This isn't even remotely funny...

[skahound]

The only positive thing that Jeb has done as Governor of this state has been to relieve sales tax for one weekend a year prior to the start of school...and that didn't happen 2 years ago. Granted, he handled the hurricane situation well; but I'm not sure how one couldn't have. Our education system sucks and he's focusing his time and effort on a woman's right to die. I'll be voting for Nader if he runs against Jeb.

A White House plug for Jeb Bush

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush would be "awfully good" in the job of president, but the timing isn't right, his father and former President George H.W. Bush told CNN Tuesday.

Asked if he would want Jeb to run, Bush said, "Someday I would, yes." Bush, who was president from 1989-1993, appeared on CNN's "Larry King Live" with former first lady Barbara, from the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. Jeb Bush is in his second gubernatorial term, which ends in January 2007. His brother George ends his second presidential term a year later and cannot run again.

"He'd be awfully good," the elder Bush said. "This guy's smart, big and strong. Makes the decisions. And you know, not without controversy, but he's led that state." But the former president, who turns 81 this month, said, "The timing's wrong. The main thing is, he doesn't want to do it."

But he added, "Nobody believes that." Jeb and George W. are two of six children by George and Barbara Bush; one died in childhood.

[Jenks]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

Jeb has a snowball's chance in hell of winning the white house.

I'm really hoping McCain gets in there.

[toasty]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

Please, please just don't let it be another Bush, or Frist. If the Republicans decide to go with either of those guys, they're hosed. Of course, I thought there was no way America would elect Bush with all his Bible thumping and highly-devisive policy-views, but we all know how that turned out.

I'd be OK with McCain. Tough to really have a problem with the guy.

[MJDub]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

Yes, for the love of all that is holy, Republicans should choose McCain and not that knob Frist (or anybody else for that matter).

[eye-p]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

it seems to me that republicans are absolutely insane. They have a tendency to create overwhelming debt and defecits, and they like to start wars. Either way, I will be voting for anyone other than the republican candidate.

I have had enough gay bashing, bible thumping, war mongering, defecit spending, economy killing, divisive policies in the last 5 years to make me steer clear of McCain. Remember, he campained for Bush heavily last year. Therefore, he obviously agrees with Bush's policies, or doesnt have the sack to stand up and do something about it.

Also, he will be savaged by the religious right.

I am looking at Clark in 2008.

[toasty]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

Remember, [McCain] campained for Bush heavily last year. Therefore, he obviously agrees with Bush's policies, or doesnt have the sack to stand up and do something about it.

True, but I don't think he really made it any secret that he wasn't thrilled about it. In light of what the Republican party has stood for over the last 5 years, I'm not planning on voting with the right -- but since the Republicans have to put up someone, I'd rather it be McCain than the other alternatives I've heard bandied about.

I'm also curious to see what happens in the midterm congressional elections, as I think that might have an impact on who gets the nod in 2008. If the dems are able to reclaim some seats on Congress, I could see the Republicans pushing someone a little more moderate to try to offset what seems to be the growing perception that they are beholden to the religious right, fiscally irresponsible and inflexible.

[skahound]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

I could see the Republicans pushing someone a little more moderate to try to offset what seems to be the growing perception that they are beholden to the religious right, fiscally irresponsible and inflexible.

What really chaps my ass is that there are so many of us that bitch about the Republicans and their proverbial ass-kissing of the religious right, but when it comes election time the fundamentalists are the ones that flock to the polls. If I've said it once I've said it a million times, politics is a business, and in business if you want to make money, you hone and market your product to that demographic that will make you the most successful. Hence the reason that this administration cuddles up to the neo-cons.

[eye-p]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

I could see the Republicans pushing someone a little more moderate to try to offset what seems to be the growing perception that they are beholden to the religious right, fiscally irresponsible and inflexible.

What really chaps my ass is that there are so many of us that bitch about the Republicans and their proverbial ass-kissing of the religious right, but when it comes election time the fundamentalists are the ones that flock to the polls. If I've said it once I've said it a million times, politics is a business, and in business if you want to make money, you hone and market your product to that demographic that will make you the most successful. Hence the reason that this administration cuddles up to the neo-cons.

You are def. right about product marketing in politics.

However, the Bush administration is not cuddling up to the neo-cons, THEY ARE the neo-cons. Big difference. The cozy up to the religious right because they are generally single issue voters, who could care less about policy in general- as long as you hate abortion and love Jesus youve got their vote.

Also- I vote, and I am a precinct captian where I live. My wife does her part also. Therefore, license to complain.

[skahound]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

However, the Bush administration is not cuddling up to the neo-cons, THEY ARE the neo-cons. Big difference. The cozy up to the religious right because they are generally single issue voters, who could care less about policy in general- as long as you hate abortion and love Jesus youve got their vote.

What I meant was that decisions have been made, even in the current administration, as to sympathizing, then distancing, then sympathizing again with the farthest of the right. But you're spot on with you're "hate abortion and love Jesus" statement, but don't forget to throw in "damn all fags to hell and keep shelling out money to fight drugs/pornography/insert useless waste of money topic here".

Also- I vote, and I am a precinct captian where I live. My wife does her part also. Therefore, license to complain.

Thanks for your service. How long have you served?

[thesightless]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

anybody except for john kerry or hillary clinton for president is OK in my book. i dont know dick about bush though. frankly, no info out there yet to make an opinion.\


current pres is brash, and a little over the top, as well as a shitty speaker, but i really cant complain much, economy got better, more concrete, did some decent things with schools., lowered taxes, instituted a lot of laws that encourage investing, which only help you and me.

and although he is doing it wrong, at least he is trying to the dirt y work that the rest of the world doesnt do.



mind you, i question his IQ more often than not.

and anyone is better than clinton for the USA> clinton was only good for europe.

[eye-p]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

However, the Bush administration is not cuddling up to the neo-cons, THEY ARE the neo-cons. Big difference. The cozy up to the religious right because they are generally single issue voters, who could care less about policy in general- as long as you hate abortion and love Jesus youve got their vote.

What I meant was that decisions have been made, even in the current administration, as to sympathizing, then distancing, then sympathizing again with the farthest of the right. But you're spot on with you're "hate abortion and love Jesus" statement, but don't forget to throw in "damn all fags to hell and keep shelling out money to fight drugs/pornography/insert useless waste of money topic here".

Also- I vote, and I am a precinct captian where I live. My wife does her part also. Therefore, license to complain.

Thanks for your service. How long have you served?

I started with Democracy For America in 2004. I became precinct captain for the area where I live last election season.

What really woke me up was turning off cable/network news in 2002.

I have a feeling that when all the facts finally come out, Bush will be seen as a war criminal, much like Henry Kissinger.

[toasty]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

What really chaps my ass is that there are so many of us that bitch about the Republicans and their proverbial ass-kissing of the religious right, but when it comes election time the fundamentalists are the ones that flock to the polls.

True that -- gotta hand it to them, them religious folks know how to get out and vote. It seems pretty clear to me that Bush (Rove) chose to pander to these folks who they knew would vote rather than move to the center to attract people who may or may not have voted.

I'm candidly surprised it worked, but I think Bush had a little help from Kerry just being completely uninspiring. Bush convinced his followers that if Kerry was elected, there would be state-sponsored abortions on demand, gay people fucking in the streets, and that Satan himself would rise from Hell to condemn the US to eternal damnation. Kerry's message? He had one, but it is a lot less clear...

It drives me ape shit to think that, with all that is going on in this country and world right now, the election was ultimately not decided on Iraq, or the economy, or oil prices, or health care, or social security, or even terrorism, but because a number of overly paternalistic homophobes who wanted to impose their will on the rest of the country got out to vote as they did -- or put another way, I drives me crazy that Bush's strategy was right.

I think (hope) that it's starting to swing back now, though. No bullshit, I've had a number of friends and relatives that I used to argue politics with during election season come to me and basicly say that they've been pretty unhappy with Bush's continued pandering to the religious right and general job performance since November. I'm not saying these folks are democrats now, but to quote one that seemed to sum up the general sentiment, "I just don't feel like I can call myself a Republican anymore. I'm a man without a party."

Of course, we'll see whether any of this groundswell amounts to anything come the 2006 elections -- even people that are disenchanted with Congress in general tend to like their own Congressperson.

[eye-p]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

anybody except for john kerry or hillary clinton for president is OK in my book. i dont know dick about bush though. frankly, no info out there yet to make an opinion.\


current pres is brash, and a little over the top, as well as a shitty speaker, but i really cant complain much, economy got better, more concrete, did some decent things with schools., lowered taxes, instituted a lot of laws that encourage investing, which only help you and me.

and although he is doing it wrong, at least he is trying to the dirt y work that the rest of the world doesnt do.



mind you, i question his IQ more often than not.



and anyone is better than clinton for the USA> clinton was only good for europe.

This is something I just dont understand. You may not like Clinton, but wouldnt you agree that we were in better shape in 1999 than today?

I dont mean to start an argument here, but you are wrong on all of your factual points. If you dont like Kerry or Clinton, thats fine by me.

However, look at what Bush has done to our country.

1. The stock market is lower today, than the day he took office 4 years ago. This tells me that the economy is not better than it was 4 years ago. It also says that investors are not thrilled.

2. More people are without healthcare today than the day he took office 4 years ago. This is just unacceptable to me.

3. It turns out that schools are in worse shape today than 4 years ago. In fact, the USA is not in the top 25 in quality public education. How on earth is this acceptable?

4. How a gas prices? I pay $2.50 a gallon here in California. Newt Gingrich in 1996 said that "high gas prices are the hallmark of a failed presidency".

While I am personally doing much better today than in the 1990's, our country is in much worse shape- by any measure. For this, I am truly sad.

[eye-p]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

What really chaps my ass is that there are so many of us that bitch about the Republicans and their proverbial ass-kissing of the religious right, but when it comes election time the fundamentalists are the ones that flock to the polls.

True that -- gotta hand it to them, them religious folks know how to get out and vote. It seems pretty clear to me that Bush (Rove) chose to pander to these folks who they knew would vote rather than move to the center to attract people who may or may not have voted.

I'm candidly surprised it worked, but I think Bush had a little help from Kerry just being completely uninspiring. Bush convinced his followers that if Kerry was elected, there would be state-sponsored abortions on demand, gay people fucking in the streets, and that Satan himself would rise from Hell to condemn the US to eternal damnation. Kerry's message? He had one, but it is a lot less clear...

It drives me ape shit to think that, with all that is going on in this country and world right now, the election was ultimately not decided on Iraq, or the economy, or oil prices, or health care, or social security, or even terrorism, but because a number of overly paternalistic homophobes who wanted to impose their will on the rest of the country got out to vote as they did -- or put another way, I drives me crazy that Bush's strategy was right.

I think (hope) that it's starting to swing back now, though. No bullshit, I've had a number of friends and relatives that I used to argue politics with during election season come to me and basicly say that they've been pretty unhappy with Bush's continued pandering to the religious right and general job performance since November. I'm not saying these folks are democrats now, but to quote one that seemed to sum up the general sentiment, "I just don't feel like I can call myself a Republican anymore. I'm a man without a party."

Of course, we'll see whether any of this groundswell amounts to anything come the 2006 elections -- even people that are disenchanted with Congress in general tend to like their own Congressperson.

This is very true- and disturbing.

The general public has been reduced to a pack of blithering idiots, obsessed with wealth and celebrity. The republicans are able to fool people with "soundbyte policy"; that is, policy explained is less than one sentence.

Of course, these policies have proven to be totally wrong, but people would rather hear someone repeat the same thing over and over, than have to listen to harsh truth.

That being said, Kerry was a terrible candidate for the 2004 climate. He would have been a good president.

[thesightless]

Re: This isn't even remotely funny...

maybe i am not wrong, maybe you dont realize some things.
yeah, he fucked up the oil prices, but you should see europe. way higher.the entire world is suffereing from oil prices. we need to raise the price of food that we import to the middle east and starve them into producing more, and if you realized that oil is sold on an open market you wouldnt blame bush/clinton/any gov't, they arent buying it. the refineries are.
here is primer on their work. http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/p...cs/default.htm

the market is in better shape than it was in 1999, you need to know something about accounting and finance to relaize that. In 1999, it was pretty much based on ficticious accounting reports and statements. companies were overreporting thier earning and driving up the market beyond what it should have been. rememebr when everyone realized that the (( .com)) companies didnt really haev any source of income outside of thier IPO's?? comparable situation. there was no concrete base to where the economy was, they were just telling us it was great and we accepted it, really wasnt that good. any true investor should be happy, the ones who arent happy are the boiler room types who based thier extreme fees and research on bullshit and damn well know it. think of building a house out of balsa wood. looks good once it painted, but once you get the furniture upstairs, count on the floor falling out.

the US healthcare situation cant be solved, not as long as they have to pay out millions in lawsuits that are plain stupid. he took a step to change the lawsuits regarding the class action suits. but until they can lower thier costs, thier fees will remain astronomical. example. go here. http://www.bcbsil.com/about_us/
read the financial reports that are linked halfway down. in the 20's they start to explain the liabilities. (PDF link, so have adobe.)

school teachers say thier number one enemy is the parent. solve that ,and maybe the kids will learn more. it isnt the quality of education being presented, its the effort that they put into it. and that falls solely on the parents. if your kid is failing, dont blame the prof, sit your kid down, make him study, take away playstation, ground them. i blame the parents. my sister is a teacher and she had a mother come to her class and scream at her for the kid failing, the kid didnt do a single homework and cut a test.

dont spit facts until you know what backs them.