2004 election offers voters real choice

[Octafish]

2004 election offers voters real choice

By STEVEN THOMMA
Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - The 2004 presidential election gives Americans the most dramatic choice of leaders and directions in at least a quarter of a century.

So different are President Bush and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry - in everything from personal style to their approaches to major international, domestic and cultural issues facing the country - that voters have, in effect, a choice between ratifying America's current path and charting a new one.

Like other historic elections, in 1980, 1964 and 1932, the outcome of this year's vote could usher in a radically different way of governing. It's worth noting that the three earlier elections produced landslides. But whoever wins, and by whatever margin, the outcome will have important consequences for Americans' prosperity and safety and for their country's role in the world.

"The difference couldn't be more stark," said Susan Dunn, a presidential historian and co-author of a new book on George Washington.

Bush, 57, is a plainspoken, backslapping, peanut-butter-and-jelly loving Texan who enjoys watching baseball but prefers the solitude of running for his exercise. He launched a pre-emptive war in Iraq, favors suspending some legal rights for suspected terrorists, presided over soaring federal budget deficits, wants to extend tax cuts, backs free trade as an engine of growth regardless of short-term job losses, wants to partly privatize Social Security and wants a constitutional ban on marriage for gays and lesbians.

CONTINUED...

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/8117223.htm

[Octafish]

1. This is a different story -- demonstrates how Kerry DIFFERS from Bushler.

PS: Hope I fixed my bad.

[cosmicdot]

2. * "prefers the solitude of running for his exercise"

Don't want to get in the way of Media myths, but I thought * had quit running ...

a plainspoken, backslapping, peanut-butter-and-jelly loving Texan

"Plainspoken" - is that what that is?

"Texan" - puh-leeze ... whatever ...

I thought he was a media creation.


Of course, I felt I was charting a new direction each time I voted for President ... that we'd get back on course of the New/Fair Deals-New Frontier-Great Society ... like when I voted for McGovern in '72, Carter in '76 and '80, Mondale and Dukakis ... Clinton, and then Gore ... and, I have always felt I had real choice then ... and, compared to Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Poppy, Jr. - always a dramatic alternative ...

I'll stand back, and let the Media write the script ... my guess it'll be a cliffhanger come election night ... the Media was able to close the lead Al Gore had over * in 2000 ... wonder what accent and colloquial sayings Dan Rather will use this year?

close your eyes, and envision George Bush for 4 more years ...
I close my eyes ... but I see a President Al Gore standing alone in a fight against a coup d'etat ...

"...the outcome will have important consequences for Americans' prosperity and safety and for their country's role in the world."

Jack Kennedy could have used those same words campaigning against Dick Nixon in 1960

[Octafish]

3. That's what it comes down to, cosmicdot! Nixon versus JFK.

Nixon begat Poppy, one of "The Texans" who'd "do anything for the cause." Poppy begat Smirk, the unelected moron and bane of our existence.

And if Nixon had become President in 1960, our living world might not exist today. Remember, the generals and big-money boys wanted Word War III over the Bay of Pigs. JFK stopped them. Then, when the Cuban missile crisis broke, the right wing and the Congress and cabinet wanted World War III. JFK stopped them again, figuring out how to avoid war.

As soon as JFK was buried, the escalation in Vietnam started. I believe that war has run uninterrupted, except by location around the globe, ever since to the benefit of the world's elites.

Kerry's the best chance since Bobby in 1968 for knocking them out. He's got the goods on W for 9-11, Poppy for Iran-contra, dope smuggling, and whatever else clear back to November 22, 1963.

That's why it's so important people know there's such a difference. Support for Kerry, helps end the BFEE.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. Hey I'm all for a Kerry landslide!

nothing like a mandate.

[Jade Fox]

5. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

I was just thinking before reading this thread that a landslide would send
a strong message that Americans will not put up with the sort of politics
the Bush Administration has persued.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. I think it is quite possible

Kerry has very carefully crafted a message of broad appeal.
He should have no trouble attracting moderates.
He is a smart and decent man. A brave and caring legislator.
The contrast with Bush seems a chasm.
America yearns for trust and competence.

[Octafish]

9. It's very do-able, NewYorkerfromMass!

What started out as a few snow flakes (a few, cough, more flakey than others) became a snow fall and is now ready to turn into a blizzard. By the time the convention comes, we'll be ready for the avalance.

Still, because the owners of Corporate McPravda are beholden to the BFEE, the media won't spread the word unless there's pressure from us for some balanced press.

How to get that pressure? We the People do ALL we can to spread the word -- spread the Truth about the BFEE and the unelected front-stooge moron, and ask people to take it upon themselves to take action. That will generate some coverage.

Before we know it, the turd Rove and the rest of the occupants will be getting frog-marched to Leavenworth. Of course, to contrast them with the Constitution -shredding bastards they are, first they'd have access to attorneys, just as long as it's not James Baker. He'll be too busy defending himself from charges.

[mot78]

7. But but but Nader said there's no differance

And if Nader says it, it MUST be true. :eyes:

[Octafish]

8. LOL! We all can't believe everything we see and hear...

... can we?