| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Arthen |
Posted - 04/23/2008 : 03:15:11 AM
We haven't really talked about this subject. And it seems, after today's results, that we'll be hearing about it still for a while. What do you think? Personally I think the Clintons are really screwing up the party and the longer this goes on the more likely McCain '08 is. |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| victorwootenfan |
Posted - 05/19/2008 : 02:16:12 AM
Personally I'm stoked about getting free tickets to catch the daily show coverage of the national convention in denver in August! But I'm going for obama...imo best candidate we've had in a while.
myspace.com/smileymnbass
*first post in over a year* |
| Zachmozach |
Posted - 04/25/2008 : 10:06:41 PM
Exactly! I guess that's my point overall. That congress should be running the country not the president. It's hard not to get caught up in the lingo, but the fact that no presidential candidate is ready to concede that they are not so powerful as we think but just as powerful as congress allows is the first sign none of them are worth anything.
I would bet the people running for president couldn't even pass a political science test I took about the constitution without studying and they're the single most important person in regards to protecting it. Yet we continue to elect them. Our culture sucks. |
| dan p. |
Posted - 04/25/2008 : 9:06:17 PM
quote:
Originally posted by gnome44
quote:
Originally posted by Zachmozach
What education does he have to run a country? Is he an astute political scholar? I'm not sure we have the same definition of a good president.
First of all, I think ALL of the candidates are worthless.
But I don't understand why people put such a large emphasis on experience/education. Many presidents didn't have a particularly stellar political career before their presidency. Not many had any kind of formal political education. It's not like they go to presidents school or are raised with the intent of becoming leaders, etc.
With that said (as brief and unsupported as it was), I think that a lot of the president's roll is as a figure head. Our government has 3 branches so that the control and power is more spread out and kept in check (whether that works very well is debatable). In addition, the president (for better or for worse) appoints a cabinet who has a large roll in running the country.
I think the president, as a single person, has much less actual responsibility for "running" the country than most people would think. It's not a dictatorship (but not too far in some instances)...
this.
people complain/praise/talk about the president a if he is the of all 3 branches of government as opposed to 1. go talk to someone about any of the other branch heads and you'll get blank stares. it'd make me sad if i wasn't so full of hate. |
| gnome44 |
Posted - 04/25/2008 : 08:44:59 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Zachmozach
What education does he have to run a country? Is he an astute political scholar? I'm not sure we have the same definition of a good president.
First of all, I think ALL of the candidates are worthless.
But I don't understand why people put such a large emphasis on experience/education. Many presidents didn't have a particularly stellar political career before their presidency. Not many had any kind of formal political education. It's not like they go to presidents school or are raised with the intent of becoming leaders, etc.
With that said (as brief and unsupported as it was), I think that a lot of the president's roll is as a figure head. Our government has 3 branches so that the control and power is more spread out and kept in check (whether that works very well is debatable). In addition, the president (for better or for worse) appoints a cabinet who has a large roll in running the country.
I think the president, as a single person, has much less actual responsibility for "running" the country than most people would think. It's not a dictatorship (but not too far in some instances)... |
| Ranting Thespian |
Posted - 04/25/2008 : 02:22:18 AM
As I said before, I am not talking and debating politics on here anymore. |
| Zachmozach |
Posted - 04/25/2008 : 01:49:46 AM
Why would Obama make a good president? He wants to increase military spending and the size of the military. We need drastic actions to stop the environmental disaster we have on our hands and you can say he's better than bush but that's about it. I also like how talk about Iraq has collectively eased way back now that he has the support of the democratic base so they can focus on swing voters and such. What education does he have to run a country? Is he an astute political scholar? I'm not sure we have the same definition of a good president.
I'm glad this country is going to be tested economically and politically over the next ten years at least because it's about freaking time. I can't imagine how much worse we can let these two parties get while still voting them into power. |
| Ranting Thespian |
Posted - 04/24/2008 : 6:59:54 PM
I am against abortion. However, it is not my place to tell people what to do. I will give my 2 cents, but then it's up them to decide if they want an abortion or not. Just remember, if we make it illegal we will be back in the 70s with people using coat hangers and such (and other stories my mom has told me that are horrific). So I am pro-choice but anti-abortion.
Also, Obama has my vote. I would prefer Dennis Kuchinich, but I do like Obama and think he would make a good president. |
| dan p. |
Posted - 04/24/2008 : 01:49:39 AM
let's do a pro-life/pro-choice argument. here's my stance.
the names are bullshit. pro-life is right wing rhetoric. it implies that if you disagree with pro-life, you are anti-life, or pro-death. ditto pro-choice and the left. if you're not pro-choice, you must be anti-choice, or some kind of fascist. but if you're pro-life, you can't logically be for any war, ever, or the death penalty, since both things destroy life, which pro-lifers are apparently for. otherwise, you're either a hypocrite, which is bad, or you're "pro-life sometimes," which is a useless distinction.
my stance is this: yes, abortion is murder. but sometimes it's a really good idea. i don't believe murder is always wrong, insofar as i believe in the concepts of right and wrong. now, that's as far as i go with it, because i'm not a woman. i'm not sure dudes should be forming an opinion with the idea that it should matter. we're not carrying, boys. yes, it is half ours biologically, but we don't have to deal with it. so our input on what should be done, in all fairness, should be heard and considered, but in the end it's largely academic.
the fact is abortions, like anything else, don't go away in a puff of sunshine and puppy-dogs because it's been outlawed. women will still get them. illegalizing them won't make that big a difference. |
| Zachmozach |
Posted - 04/24/2008 : 01:37:36 AM
I don't know if I'll abstain or vote 3rd party yet. However I doubt in oregon there will be a chance in hell of john mccain getting the vote. I don't think there's really any point to voting unless you're going to take your responsibility seriously and for me that means to start voting for people who actually mean change and are outside the corporate influence. However this requires organization that we just haven't reached. However I'm more concerned with organizing locally to elect congress people who are worth something.
The reality is gloomy but we're fucked either way. So it kinda sucks. |
| dan p. |
Posted - 04/24/2008 : 01:28:05 AM
i am abstaining until such time as a worthy and viable candidate emerges. i suspect that will be at never o'clock on noneday. |
| EnlightenThis |
Posted - 04/24/2008 : 01:13:17 AM
i want a world where people think about what is right instead of what party they are voting. Not saying that anyone here doesn't agree with that, but how come that isn't possible. EVERYONE thinks gas prices should go down except for the owners of the oil companies who support the government. And marijuana should be legalized to some degree but cigarette companies wouldn't allow that, even though i crave a square even that much more when i get high. i think i would like democratic even though i am prolife and there tends to be a prochoice swing to the democratic side. at least from what ive been told growing up. basically i am uneducated when it comes to this and could really use a lot of posts to help figure out peoples stances on things. I know that i share many opinions with people on this board and I could greatly benefit from all of your opinions, thoughts, ideas, and discussions. |
| Arthen |
Posted - 04/24/2008 : 01:12:29 AM
Nader, then Zach? Or will you be abstaining? I don't know an alternative myself, but I feel like Nader will enable a Republican victory...again. |
| Zachmozach |
Posted - 04/23/2008 : 9:30:23 PM
I won't be voting democratic. I won't be voting republican. I would prefer clinton not get the nomination but it's like a choice between tweedle dee or tweedle dum. I would prefer democrat over a republican administration though. |
