Pre-Debate
Gosh these debates are now being treated much like football games, with 2 hour pre-game shows, recaps, etc. Chris Matthews has now been on for 2 hours with a count down clock constantly displayed on the screen.
So who am I backing... as usual still undecided. But this is what I think so far. I think John Kerry isn't as flip-floppy as people claim. I think he is a stickler for detail, much like myself, and this is not made evident by a yes, no voting record. I think that initially he did a poor job addressing this, making him loose votes and unable to recoup a lot of what was lost. I don't really care about this whole vietnam thing. I think John Kerry would be a fine leader. I don't necessarily agree with him on a lot of things though. And truth be told no one ever knows what or who they will get as a president anymore. Even Bush has failed to take care of a majority of his 2000 platform issues within the last four years.
What I am furious about, is the state of democratic party. I think it has gotten to be more radical than liberal. It is embarrassing for a party taking the name of democracy to use their power as a main party against small opponents such as Ralph Nader. The mud slinging being done by both parties is juvenile and and effective only as a turn off from the political system. (An addendum to illustrate the ridiculousness of it all - the Oregon ballot includes scarcely known presidential candidates from the Constitution Party, Green Party, and Libertarian Party, yet a well known name like Ralph Nader is not present. I probably wouldn't have voted for the man, but any smart person would admit this is strange. Come on people, the Constitution Party candidate???)
About George Bush:
No one can deny that George Bush has accomplished more (not necessarily good or bad) things than many recent presidents. I think that is one of Bush's strengths, he sets his mind to something and he relentlessly pursues it. He is a man of action. The president has gotten national attention on a variety of subjects including teacher accountability, the state of the middle east, national security, etc. Most of these issues were not focused on by the general public 6 years ago. Yet, the legislation and path that the President has put us on isn't anywhere near perfect and requires revision. So although the President has accomplished much in the past four years, the question becomes what will he choose to do in the next 4 years? Will he continue to bring other problems to the forefront of American concern, or will he take the time to improve the problematic legislation/ path we are currently on? In my opinion, the later is more important over the next 4 years. A country does not grow if problems are not addressed with legislation and action, but like wise a country does not improve if the problems are addressed by problematic initial legislation/ action that is never improved.
I still don't have an idea as to whether the President would do as I would like given another term. As mentioned earlier it is also hard to really know what presidential candidates will do in office no matter what they say. Well, time for the debate.... lets see if I can pick a side. =)
So who am I backing... as usual still undecided. But this is what I think so far. I think John Kerry isn't as flip-floppy as people claim. I think he is a stickler for detail, much like myself, and this is not made evident by a yes, no voting record. I think that initially he did a poor job addressing this, making him loose votes and unable to recoup a lot of what was lost. I don't really care about this whole vietnam thing. I think John Kerry would be a fine leader. I don't necessarily agree with him on a lot of things though. And truth be told no one ever knows what or who they will get as a president anymore. Even Bush has failed to take care of a majority of his 2000 platform issues within the last four years.
What I am furious about, is the state of democratic party. I think it has gotten to be more radical than liberal. It is embarrassing for a party taking the name of democracy to use their power as a main party against small opponents such as Ralph Nader. The mud slinging being done by both parties is juvenile and and effective only as a turn off from the political system. (An addendum to illustrate the ridiculousness of it all - the Oregon ballot includes scarcely known presidential candidates from the Constitution Party, Green Party, and Libertarian Party, yet a well known name like Ralph Nader is not present. I probably wouldn't have voted for the man, but any smart person would admit this is strange. Come on people, the Constitution Party candidate???)
About George Bush:
No one can deny that George Bush has accomplished more (not necessarily good or bad) things than many recent presidents. I think that is one of Bush's strengths, he sets his mind to something and he relentlessly pursues it. He is a man of action. The president has gotten national attention on a variety of subjects including teacher accountability, the state of the middle east, national security, etc. Most of these issues were not focused on by the general public 6 years ago. Yet, the legislation and path that the President has put us on isn't anywhere near perfect and requires revision. So although the President has accomplished much in the past four years, the question becomes what will he choose to do in the next 4 years? Will he continue to bring other problems to the forefront of American concern, or will he take the time to improve the problematic legislation/ path we are currently on? In my opinion, the later is more important over the next 4 years. A country does not grow if problems are not addressed with legislation and action, but like wise a country does not improve if the problems are addressed by problematic initial legislation/ action that is never improved.
I still don't have an idea as to whether the President would do as I would like given another term. As mentioned earlier it is also hard to really know what presidential candidates will do in office no matter what they say. Well, time for the debate.... lets see if I can pick a side. =)