Mercnbeth
Posts: 11766
Status: offline
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You know what - I'd do it if it would make a difference. I'm a President Bush "sympathizer". I voted for him twice, first time because I supported him. The second time with lukewarm enthusiasm but without a comfortable alternative in Kerry. I won't add credibility to any argument that he didn't win the election by responding to any bait that says he didn't, anymore than I'd do the same replying the 9-11 conspiracy theories. (YES -I've seen the videos). I supported his decision to go to Afghanistan. I supported his invasion of Iraq. Subsequently, because of reasons stated elsewhere, I do not support our continuing presence, and think our men and other allocated resources should and could be better deployed. And I'll concede that position is NOT supporting the troops, but I won't get into that hypocrisy. Were I at the news conference I'd pose one question with a request for one follow up. The question; How will we know we've won in Iraq? The assumed answer, (HAH! "Assuming" for the President - THERE'S a false sense of self importance huh?) would be when a democratically elected government is in place. My follow up would be; suppose it's the same type government in power at the last "victory" Afghanistan where a man faces death for being a Christian; is it worth our soldiers dying for that? (Article: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0603210143mar21,1,938137.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true) Editorial Side Bar: Day 2 - STILL no 'outrage' or even much publicity akin to the US 'mistreatment' of the prisoners being kept in Guantanamo Bay. There is no need to be "perfect". There is no need "to make every personal bit of information open to everyone in the world." There is a need to be a leader. To admit failure, or you didn't have all the facts, or you decided to follow facts for a decision you already were 99% going to make anyway. Pick your favorite President who has been alive in your lifetime and ask how they would have addressed the same situation. I personally think President Reagan would have handled it a LOT differently. Personal attacks only provide evidence that the person making them has no other argument. Worse, it means they have no other option or solution. With today's sports page I can be 100% accurate predicting the outcome yesterday's horse races at Hollywood Park. I bet I could even sound like a smart handicapper and tell you exactly why the horse who won - won, and the horses that lost - lost. I just described the Democratic opposition to President Bush. How I real feel about the situation in the US? Like a Roman must have just before the Visigoths came to visit. Instead of the Coliseum, I've got the Internet. (Thank you Al Gore-or are you going by 'Oliver' nowadays?) I have A full belly, a home, even a slave! What I'd challenge back to you is; what "stones" do we have to throw? We are 30 years past Thomas Jefferson's expected lifetime for the country he helped established. Because of the election laws, specifically the campaign contribution laws, national public office is beyond reach of any "common citizen" as the founders of the country envisioned. You have faith in the future? Stop by your local school, any of them. In Elementary even arithmetic is now an inexact science. High School? Today a principle in LA stood out front of his school where rioting broke out between Hispanics and Blanks and said; "You have to expect this and we should have been better prepared." "BETTER PREPARED"!!!AMAZINGLY - As far as I know - he's still principal. The California High School exit exam is a requirement this year. I think it's required 7th grade "essential" skills, negotiated down from 8th grade. It's expected at best 70% will pass. This is after an entire year of some schools teaching to the test for the enter school year. Our next crop of burger flippers is about to "graduate". Sadly, for some, CM, and maybe MTV are their only source of "news". Quick, without looking who is your Congressperson? Senators? Name 2 of 9 Supreme Court Justices? How many people make up the House of Representatives? Who's next in line if President if President Bush and Vice President Chaney are both incapacitated? If you don't know how can you know how to effect change even if you wanted to, or thought you could? Better to name call. It's good for a laugh. You'll appear witty and nobody will ever know what you don't know. Most important, thank you for your service to the country. I respect and appreciate your sacrifice and all the others who served and are serving.
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