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 [i]that[/i] 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.

[quote][size=6][b]A White House plug for Jeb Bush[/b][/size]

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.[/quote]

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

[quote=eye-p]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. [/quote]

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.

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

[quote=toasty]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.[/quote] 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.

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

[quote=skahound][quote=toasty]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.[/quote] 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.[/quote]

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. :lol:

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

[quote=eye-p] 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.[/quote] 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".

[quote=eye-p]Also- I vote, and I am a precinct captian where I live. My wife does her part also. Therefore, license to complain. :lol:[/quote] Thanks for your service. How long have you served?

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.

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

[quote=skahound][quote=eye-p] 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.[/quote] 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".

[quote=eye-p]Also- I vote, and I am a precinct captian where I live. My wife does her part also. Therefore, license to complain. :lol:[/quote] Thanks for your service. How long have you served?[/quote]

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.

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

[quote=skahound] 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. [/quote]

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.

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

[quote=thesightless]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.[/quote]

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.

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

[quote=toasty][quote=skahound] 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. [/quote]

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.[/quote]

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.

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, a[u]nd if you realized that oil is sold on an open market[/u] you wouldnt blame bush/clinton/any gov't, they arent buying it. the refineries are. here is primer on their work. [url]http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/analysis_publications/oil_market_basics/default.htm[/url]

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. [url]http://www.bcbsil.com/about_us/[/url] 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.

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

[quote=thesightless]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, a[u]nd if you realized that oil is sold on an open market[/u] you wouldnt blame bush/clinton/any gov't, they arent buying it. the refineries are. here is primer on their work. [url]http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/analysis_publications/oil_market_basics/default.htm[/url]

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. [url]http://www.bcbsil.com/about_us/[/url] 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.[/quote]

Im sure Bill O'Rielly would be proud!

The link to Blue Cross really isnt the best source for explaining why they charge so much. However, since you went there, did you notice that their largest expenditure was advertising? In fact the average pharmacutical company spends 70% of its annual budget on marketing and advertising.

Your analysis of the market is equally astute, so I wont bother to debate that point.

Oil prices are actually fairly simple to figure out. The price of gas has doubled in the last 4 years. What else has happened in the last 4 years? Hmm. Uh...That's right, we invaded the middle east, and have begun threatening President Chavez.

But wait, werent Bush, Cheney, Rice, And Rumsfeld all in the oil business before 2000? That is some coincidence! I wonder how the profit margins are in the oil business?

Again, your analysis of our school systems decline being the fault of parents, rather than underfunding, poor curriculum, etc., is, well...

No sense in debating an unarmed man. The rest of us in the reality based community wish you well.

:lol: :roll:

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

[quote=eye-p]I have a feeling that when all the facts finally come out, Bush will be seen as a war criminal, much like Henry Kissinger.[/quote]

lol kissinger is the chancellor of my alma mater, the college of william and mary. when he spoke at our charter day ceremony--just before keynote speaker kofi annan--he was booed extensively. hehe.

ironic that a guy who escaped the holocaust of nazi germany and found refuge in the united states would wind up being responsible for the deaths of thousands of lives in vietnam and elsewhere.

either way, i think this country is at an all-time low--in terms of everything, really. i know a lot of teachers and they all agree that the "no child left behind" has only worsened the public school system. i'm not an economist by any means, but i tend to agree with gingrich's corrollary regarding gas prices and the failure of an administration. in terms of prestige, morality, ethics, and image, our reckless foreign policies and warmongering have been detrimental. meanwhile, we are wasting valuable time in which we could be doing stem cell research to cure diseases. instead, we debate about matters of personal choice, like abortion, gay marriage, and religion.

blah!

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

ok eye, if you points are the end all be all and the ONLY reasons, then fix the fucking problems. its know it all people like you that never look at the whole picture, but look to blame your enemies.

and i hate bill o reilly. no one looks at all the facts. just the ones you want to use. you are nothing more than michael moore reincarnate.

not everyone has to be far left/ far right. use your skull and look at it all. somewhere in the middle lies the truth.

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

We don't need another Bush or Clinton in office anytime soon. Let's get some fresh candidates and families in power.

It would be nice to have a Presidential choice that all Americans and other countries wouldn't mind having. The closest thing to that at this point may be John McCain or pick the lesser of two evils on election day.

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

How about General Wes Clark? 8)

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

[quote=eye-p]How about General Wes Clark? 8)[/quote]

Maybe, but I don't really know enough about General Wesley Clark.

I remember after the Gulf War when Colin Powell had really high popularity numbers and so many people wanted him to run for President.

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

Wes is a true democrat, who was allied commander of UN forces in Kosovo. He is the real deal. Also, since he hasnt spent his life in politics, he has less baggage for Fox News to attack.

This is his blog: [url]http://securingamerica.com/[/url]

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

he'd be great except for his middle east foreign policy.

as for being half jewish, i think that's enough for some americans to not vote for him...

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

[quote=eye-p]How about General Wes Clark? 8)[/quote]

Biggest problem with Clark is that he hasn't really shown a lot of political savvy -- he had a lot of support and momentum in the pre-primary season last election cycle and he didn't do shit with it. By the time things were in full swing (i.e., Iowa, New Hampshire), he was already out of it.

I want two things in a presidential candidate:

1. A policy mindset I can agree with.
2. The ability to beat any neocon the "Republicans" decide to put up next time around, assuming that happens.

For me, number 2 is actually more important than number 1, because I view the prospect of yet another 4 years of this lunacy as worse than pretty much anything else that could happen with someone else in office. Frankly, if Clark is going to get the nomination and then lose steam like Kerry did, I'd prefer he not run...

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

the one thing that i dont like is that people want a pres who the world likes, IMO, the pres is called the pres of the USA for a reason. he shouldnt have to answer to anyone outside of the US unless we are at war like the current situation. if we are at peace, then the pres owes nothing to anyone, especially to countries we are giving aid to.

sounds bad, but this country needs the help firstly.

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

[quote=thesightless]the one thing that i dont like is that people want a pres who the world likes, IMO, the pres is called the pres of the USA for a reason. he shouldnt have to answer to anyone outside of the US unless we are at war like the current situation. if we are at peace, then the pres owes nothing to anyone, especially to countries we are giving aid to.

sounds bad, but this country needs the help firstly.[/quote]

I like the idea of having a President that Americans and the rest of the world likes. I agree that a President is the leader of America first, but we are only a small percentage of the world's population and arguably the only superpower, so our international reputation is important.

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

alright Superdave, enough with your liberal "logic"... :wink:

In general, a president that the "rest of the world likes" will also be good for us. Our current president is hated by 57% of this country along with the entire rest of the world, and he has destroyed the USA. Maybe its time to try something else?

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

[quote=eye-p]alright Superdave, enough with your liberal "logic"... :wink:

In general, a president that the "rest of the world likes" will also be good for us. Our current president is hated by 57% of this country along with the entire rest of the world, and he has destroyed the USA. Maybe its time to try something else?[/quote]

Not sure I understand the point you're trying to make.

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

[quote]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. [/quote]

That is the part that infuriates me...parents do half the time absolute jack shit to "help" out their kids, and as SOON as the kid is failing, well gee BLAME THE TEACHER.

I won't even get into things now because it's too late, but I've seen Moms just absolutely fuck up parenting with their kids as toddlers...finding any way to shut them up. I'm certain that carries over into pre-school and elementary school.

"Not my kid." Shut the fuck up and actually LOOK at what your kid is doing and you'd be shocked.

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In any event I'll say this:

If our country has to choose between Hillary Clinton & Jeb Bush as candidates for president, we are truly fucked. :evil:

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

[quote=superdave][quote=eye-p]alright Superdave, enough with your liberal "logic"... :wink:

In general, a president that the "rest of the world likes" will also be good for us. Our current president is hated by 57% of this country along with the entire rest of the world, and he has destroyed the USA. Maybe its time to try something else?[/quote]

Not sure I understand the point you're trying to make.[/quote]

I was making a joke. (see wink smiley)

I was just agreeing with your response to the previous poster.

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his references are fucking histerical :roll:

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

[quote=eye-p]alright Superdave, enough with your liberal "logic"... Wink

In general, a president that the "rest of the world likes" will also be good for us. Our current president is hated by 57% of this country along with the entire rest of the world, and he has destroyed the USA. Maybe its time to try something else?[/quote]

Calm down sightless...look at it this way: since a large part of the politital world does not agree with Bush's politics or even plainly hates his guts, he's not getting much done with other leaders around the globe, which makes it harder to initiate any political initiative, be it a coalition to a threat or a plan to increase aid for any part of the world or...you name it.

A president that 'everyone likes' (I'd rather think of a president that takes care of his/her country but doesn't lose sight of it's position in the global perspective) will be able to get significantly more support for ideas and initiatives. Other than that...it may also increase investor's trust in the US market and thus increase investment in your economy, ultimatly pushing it...

It's all one big connection dude...most people who have written about this shit don't speak of political economics for nothing ;-)

Very well put Yao. But in my experiences and interactions with the 'right', I've found that there seems to be a prevailing narcissistic attidue about them. 'Out of sight, out of mind' tends to be a common theme as well as 'I don't care about anything...unless it affects my bottom line/pocketbook/wallet.'

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

Sorry to be quoting a post from page one, but I hadn't read it until today --

[quote=toasty] 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."[/quote]

As someone who voted for Dubs in both elections, I feel the same way. I've said it before, both here and in live conversation, that when it comes to economics and foreign policy I lean to the right, but when it comes to social issues I'm left all the way.

What bothers me most is the fact that both the members of the administration and the right-wing fundamentalists have taken Bush's victory in November to mean that the majority of the country is clamoring for a return to traditional values - and by all recent accounts the word "traditional" has become synonymous with the word "Christian". To those most vocal on the right his election to a second term is indelible proof that Americans feel they live in a cesspool of sin and need a god-fearin', bible-breathin' Christian to right the ship. "The biggest majority of Americans voted for one candidate than in any other election", "Bush received the most votes in the history of the universe!", all of a sudden the values and beliefs of Bush has become the mirror image of the values and beliefs of America at large.

What these extreme right wingers fail to realize is that some people voted Bush for reasons other than his values, on issues besides his social platforms, or just because his opponent was just [i]that[/i] weak. Horror shows like Rush, Hannity, and Coulter would lead you to believe that last November, America united in one voice to say "Four more years - Praise Jesus!", but that was just not the case, and the Right is taking the electoral victory to mean that the USA wants to be one nation under God - as long as that God is the Christian God. In doing that, however, they are pushing those - I guess the word of the day is "moderate" repubs like myself away.

But such is the nature of American politics. The balance of power sways back and forth as administrations come and go. I'd bet my life that leading up to next November's elections we will see the Republican candidates pitch their tent to religious issues and every other word out of their mouth will be "morality". Those who voted Republican last year on issues other than the social variety will see this and won't be as inclined to elect a senator or congressman who runs on the "traditional values" train. Come '08, the country will be sick and tired of Republican rule and want a change, just as the inverse was true after 8 years of Clinton.

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

[quote=Jenks]Jeb has a snowball's chance in hell of winning the white house.

I'm really hoping McCain gets in there.[/quote]

Lets hope so but I guess we will have to see.

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

I believe there is at least one other Bush-e than Jeb that is still on the backburner. There is Marvin Bush, Neil Bush and then several relatives. Jeb will not be the last candidate from the Bush legacy, I promise.

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

[quote=Balanc3]Jeb will not be the last candidate from the Bush legacy, I promise.[/quote]

:( :BangHead: