A Reason For Concern!!

"More food for thought."

from JoeUser Forums
There are times that we get caught up in our own little world that we miss some of the fringe stuff.

Please allow me to give you some impartial, observations from this window.

I don't remember as many books being written about a President, seeking a second term before.
Negative Books with titles such as,

Worse Then Watergate."

"Plan Of Attack"

"Exporting American"

"Losing America"

"License To Steel"

"Against All Enemies"

And that is just to name a few.
And we're not talking about radical or, off beat, authors either. We're talking legimate people such as,

Bob Woodward, of the Washington Post

Senator: Robert C. Byrd

Richard Clark: who worked for Clinton as well as Bush.

Paul H. O'Neal, and John H. Dean

Kind of makes one scratch their head and wonder, "what's going on here?" Am I missing something that I should know about?

I don't remember all the demonstrations directed towards a sitting President in quite some time. hmmmmmmm?
There is a huge sector out there, that aren't really voting for Kerry, as much as they are voting against Bush.

I don't remember as many Foreign countries being upset with the U.S. and our policies before. Don't get me wrong. We were never endeared by every nation. But today it seems so disproportionate. I saw some of our Olympic athletes being booeeed, simply because they were Americans.   "Dang!"
I felt bad for these athletes. They didn't set Government Policy. They were merely there to compete.
(Some athletes did act up and in that case, they deserved what they got.)
I am aware of the "Ugly American."

I've always been of the mind-set that, at any given time, regarding any subject, people may disagree with you. All presidents have had folks that did not agree with their policies.
But I candidly don't remember it being this passionate before, and by so many, people, organizations, and countries. Am I smelling smoke of a smoldering fire?

Please, this is just an observation that many of us may be overlooking. I haven't a clue on, "who" I might vote for as of this date. I am working diligently to sort things out. This "non-headline issue" has grabbed my attention. Could there be something below the radar screen that we're not seeing? Are we so wrapped up in the American flag that we have lost our objectivity?

This is merely another thought, that you might wish to include in your process of........
I wish for no surprises after the election. A second term President is almost licensed to kill, for he needs your vote no more.
I will continue to look for answers until November 2nd.
politics
10,036 views 18 replies
Reply #1 from PolMach Forums Top
I don't remember as many Foreign countries being upset with the U.S. and our policies before. Don't get me wrong. We were never endeared by every nation. But today it seems so disproportionate. I saw some of our Olympic athletes being booeeed, simply because they were Americans. "Dang!"


On the contrary, about 95% were booed simply because we were favored to win in most events if not all, and the crowd wanted to shout and cheer for the underdog, China got the same reaction, it's only natural for people to cheer for the underdog, if you want my proof I will have to dig and find that article again on nbcolympics.com.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
It could also be that so many US athletes are total assholes. At the 2000 Olympics the track and field team posed centrefield for about half an hour with the flags around them because they won a few gold. No one likes a bad winner, and quite often US athletes are bad winners. Not all the time, but definitely some of the time.
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from PolMach Forums Top
Another great point, we should start showing better sportsmanship, and enforcing that standard on our athletes
Reply #4 from PolMach Forums Top
I didn't mean for the Olympics to beome the focal point of my article.
It was but a single piece of the whole of my article.
Reply #5 from PolMach Forums Top
I don't know, it seems to me plenty of people have their own reasons to be mad at Bush... like the fact people STILL think he "stole" the election, and some think that he cares more about his oil buddies than America... Did it ever occur to you that the masses are not always right? Just because a lot of people don't like Bush doesn't mean there's necessarily something secretly evil about him...
Reply #6 from PolMach Forums Top
I know, as for passionate politics, I think it is because more people are getting involved and the two party system is causing some problems with the whole system, I think we should take George Washington's advice and get rid of the parties and focus on the issues completely, but alas it is only a dream of mine.

Good article though.
Reply #7 from PolMach Forums Top
Instead of looking at what everyone ELSE is saying and making your decision on who to support based on what you find, why not try looking at the FACTS from reputable news sources instead of a bunch of random people who could have their own agendas? I'm not saying "vote Bush" or "vote Kerry," I'm saying, look at the FACTS, not random opinions, and make your decision accordingly based on your own conscience added to what you've researched.
Reply #8 from PolMach Forums Top
Woah, sorry if that came off as a little angry... I'm not trying to start a fight (honestly), I'm just sick of people who go along with whichever way the wind is blowing when making decisions. I'm not saying you're like that; I'm just saying I've been seeing a lot of it, and you sort of came off that way.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Just food for thought, but there has been a significant shift in the last 10 - 15 years with republicans gaining more and more power, and also a shift in the public's ideology from liberal to conservative.

Perhaps the party not in power is becoming desperate as they see their power begin to wane, and the country starting to reject their politics? They certainly seem more zealous, with more of the lunatic fringe on the left becoming more strident and getting more focus.
Reply #10 from PolMach Forums Top
Musikitty

Don't fret, we're cool. No offense taken. I've been thru too many elections to get upset at this point. I'm still of the school, that everyone is allowed their opinion.

I do appreciate your reply. Thank you for your consideration.


ShoZan

As usual, you have your head in the right place and remain objective.
Good man! Or should I say, Good Person?
Want to remain politically correct, don't ya know.
Reply #11 from PolMach Forums Top
Some food for thought from George Washington Biography[LINK]
To his disappointment, two parties were developing by the end of his first term. Wearied of politics, feeling old, he retired at the end of his second. In his Farewell Address, he urged his countrymen to forswear excessive party spirit and geographical distinctions. In foreign affairs, he warned against long-term alliances.

I still think a return to a no party system may help to eliminate the excessive party spirit that currently infests all forms of politics.
Reply #12 from PolMach Forums Top
Well not all books you meantione are really negative. Plan of Attack is not a negative. I read it. It praised more than attack. Sure, it is not a book sing song about the Bush adminstration. But ulitimately, it says the Bush can make tough choice and not afraid to make mistake to protect america. To give you an example, the book clearly states that Bush has two choices to dealth with Saddam and therefore two possible mistake. Either do nothing and assume Saddam has destoryed his weapon and run the risk of a possible terriost attack, or attack Saddam and run the the risk that he actually has no WMD and may lost election. The book paints Bush as a president who care more about the security of america more than his re-election. The argument is that Bush is already popular after the Afghan war and he doens't have to risk his popularity -- does that sound negative to you?

Paul O'Neal... he wrote a book which complain about the Bush Adminstration, but it is not a super negative book. I mean, afterall, he said he will still vote for Bush and he believe Bush is still the better option. Does that sound negative to you?
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Pictoratus

Your point is well taken. But it doesn't address why some Replicans are not voting for Bush the second time around? Why is our ideology not floating well in Europe among other places on the map?
Why is Richard Clark, who worked on both sides of the isle, so upset?

My article addressed many instances of disenchantment. I was merely trying to bring this perspective up for consideration.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't remember as many books being written about a President, seeking a second term before.


I hate to say it, but there was as much out there about Clinton in 96, it just didn't receive as much exposure. At least Bush hasn't been accused of trying to murder half his people, as Clinton was (right wing zealots claimed Oklahoma City, Ron Brown's death, Vince Foster's death, and Waco were all staged to get rid of certain individuals in and around the Clinton administration that knew too much).
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
In Bob Woodwards book, "Plan Of Attack," you'll of course recall, how the Bush Administration was working on a, War Plan for Iraq, right out of the box, way before the attacks of 9/11.
What many folks don't understand is, we were going to Iraq whether Bin Ladin attacked us or not.


What gets me is that many Republicans deny this, then they say that attacking Iraq wasn't about 9/11.

If attacking Iraq wasn't about 9/11 (an assertion I believe, by the way), then it's logical to assume we had planned to attack beforehand.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
Pictoratus

Your point is well taken. But it doesn't address why some Replicans are not voting for Bush the second time around? Why is our ideology not floating well in Europe among other places on the map?
Why is Richard Clark, who worked on both sides of the isle, so upset?


You're correct, it doesn't address any short term issues such as you stated. It was merely intented to be an observation of a relatively long term shift, the tendencys arising from it, and the effect it is having on political speech.

I would guess that if the republicans retain control of the presidency and increase their majorities in both houses of congress and the shift towards conservatism by the public continues, the reaction by the left will be to lean further and further left and to become more and more desperate. Which means more and more of the type of campaigning we are seeing now.

As an aside, Clinton's biggest appeal, in my opinion, was that he was moving toward the right (moderate or centrist). Which explains why he was as popular as he was. I don't think the left will move far enough to the right to compete for the conservative tendencies of the public.

I realize this may seem off topic but it goes to the root of the speech issue.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
Gideon
As usual, your insight and reply is apprecieated. I have heard and read about, some mysterious deaths, accidental or otherwise.
(read suspicious)
regarding people that may have known, too much shall we say. And of course, everybody knows about the Waco disaster.
I will do some homework on books published, re: the Clinton years. Still, I can't imagine the numbers will match the present lot.
Thanks again.

Pictoratus

Your point is well taken and thought-out. There might be some validity in that viewpoint.

Hey! Maybe the, "Dems", should have sent Bill Clinton himself back into the wars. He beat George W's daddy? Maybe he could beat the, kid, as well?
(Tongue in cheek)

Thank you for your input.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
Chemicalkinetics

Obviously, you have misread the intent of my forum. You and I might debate issues until the oceans run dry.
If I have mislead you, in that, my purpose was to invite debate, I apologize.

However, I am not interested in getting into a P-----g contest with you or anyone else for that matter.

I invite folks to do their own research and come to their own conclusions.

I believe your first reply was more then adequate to inspire some folks to possibly pick up a book or two.
People do not need "YOU or ME" to tell them, what or how to think.
Quit taking yourself so seriously.
This Blogging thing is supposed to be fun you know.

Now open a window, take a deep breath, and put your anger back in your pocket.
Regardless of who gets elected, the sun will shine come November 3rd.

Have a nice day.