Randy Pogue declares Bush the Winner!

[Craig Smith]

With the Polls looking better and better for Bush. As we head down the stretch towards election day and nothing to stop George W. Bush from Victory now. It seems that the loyal supporters for the Kerry Camp such as the Fight Geeks and the Pogues have slowed down or even halted their rhetoric. Even from the far left or even the " Not much of a Kerry supporter but a Bush Hater " camps have started down a new road. That road being the hanging chad's or the Jessie Jackson theory that Black people in Florida are being held back from voting. Or the overseas military votes as absentees votes not making it in on time. Well news for the Democrats, most of the overseas or Military votes are Republicans, 75%. I called Randy Pogue's Cell phone today and instead of his answering service stating " You have Reached Randy Pogue of the Pennsylvania with the Kerry Camp please leave your name and number and one of his loyal supporters will get back with you". Now his cell phone answering service says " Hey you have reached Randy leave a message". Ha. Love Ya Randy, can we still be friends after the elections?

[Jason (fight geek)]

Craig,
I will respond here as I don't think Randy has time to answer as he is busy being APB's bit%h. (read APB's email)

So I will say the largest political rally in MN history over 30K for Kerry. I know Minnesota is one of the most educated and healthiest state in the Union and will probably vote Kerry. What do we know?
If Bush is elected it will only be because of his right wing scare tactics. "BOO, if Kerry is elected there will be an attack and you will die, BOO, Vote Bush, BOO, Kerry hates children, BOO. He is Liberal, Boo.
As for the Military...yes you are right they will vote Bush, give me an 18-22 year old for one year and I will have 90% them voting for anyone I want.

Black people in Florida are not being held back from voting, Right Wing Republicans just are not counting their votes.

Fight geek prediction, If Bush is elected it will not be by popular vote, it will be by the electoral college. Which I support actually...the electoral college that is.

jason
fight geek

[Randy Pogue]

I agree with Geek. He is on the path. My rhetoric has stopped because all the arguments have been aired out. Either you are progressive, or your head is in the sand, or you are undecided. I don't get the impression that there are too many undecided's on this board, so I'm not going to waste my breath. All I know is, I can't think of any president, or any potential president, who honestly couldn't "HANDLE" fighting the direct threat of terrorism, so the "unfit" argument holds no water with me. Lying, to the detriment of American livelihood, not to mention the loss of American lives, holds much water. So I'll be voting "no" to the imbecile that is currently your president. You can't save people from themselves, so you monkeys go ahead and vote him back into office. I'll still be your friend anyway, Craig and others, but you won't have my sympathy when your family members have to die for oil while the terrorists laugh.
Peace

[Craig Smith]

Randy, Randy, Randy, what the He-- LL is going on on the kickboxing message board. Did you and this APB, or APS or may I say ABS whatever have a fallen out. He--LL I would like to be at the Thompson event even when my own event is happening just to see the fire at ringside. Brother you know I Love ya, but you are always pissing somebody off, or may I say they are pissing you off. Anyway, as far as Bush is concerned I think you know what the real deal is and why he will win. We are at awr, no matter who's fault (to late for that), but we have to protect ourselves and this country's majority (Not according to Jason) is going to pull for the person who seems the strongest. It does not matter if either are true to what they say, it is all perception and you know it. Bush will win even if it is because he is not legit in what he says. The people are affraid of Kerry due to what he did after his war days. You cannot go and enlist for a war you believe in, then come home and say terrible things about your other countrymen. Then ride that wave later in life about you being a war hero. How about maybe a war criminal for the things he said about his fellow countrymen after he got back. I bet you he never said those things while he was over there. Anyhow, I know how you feel and after this is all over and done, will you still be my friend, Ha, Whats so Funny.

[Craig Smith]

Jason, Jason, Jason, Hate to let you know but Bush will win simply because it is Kerry he is running against. You guys should have picked someone else. Like I said to Randy, people are not going to trust Kerry behind the closed curtain when they vote. The man goes to war, on his own, not drafted. Then comes home and acts like a tattle tale. Then after 30 years he decides to act like he was a hero, people hated him after the war, except for maybe Barbara Streisand( I think I spelled her name right, I do not like her anyway).Bottom line Bush by 11pm Election night.

[Randy Pogue]

Craig, I wish I could feel what you are saying, but it doesn't make sense. It's NOT ok to disagree with a war, but honorably fight in it anyway, but it IS ok to hide behind your daddy's friends so you don't have to fight, and then send others to die. Nice priorities, my friend.
As far as your other "point," regarding what he said upon returning, I don't understand why that's wrong? I guess it should be ok to **** women and commit the other atrocities of which he spoke, is that what you mean? In that case, vote for Bush, and be prepared to reap what you've sown.
Peace, for now.
P.S. How long will this go on before you tell me what's so funny?

[Craig Smith]

Randy, the funny thing is if Kerry is elected I will call you that night or the next morning and congratulate you and Kerry for victory over President Bush. Randy you know that congress has to OK everything thats passed thru. No one man will take this country down a road of no return and no one man will stand still while this country cannot return. If Bush gets re-elected and something happens again, Congress will be watching him like a hawk. If Kerry gets elected congress will make sure they keep his feet to the irons. Whatever, you know I am just messing with you, yes I will vote for Bush, but honestly I have better things to do with my time than worry about what will happen. I know the right course will be taken with either party. I just feel Bush will be quicker to the draw than Kerry but both will do the right thing. You feel that same thing but you feel Bush will be to fast to the draw, you want to think about it a while. Thats fine to, your an intravert and I am an extravert. We are both perverted. Ha. Whats so Funny.

[Jason (fight geek)]

Craig,
I am sympathetic to what you are saying about his anti war stance.......a little,
If Kerry didn't go to War, see combat and end up killing someone, I would be way more on your side, however he did see combat.
I think at the dumb stuff I said and did when I was 23, I do cut him some slack for SOME of the stuff he said, as I cut Bush SOME slack for ducking out of serving. This election is way beyond those things for me...but not for you and a lot of Amercia.
I wonder if you care about what the troops were doing to prisoners in Iraq. Is the guy who stepped up and said something a tattle tale? Should he have not said anything?
Man we are America, we should say when something is BS. We should act like role models, not idiots on digital pictures. We should be humble in our conquests. I just don't believe we need to shove stuff up peoples junk to get info. Don't misunderstand what as I say as weakness, I would have way more troops there right now. If we are there get it done in a massive manner.
Kerry by popular vote, or Bush by Supreme Court.
You know this is going to the courts. Either way...a nightmare.
jason

[Craig Smith]

Jason, we can agree on a few things, but I disagree on the Kerry thing after the war. Look I understand the Government needs to know whats going on in war time. I also understand the people here in the USA need to know. What I do not understand is if his reason was to bring justice to what was happening, then go in front of congress and spill your guts against the few, and I mean few troops that were doing these things. Be specific, give documented events, when, where WHO, did them. Do not go into congress and say we, The Army, Navy, Marines Airforce are over there doing these things. These were individual accounts, if I saw them I would remember, wouldnt you. If you are seeing a prisoner get ****d, would you not know who it was, why would you go and say we are over ther doing that. That puts you and your buddy, best friends and all into same category. Now that does not bother me as much as what he did after that. Sitting at all these rallies against the war, and being this anti-war figure when our troops were still dying over there. I guess he figured since all of our troops were committing these atrocities it was OK to protest against them while they were dying. How would he have felt if one of his good friends were doing that back over here while he was on the front lines. Bet they would not be good friends now. Think about it.

[SmackMaster]

kerry has a plan, but what is it? all my friends make this a joke. "I HAVE A PLAN!" lol! :p but WHAT IS IT you moron?
i think i will tell the police that next time i get pulled over for speeding. i said it once, i will say it again, all kerry is, is a monday morning quarterback. its easy to point out problems, but a long way to solving them. bush has made mistakes, but who hasnt. kerry i promise will make more because he has shown he has no plan at all, otherwise, he would be sharing his masterful ideas to show us he has at least a few answers to some of the many problems he points outs. hes all talk, bush has walked the walk. this race is soo close, some of us here are going to be angry in a couple of weeks. lets just pray that none of us will be too angry a year from now, no matter who wins. :cool:

[Tom Jensen]

There's a great website: KerryhatersforKerry.com

It basically says what a lot of folks who are disillusioned with Bush are saying: "He's not George Bush. He's nothing special, just not Bush."

There are a lot folks who will vote Kerry just for that reason. If THAT group gets motivated to vote, Kerry just may pull it off.

Time will tell.

[Jason (fight geek)]

Well Craig and Smackmaster,
First Craig I totally understand what you are saying, my step-dad is a Vietnam vet would agree with you on some stuff (and vote like you). Although I am not sure and I don't think he would say it was just a FEW doing bad things. I guess it depends on the few. And what is bad. I have a relative who was in helicopters in vietnam and have you ever heard how they got info out of 2 or three of the enemy? Basically 2 go up one comes down. True story. Anyway I digress.
I will first say whoever wins I will back as President.

Smackmaster do you really think Kerry has no Plan and Bush does? Really? I mean Really. Do you think a President would become a President after either being a Governor of a state or a Senator and NOT have a plan? Come on, back to reality, that is Partisan BS talking.
What is Bush's plan? Kill Terrorists, No child left behind, and lower taxes. Fine this is his plan, I don't agree or believe in it. How do we pay for this?
Rack up the credit card. Great idea! Then when the Democrats and fiscally responsible Conservatives finally get in office and pay it off, you say, taxes are too high, where is the money? It is paying off your stupid debt. Fact!

Bush has walked the walk? Whatever. Please Smackmaster, explain this incredible positive journey I have missed during the past 4 years.
I also am glad you accept their have been mistakes, Bush can't seem to. When asked the only thing he can say is some appointments? Basically this takes it off of him, saying his appointments screwed up not me that is my mistake? Weird.
Good discussion, we both are not saying much, but good discussion.

I hope whoever wins will address the opposite side and try to unify a country that really seems to be divided. Say something like I understand the rift and division that has occurred etc. You have to placate the other side, or you will have a bad backlash. If Conservatives are in office for too long, you will have another 60's type revolution. Same if Liberals are in office too long you will have a Conservative revolution, both won't be good for the country.
Jason

[Pammypanda1]

Ok, as much as I HATE to admit this........ I haven't decided yet which way to vote. To be honest, I have been sooooooooooo busy moving: packing, unpacking, painting, cleaning; children, husband, work, business, etc, etc. (you get the picture) that I have not taken the time to read, listen, ask questions about WHY I should vote for either one.............. so I am asking anyone who wants to, to give me the Top Ten Reasons why I should and should not vote for Bush/Kerry. Please list the pros/cons in a respectful, mature fashion...... Thanks!

[Randy Pogue]

[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]All underlined items are links to stats/sources/additional information.[/color][/font][/color]
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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]George W. Bush is a clear and present danger to the United States and the world on many levels. He has [/color][color=royalblue]contempt for the environment[/color] (http://www.rollingstone.com/features/nationalaffairs/featuregen.asp?pid=2154)[color=royalblue], having refused to [/color][color=royalblue]sign the Kyoto Protocol[/color] (http://tinyurl.com/3hl6a)[color=royalblue] to reduce global warming (or even make a counteroffer to it), reneged on his campaign promise to take action to reduce [/color][color=royalblue]carbon dioxide emissions[/color] (http://dir.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/03/15/emissions/index.html)[color=royalblue], rolled back [/color][color=royalblue]myriad environmental regulations[/color] (http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/rollbacks/rollbacksinx.asp)[color=royalblue] in this country, and [/color][color=royalblue]rewarded buyers of Hummers[/color] (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/104601_hummer17.shtml)[color=royalblue] with huge tax deductions. Even [/color][color=royalblue]scientists at the Pentagon[/color] (http://www.ems.org/climate/pentagon_climate_change.html)[color=royalblue] warn of the risk of catastrophic global warming, but the Bush administration continues to [/color][color=royalblue]ignore the problem[/color] (http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/bushinx.asp)[color=royalblue].[/color][/font][/color]

[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue][/color][/font][/color]

[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]Bush [/color][color=royalblue]ignored the threat posed by al Qaeda[/color] (http://www.sadlyno.com/archives/60min_StahlClarke_transcript.txt)[color=royalblue] until after the September 11 attacks, which might have been averted if he had acted responsibly. Bush did nothing even after receiving the [/color][color=royalblue]August 6, 2001 President's Daily Briefing[/color] (http://www.cnn.com/2004/images/04/10/whitehouse.pdf)[color=royalblue], entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.," which specifically warned that bin Laden wanted to follow the example of World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef and "bring the fighting to America" and that the FBI reported "patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks," including recent surveillance of buildings in New York. Incredibly, Bush [/color][color=royalblue]spent the rest of August on vacation[/color] (http://www.staugustine.com/stories/082301/nat_0823010029.shtml)[color=royalblue] at his ranch in Texas (the [/color][color=royalblue]longest presidential vacation in 32 years[/color] (http://www.maebrussell.com/Articles%20and%20Notes/Bush%20Break%20Longest%20in%20a%20Generation.html)[color=royalblue]).[/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]Bush [/color][color=royalblue]lied[/color] (http://www.lunaville.org/WMD/billmon.aspx)[color=royalblue] to the American people, Congress, and the world about the reasons for waging war on Iraq. That preemptive war [/color][color=royalblue]violated[/color] (http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1089158,00.html)[color=royalblue]international law[/color] (http://tinyurl.com/28w7r)[color=royalblue], has [/color][color=royalblue]killed well over 10,000 people[/color] (http://www.iraqbodycount.net/)[color=royalblue] (including [/color][color=royalblue]over 1,100 of our soldiers[/color] (http://icasualties.org/oif/)[color=royalblue]), has caused [/color][color=royalblue]horrific[/color] (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44839-2004Apr26.html)[color=royalblue]injuries[/color] (http://scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=warimages)[color=royalblue] to thousands more. The war will [/color][color=royalblue]cost hundreds of billions of dollars that we don't have[/color] (http://costofwar.com/)[color=royalblue], has turned Iraq into a [/color][color=royalblue]hellhole[/color] (http://tinyurl.com/3bzop)[color=royalblue] for its citizens and our occupying soldiers, has turned a country that [/color][color=royalblue]posed no threat to us[/color] (http://pilger.carlton.com/print/133099)[color=royalblue] into a [/color][color=royalblue]font of terrorism[/color] (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/6/25/04032/6558)[color=royalblue], and is [/color][color=royalblue]swelling the ranks of al Qaeda[/color] (http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1015-04.htm)[color=royalblue].[/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]We [/color][color=royalblue]never had[/color] (http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2004/01/fallows.htm)[color=royalblue]a plan[/color] (http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/9927782.htm)[color=royalblue] to handle post-war Iraq, and have [/color][color=royalblue]no exit strategy[/color] (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4893826/)[color=royalblue]. Nor can the war [/color][color=royalblue]be justified[/color] (http://hrw.org/wr2k4/3.htm#_Toc58744952)[color=royalblue] on humanitarian grounds. [/color][color=royalblue]Saddam's successor[/color] (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/16/1089694565543.html?oneclick=true)[color=royalblue], who reportedly [/color][color=royalblue]summarily executed six accused prisoners himself[/color] (http://tinyurl.com/56tf9)[color=royalblue] shortly before taking office, also appears to be little if any better than Saddam. The war is an unbelievable [/color][color=royalblue]disaster[/color] (http://slacktivist.typepad.com/slacktivist/2004/09/the_worst_case_.html)[color=royalblue], with no good options left. Many experts on Iraq say the best that can be hoped for is [/color][color=royalblue]"continued chaos that falls short of civil war."[/color] (http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0915-02.htm)[/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]The war has also [/color][color=royalblue]diverted resources[/color] (http://tinyurl.com/3bjh7)[color=royalblue] that could have been used to attend to the much greater threats posed by al Qaeda, North Korea, and Iran, and has dangerously [/color][color=royalblue]overstretched[/color] (http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1215613,00.html)[color=royalblue]our military[/color] (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4489450/)[color=royalblue]. Incredibly, the Bush administration actually [/color][color=royalblue]rejected three Pentagon proposals[/color] (http://home.earthlink.net/~fsrhine/2004.05.01_arch.html#1084646929972)[color=royalblue] to destroy terrorist training camps in Northern Iraq (the region not controlled by Saddam Hussein) operated by [/color][/font][/color]

[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]leading al Qaeda terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi because doing so would have undermined the rationale for war with Iraq. Bush was much more interested in pursuing Saddam Hussein than an actual terrorist whom one expert [/color][color=royalblue]says[/color] (http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/11/walsh/index.html)[color=royalblue] "is arguably more important than Osama bin Laden right now." Zarqawi has since [/color][color=royalblue]killed hundreds[/color] (http://slate.msn.com/id/2100549/)[color=royalblue], including reportedly [/color][color=royalblue]beheading Nicholas Berg[/color] (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/13/iraq.berg/index.html)[color=royalblue].[/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]Terrorism around the world is increasing, not decreasing, in the wake of the Iraq war. The State Department found that terrorist incidents around the world [/color][color=royalblue]reached a 21-year high in 2003[/color] (http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_report_062304,00.html)[color=royalblue]. 2004 appears to be even worse: MSNBC [/color][color=royalblue]reported[/color] (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5889435/)[color=royalblue] on September 2, 2004 that terrorist "attacks are on the rise worldwide -- dramatically," and that of 2,929 terrorism-related deaths after September 11, 2001, 1,709 (58%) had occurred in the first eight months of 2004.[/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]Bush, despite condemning other countries' interest in weapons of mass destruction, refuses to place any limits on our proliferation of such weapons. He repudiated the [/color][color=royalblue]Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty[/color] (http://www.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/12/13/rec.bush.abm/)[color=royalblue]. He urges the development of new, "more useable" [/color][color=royalblue]nuclear weapons[/color] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3126141.stm)[color=royalblue], even though doing so will [/color][color=royalblue]undermine the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty[/color] (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mininukes23dec23,1,2311336.story?coll=la-home-headlines)[color=royalblue] and encourage other countries to develop nuclear weapons. His unjustified war on Iraq has resulted in the deaths of [/color][color=royalblue]more than 10,000 people[/color] (http://www.iraqbodycount.net/)[color=royalblue] (far more than those [/color][color=royalblue]murdered on September 11, 2001[/color] (http://www.september11victims.com/september11victims/STATISTIC.asp)[color=royalblue], and those killed by all of the murderers whose [/color][color=royalblue]executions he presided over[/color] (http://www.bushkills.com/index.html)[color=royalblue] as governor of Texas, put together).[/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]Bush has exhibited contempt for other nations, demanding that they kowtow to our country's wishes without question. In addition to the Kyoto Protocol, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty discussed above, he has repudiated or rejected the [/color][color=royalblue]International Criminal Court[/color] (http://www.hrw.org/press/2002/05/icc0506.htm)[color=royalblue], the [/color][color=royalblue]Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention[/color] (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Biological%20Weapons%20Convention)[color=royalblue], the convention on [/color][color=royalblue]banning landmines[/color] (http://www.icbl.org/cgi-bin/go.cgi?0=http://www.landminesurvivors.org/learn_pressroom_article.php?id=249)[color=royalblue], the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of [/color][color=royalblue]Discrimination Against Women[/color] (http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Rogue_State_US/US_OptsOut_AI.html)[color=royalblue], the Convention on the [/color][color=royalblue]Rights of the Child[/color] (http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Rogue_State_US/US_OptsOut_AI.html)[color=royalblue], and the [/color][color=royalblue]U.N. Convention on Small Arms[/color] (http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Rogue_State_US/US_OptsOut_AI.html)[color=royalblue]. (For still more examples of treaties abrogated or rejected by the Bush administration, see [/color][color=royalblue]here[/color] (http://motherearth.org/bushwanted/laws.php#rogue)[color=royalblue].)[/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]Bush has turned a world that two years ago [/color][color=royalblue]was almost universally sympathetic to us[/color] (http://www.privilogic.com/wordsfail/)[color=royalblue] (the French newspaper Le Monde said on September 12, 2001, [/color][color=royalblue]"we are all Americans"[/color] (http://www.worldpress.org/1101we_are_all_americans.htm)[color=royalblue]) into one where [/color][color=royalblue]many people[/color] (http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=206)[color=royalblue]despise us[/color] (http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAUEHR5ATD.html)[color=royalblue] and consider our country, not unreasonably, as the [/color][color=royalblue]greatest threat to world peace[/color] (http://tinyurl.com/2zd8k)[color=royalblue]. He has no conception of diplomacy. His belligerent stupidity in [/color][color=royalblue]pronouncing North Korea[/color] (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020129-11.html)[color=royalblue] a member of the "Axis of Evil" may well have provoked Kim Jong Il to begin [/color][color=royalblue]making nuclear weapons[/color] (http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/04/24/nkorea.us/)[color=royalblue].[/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]His is a [/color][color=royalblue]cash-register presidency[/color] (http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/)[color=royalblue]. He dutifully carries out the wishes of every constituency that fills the tables at his $2,000-a-plate dinners (the oil and gas industries, big corporations, the rich, the religious right, the NRA, the tobacco lobby), and of [/color][color=royalblue]friends like the Saudis[/color] (http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=99415)[color=royalblue] who have enriched the Bush family for decades, without regard for the public good.[/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]His administration has subverted the Constitution: enacting into law [/color][color=royalblue]the unconstitutional so-called "USA PATRIOT" Act[/color] (http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=12126&c=207)[color=royalblue] and seeking [/color][color=royalblue]the even more unconstitutional "Patriot II"[/color] (http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=12126&c=207)[color=royalblue]; [/color][color=royalblue]rounding up[/color] (http://talkleft.com/new_archives/000077.html#000077)[color=royalblue] 1100 Arab and Muslim-Americans without probable cause to believe they have committed any crime and secretly holding them, incommunicado, for months on end; and having claimed the right to [/color][color=royalblue]seize American citizens in the United States[/color] (http://talkleft.com/new_archives/004718.html#004718)[color=royalblue], declare them [/color][color=royalblue]"enemy combatants,"[/color] (http://talkleft.com/new_archives/005296.html#005296)[color=royalblue] imprison them without bail, [/color][color=royalblue]refuse them access[/color] (http://talkleft.com/new_archives/005296.html#005296)[color=royalblue] to lawyers and the courts, and [/color][color=royalblue]never file charges[/color] (http://talkleft.com/new_archives/005296.html#005296)[color=royalblue] against them. This is not America.[/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]The Bush Administration for over two years has held [/color][color=royalblue]650 people[/color] (http://www.usdoj.gov/osg/briefs/2003/3mer/2mer/2003-0334.mer.aa.html)[color=royalblue] at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, again without access to attorneys or the courts, and without filing any criminal charges against them. The Administration has held [/color][color=royalblue]children[/color] (http://talkleft.com/new_archives/002505.html#002505)[color=royalblue] as young as 13 at Guantanamo. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld has announced that he intends to hold these people until "the Global War on Terror" is over, which he says could be years or even decades from now. If the Bush administration ever deigns to file charges against any of these people, it claims the right to have them tried in secret by military tribunals, with U.S. military officers who are not lawyers as judges, with the government "reserving the right" to listen in on conversations between the accused and his attorney, with secret evidence being used against the accused, with the normal rules of evidence not applying to the proceeding, with an appeal lying only to President Bush, and with penalties (including the death sentence) being imposed and carried out in secret. [/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]The Bush administration subverts democracy. It stole the 2000 election. It has done everything possible to pretend that Democrats in Congress do not exist and need not be included in the process (despite Bush's claim in 2000 to be "a uniter, not a divider"). Bush and his people [/color][color=royalblue]systematically misrepresent[/color] (http://lawandpolitics.blogspot.com/2004_10_01_lawandpolitics_archive.html#109764731568483743)[color=royalblue] their policies, hoodwinking the public into supporting things that would never receive majority support if people knew the truth. Bush and his allies suggest that those who oppose any of Bush's policies are [/color][color=royalblue]allies of terrorists[/color] (http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2003/11/21/cleland/)[color=royalblue]. The Bush campaign even [/color][color=royalblue]arrests and fires people[/color] (http://home.earthlink.net/~fsrhine/2004.07.01_arch.html#1089931493411)[color=royalblue] who show up at campaign events attired in anti-Bush clothing.[/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]The Bush administration has sought to institute the Orwellian [/color][color=royalblue]"Total Information Awareness"[/color] (http://query.nytimes.com/search/article-page.html?res=9F05EFD61431F93AA35752C1A9649C8B63)[color=royalblue] program to spy on and gather information on every citizen. Yet the Bush administration has done everything possible to conduct its own affairs in secret: holding [/color][color=royalblue]fewer press conferences[/color] (http://hnn.us/articles/221.html)[color=royalblue] than any president since Taft; refusing to disclose what Bush knew before September 11, what connection [/color][color=royalblue]the Saudis[/color] (http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20030804&s=scheer20030729)[color=royalblue] had with September 11, or what Cheney's [/color][color=royalblue]Energy Tax Force[/color] (http://tinyurl.com/38h9k)[color=royalblue] was doing; [/color][color=royalblue]lying to us repeatedly[/color] (http://www.lunaville.org/WMD/billmon.aspx)[color=royalblue] about [/color][color=royalblue](among many other things)[/color] (http://tinyurl.com/3gszh)[color=royalblue] the reasons for waging war on Iraq; and refusing to tell us what the war and its aftermath would cost.[/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]George W. Bush has acted with wanton irresponsibility toward our economy. During his presidency, [/color][color=royalblue]1.1 million jobs[/color] (http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aV46Agn3ynRk&refer=us)[color=royalblue] have been lost. He will almost surely become the [/color][color=royalblue]first president since Hoover to lose jobs[/color] (http://www.house.gov/appropriations_democrats/ALLHAT.htm)[color=royalblue] during a term of office. He has enacted massive tax cuts primarily benefiting the rich, has waged the obscenely expensive and unnecessary war on Iraq, and has greatly [/color][color=royalblue]increased[/color] (http://www.cato.org/dailys/07-31-03.html)[color=royalblue] even non-security related domestic spending. Bush has taken budget surpluses, achieved under President Clinton, and [/color][color=royalblue]turned them into[/color] (http://www.thedailybrew.com/)[color=royalblue] $400-billion-a-year deficits (exceeding the previous record $282 billion deficit "achieved" by his father) as far as the eye can see. In four years, he will have added about [/color][color=royalblue]$1.5 trillion[/color] (http://norbizness.com/archives/000184.html)[color=royalblue] to the national debt. These wildly irresponsible actions gravely endanger the [/color][color=royalblue]financial security of our country[/color] (http://www.iht.com/articles/123889.html)[color=royalblue]and indeed the world[/color] (http://tinyurl.com/364qm)[color=royalblue]. Paul Volcker, the Republican former chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, says that the United States faces a [/color][color=royalblue]75% chance of a financial crisis within five years[/color] (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040824/news_1e24geyer.html)[color=royalblue].[/color][/font][/color]

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[color=black][font=Verdana][color=royalblue]For all of these reasons, it is my patriotic duty, and that of everyone who feels as I do, to oppose George W. Bush by every lawful means, and to do everything in our power to ensure that he does not receive a second term in office. This is one modest effort toward that end.[/color][/font][/color]

[Pete P]

Randy, I gotta ask....if Bush has done soooo much to screw up our country and world relations, which you have listed in detail, and well, I might add...then can you tell me how Kerry plans to "fix" all that is "broken"? I wonder if the list will be as long, or maybe it should be a revolving list, since Kerry can't make up his mind most of the time. Curious to read your thoughts on Kerry's attempt at resolution.

RESPECT ALL, FEAR NONE,
ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE!!!!!
Pete Peterson
PSDA and Team Roundkick
Carroll, Iowa

[Randy Pogue]

No Pete, I can't. And I'm about sick that silly argument. Your president behaves with complete disregard, bordering on malice, for the American people. He has consistently put our best interests aside for his agenda. All Kerry needs are good intentions. He could suck completely, but as long as his intentions are not to harm America, it is better than someone who doesn't care. I'm not going to be surprised by either outcome, because no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people. The more I hear, the more certain i am, that idiots, not patriots, are voting for Bush. I don't care about politics, I'm not a Democrat, and I rarely vote. Voting for Bush is lunacy.

[Pete P]

Randy, thanks for the reply. Actually I am neither Democrat or Republican. I try to decide which "man" (regardless of party) will do the best job, in my eyes, for the people of our country. I know Bush has made alot of mistakes, no denying that, I just have not stayed informed enough lately to have a solid choice of whom will do better, if either can do better. I never re-registered when I moved to Iowa, and I dropped the ball and did not register my new info by the deadline, so now I can't vote, but Pam can, so I was just curious of your response.

Thanks, Pete