Kerry and not every Democrat disagrees with Bush. Please STFU, thanks in advance. "

I don't want to be in charge. It's a "hard job" as Bush keeps saying. Well Bush had his chance to fix things and where are we now? I hope that subsequent presidents know it's a hard job going into it and are willing to do the hard work.

Companies *should* be liable for product defects that can/could be avoided. Negligence might need to be better defined, but, short of writing more laws to describe every little defect that should be covered, the current system is the only thing that protects the consumer. I agree there is a bunch of litigation that is silly, and Edwards agreed with as much in the vp debate. I think all that really needs to be done is to have the plaintiffs pay for defense fees when they loose, but there's already some precedence for that when the defendant counter-sues.