What I learned from the debates

[Axecleaver]

Bush said...

* It's hard work. Whatever it is... you can bet, it's hard work.
* I met with a war widow, we talked about her husband, and then we laughed.
* Iraq will bring peace to Israel

Kerry said
* I was in Vietnam

Got bored when they wouldn't move on from all the Iraq stuff, maybe I'll watch the rest tomorrow. Tivo owns.

[Lifesbane]

bush said that kerry "flip-flopped" about 12,000 times too. cooooooool.

[Rosslyn]

hehe, it almost made me want to vote for Nader.

The thing that Kerry said that pissed me off the most was when asked about going into Iraq and whether it was right or wrong and why they both appeared to be in agreement at the time, he said something to the effect of 'It was a mistake.  I voted to send us there, but he actually sent us there.  So which of us is worse?"

Yeah, that's the way to get votes.  Paint yourself as the lesser of two evils, nice.

[Axecleaver]

The most ridiculous thing was Bush saying that going to war in Iraq would bring peace in Israel. wtf?

It's like saying going to war in Iraq will get you tons of chicks and as much beer as you can drink. There is no causal connection between either of those things, nor is either likely to happen in your lifetime.

[Sodom]

It was definitely more a series of sound-bites and mini campaign speeches than a real debate. I have to give more points to Kerry, though: Bush's reactions to Kerry were almost entertaining enough to make it all worth watching.

Cthulu for President: Why choose the lesser Evil?

[Caohmin]

It really IS the lesser of two evils to me. It's not that I want Kerry running the country, it's that I don't want Bush to run it. And it has nothing to do with Iraq.

[Legellyn]

AXE FOR PRESIDENT!!

LET THE TYRANNY CONTINUE!

[Caohmin]

Ok, now you're just farming.

[Zutroy]

" The most ridiculous thing was Bush saying that going to war in Iraq would bring peace in Israel. wtf? "

I think the idea is that Iraq is part of a whole war on terrorism. Ideally, setting up a democracy in Iraq will stabalize the region and put more pressure on leaders that are using terrorist-style negotions (ie, blowing up school buses) to resolve conflicts more peacefully. This includes the Israel-Palestinian conflict. However, there is no real evidence that A) it'll work and B) that's what Bush was intending to correlate - he may just have zoned out like he did several other times last night.

[Lifesbane]

Quote: from Caohmin on 11:08 am on Oct. 1, 2004
It really IS the lesser of two evils to me. It's not that I want Kerry running the country, it's that I don't want Bush to run it. And it has nothing to do with Iraq.

/agree

[Rosslyn]

I can understand the sentiment of not wanting Bush to be running things, which is kind of what I meant by the almost wanting to vote for Nader comment.  The problem I have is that I think Kerry would probably do a much worse job.  For starters, it seems like a foregone conclusion that taxes would go up under a Kerry administration, and (while I don't mind supporting the government on some level) I think I pay enough taxes as it is.  I think, for example, that the "plan" for improving/nationalizing health care is going to cost money.  Obviously there are many things in this category.  Also, the "fact" that other allied countries and/or their leaders may like Kerry more or have at least been familiar with his name longer than they have with GWB doesn't IMHO mean that they'd do anything different.

France:  No!  We won't be a part of any invasion or occupation of Iraq!

Kerry:  But I'm President now.

France:  Oh.  Well, okay then.  Where do we send the tanks?

I mean, come on.  I really think most of these issues are deeper than they're beeing portrayed.

I just don't think that having a leader who makes decisions based on the results of the poll du jour is really in the long-term best interests of the country, specifically speaking in terms of the general economy and foreign policy.  I think that the U.S. has generally done pretty well over the past 20 years, and if you go back and look at the voting records for large/important/landmark/polarizing issues, you'll find that Sen. Kerry has voted on the losing/minority side a significant majority of the time.  To me, he's like everyone (including myself at times) who screams "Fkn Mythic!!11!" on the various online DAoC forums, yet has no reasonable solutions that aren't so narrowly focused as to make them unrealistic.  Like I said, I do the same thing at times but unlike him, I'm not married to an ugly heiress.  hehe.  Nor am I running for President.  When faced with a choice between two "evils", my experience tells me to choose the "evil" that I know.  At least that way I know what I'm getting into, instead of realizing a year down the road that I've been handcuffed to the plumbing in the bathroom of a highway rest stop with my pants around my ankles because "rescinding tax breaks for the rich" left out the part where 86% of the country is "rich" by definition.*

strictly my opinion of the moment.  For the record, I have no party affiliation nor do I authorize $2 on my 1040 to be used to pay back election debts.    Now, back to your regularly scheduled pharm fest.

[Zutroy]

"I think, for example, that the "plan" for improving/nationalizing health care is going to cost money."

You're a heartless bastard ross! It's your fault we have crime, homelessness, racism, and are disliked around the world so much.

Once Kerry gets elected, everything will be fixed and people like you will be handcuffed to the plumbing in the bathroom of highway rest stops with your pants around your ankles.

[Rosslyn]

I'm cringing in advance of the pummeling to be received by the colons of heartless bastards like me!!!

And then I'll look forward to being on a waiting list for 3-6 weeks before my colon can be fixed.  

[Bolldar Bloodaxe]

The statement about peace in Isreal is a lot closer to the truth than you might think, Isreal takes 40% of all US aid and considers Iraq a major enemy. It also enjoys major support on Capitol hill and amongst the ultra right wing christian nut jobs which comprise the US administration. Its one of the reasons that Bush had been pushing to attack Iraq well before 9/11. Of course crippling Iraq wont bring peace in Isreal but helping Isreal is a major reason behind these actions.

Basically America had no reason to go into Iraq in the first place, they had zip to do with 9/11 or terrorism but there is sure a parcel of terrorists there now, and thats something even the US government acknowledges though Bush no doubt doesnt.

You should all join ABBA (Anybody But Bush Again)

As they say here, why is Mrs Bush getting none?? Cos Bush is too busy screwing the rest of the world.

Im being polite as I can about your president i might add since I consider him to be one of the biggest disasters and most evil or stupid (take your pick) people to ever hold power anywhere.

(Edited by Bolldar Bloodaxe at 4:36 am on Oct. 4, 2004)

[Zutroy]

Ok, so Bush = Hitler... got it bolldar