On Fri, 17 Sep 2004 18:20:32 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:

I think that's an unfair assessment. Instead of asking yourself if you're
better off now than you were 4 years ago, ask yourself if you're better off
now than you were 3 years ago..

Nobby,

I respect your apparent faith in where Bush is taking this country,
and the amount of time you put into responding to my post. That much
effort deserves at least a reply.

I don't care if we start from year one, year two, year three, or year
3.5 of the Bush presidency, I dont' like where he taking my country,
or how he's doing it. Right off the bat, I feel Bush attempted to
steal the election with the help of his brother in Florida. I don't
like people being denied their right to vote. Maybe it's happened in
Chicago with Daley, maybe it happened on both sides in other places,
but I don't condone it in any situation.

If Bush did win the election, he certainly didn't win any kind of
mandate to take this country to the extreme right. If Bush had any
consideration for half the country that didn't vote for him, he would
have made some effort to moderate the extremists in his
administration, but he didn't. Bush by no means represents me, or my
views about how a society should be run.

I particularly resent a born again hypocite letting right wing
christians attempting to tell the people of this country how to live
their lives. I'd feel the same way if it were some Muslim sect
attempting to tell others in our society how to live. Keep your
F**KING reliegious beliefs out of my life, thank you.


1) Stock market is up nearly 20% (compared to earning 1% on a CD at your
bank, a 6-7% return per year is pretty damn good)

By the stock market, I'm assuming you're referring to the DJ average?
Between 00 and 01 the market was between 10,000 and 11,000. Four
years later it's bumping between 10,000 and 10,500. Four years ago
the market was struggling with high interest rates. Today the markets
are kept afloat by extremely low interest rates and high liquidity.
The dollar is in the dumpster.

2) We've had a net gain of 272,000 jobs.

272,000 jobs? Doesn't it take 150,000 jobs a month to break even?
After four years Bush has a net loss of jobs, and that's a good thing?
And what are the quality of the jobs that are being created?

However, remember that the jobs
indicator lags the economic news by *at least* 6 months.

I'm sorry NOYB, Bush has been on the job, with complete control of the
government, for 3.5 years. I can't buy into the "in six more months
things will be rosey" story.

3) Our unemployment rate is 5.4%...which is right about where it was for
most of the 90's...and right where it was in the first couple of months of
Clinton's second term.

Well, to me, this sure comes off as spin. I do know, during the
Clinton years, my business did exceptionally well. I also know that
things haven't been that good for the last four years. I'd go back to
the bad old Clinton days in a heart beat.

To put this in perspective, the European Union has a
rate in excess of 10%. Some countries (ex--Spain) have rates near 15%.

People are starving in Ethopia so we should be happy with Bush because
we're not starving here, is that the message?

4) GDP (in real dollars) has grown by more than 12% since the 3rd quarter of
2001. From 2002 to 2003, it grew by 4.9%. That's indicative of a pretty
robust economy.

Other that real estate values, inflated by cheap money, I don't see
any sign of a robust economy. Check out the earnings reports coming
out this quarter from a majority of companies. There's no sign of a
robust economy.

1) The Taliban is no longer in power in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is by no means cleared of the Taliban.

2) Saddam is gone.

I'm of the opinion we were better off with Saddam in power but hobbled
by sanctions.

3) The Patriot Act was passed.

For me, that is certainly not a selling point for Bush. To give Ridge
and his crew any authority over my life makes me extremely uneasy. If
Bush had any concern for those from my perspective, he would have
picked someone a bit less extreme to run such a powerful organization.

I would hope that you consider all of the aforementioned facts before voting
on November 2nd.

I will. I take my right to vote very seriously. Although, I'm so
discusted with the direction of our county, and how hateful and
polarized our political system has become, I'm not far from
withdrawing from the whole system.

bb

On Sat, 18 Sep 2004 02:59:12 +0000, bb wrote:


If Bush did win the election, he certainly didn't win any kind of mandate
to take this country to the extreme right. If Bush had any consideration
for half the country that didn't vote for him, he would have made some
effort to moderate the extremists in his administration, but he didn't.
Bush by no means represents me, or my views about how a society should be
run.

Yeah, now imagine what he could be like as a lame duck, God forbid.

"thunder" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 18 Sep 2004 02:59:12 +0000, bb wrote:


If Bush did win the election, he certainly didn't win any kind of
mandate
to take this country to the extreme right. If Bush had any
consideration
for half the country that didn't vote for him, he would have made some
effort to moderate the extremists in his administration, but he didn't.
Bush by no means represents me, or my views about how a society should
be
run.

Yeah, now imagine what he could be like as a lame duck, God forbid.

Republicans will control the House, Senate, and White House once again after
November 2nd. Conservative justices will still be the majority as well.
Bush won't have to worry about the political fallout of moving the war on
terror to the next terrorist-sponsoring country in the Middle East.