My Thoughts On The Next Four Years
 

"A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation.
To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust."

Today, President Bush said in his victory speech that he wants to work to unite the country, and win the approval and trust of those who opposed him in this country.

In all honesty, I hope he succeeds.
But then, I remember I had the same hope the first time he made such a promise. When, despite the fact that I voted for someone else, I hoped that Bush would be a good president and the "Great Uniter" he promised to be.

Perhaps it's a bit of the old "once bitten, twice shy" adage, but I'm less optimistic that he'll hold true to his words the second time around. After all, the "Great Uniter" turned into one of the greatest dividers this country has ever known.

I know a lot of people support him (obviously), and are happy he won. And I know there are a lot of gung-ho people in this country who are thrilled that he's waging this war, even if it's at the expense of our country, and its citizens and its economy.
I know a lot of people are also supportive of his "moral agenda." Unfortunately, I still choke on the word "moral," when I think of it in regards to George W. Bush. Quite frankly, I don't feel HE has the moral character to question mine. But that's my issue. I'll work through it, and I'll keep fighting to change some minds on what constitutes morality.

I want to have confidence in the man leading my country. But my confidence must be earned, and it hasn't been yet. And I have to wonder if it's been irreparably damaged by the past four years, though I'll try to be open-minded.
Now Mr. Bush has four more years to change my mind about what kind of legacy he will leave behind when all is said and done, and that's going to require a LOT of work on his part.

Hopefully we're not going to be faced with another four years of "more of the same": More infringements on our civil rights, more of someone else's so-called morality being forced upon us, more economic hardships, more tax-breaks for the upper-class, more American lives lost in a war created under deceptive pretenses, another several billion dollars added to the national deficit, and another four years of Osama Bin Laden roaming free.

I have my doubts, but I have my hopes too.
So, change my mind, Mr. President...
you have no idea how much I want to be proven wrong about you.

{{{HUGS}}}

to you Bri :xoxo:

Optimism is one thing- reality is another.

Dubya doesn't have to worry about the electorate anymore, so I'm sure it will be no holds barred. Some would say that he might be concerned about a legacy (a-la Clinton), but his legacy is going to be the destruction of environmental protections, the loss of civil liberties, the massive increase of religious involvement in government affairs and a huge, continuing shift of money and power to the Plutocracy of the United Corporations of America.

Adios Supreme Court. Adios Roe vs. Wade. Adios secular education.

I don't want to unite with his lying ass. In fact, I am now more committed than ever to fighting him every single step of the way. Under no circumstances will I support this presidency.

At this point, I agree. I'm not supporting someone who doesn't even want me here. :distress:

hey well said

I agree and I think it is important that I keep fighting against what I think is wrong. I highly doubt W will do anything I consider right and I base this on his many squandered opportunities to do so for the last four years. ver the last four years, everytime he had the chance to go the extra step or do something "out of the ball park right" - he did not not and instead placated the religious right and/or the huge corps. So, I will be fighting four the next four years.

:thumbsup: We must hang on to our republic.

I agree, well said Johnny. I did not support the President in his campaign this election, but I support the USA. I respect the decision that was made. He won, fair and square (for once!) Since Bush will not be seeking any form of re-election hopefully his second term will prove better for the country.
I will never hope that things go bad in America for political gain. Sure it will be easier to win for us in 2008 if he has a horrible 2nd term, but that's not what we need. Sometimes you just lose..and we lost. We put up a great fight, and I'm proud of Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards, and I stand by the message they presented.
Kerry ended this race with a lot of grace, as was to be expected. President Bush has a lot he COULD do in these 4 yrs, hopefully he does them, although I too am "cautiously optimistic." I want America to be ok, regardless of my political affiliation..I want the world to be ok. We DO need unity. Had Senator Kerry won I would say the same thing. There are soldiers dying in Iraq, for no reason? Well yeah , for no reason, but the point is they are there NOW...we need to stand by them...hope the best for them...and hope for the best in the next 4 yrs, it's all we can do..

It's been fun

Chris

:laugh: there we will be Diss, Goldie, and Strand marching on Wash. and Strand says "ya know I really agree with the D candidate on principle, but he misused a verb tense in the third paragraph and I think that means . . . " After which the march is temporarily halted as Diss is seen strangling Strand as Goldie hit him on the head with her handbag :eek: :laugh: :rolleyes:

Oh, trust me, he doesn't have my support over some nice little speech. He has a long way to go in earning that, if he should ever.
But I've always thought we have two choices in life: let others cause us misery, or create our own happiness.

Like I said, I hold onto a glimmer of optimism about the future of my country. If the president wants me, and people like me, to trust him, then he better get to work. I'll allow him the opportunity to mend some bridges and change his focus.

When his actions infringe upon my rights, I will actively work against him. When he screws up, I'll most certainly make sure to point it out.
But, whatever he does, I refuse to let him have the power to affect my happiness.

If he fails to live up to his promise, he'll just prove my opinion of him to be correct... so it's no sweat off my back.
And, if somehow he proves me wrong, then I'll happily admit it. That's my promise.

Yep, exactly :nod: He's a lying buttmonster, and his policies will never change..

Thanks, Mike. Us homosexuals can be a thoughtful, articulate bunch. Get to know a few of us sometime.

All I can say is, I hope all of the Democrats on here can get over their losing this time faster than they did last time (So basically, any time withing the next four years) because it's really tiring listening to you all complain about how your candidate lost and shouldn't have and how Bush is so terrible. It gets old. Open your eyes and look at some of the things that he's done that AREN'T so bad... Not that I'm saying the man is a genius or anything, and I agree he hasn't been the best President; but he has a very hard job, one I wouldn't want, and I think that he's done the best that any mortal human being can do. Maybe John Kerry WOULD be a better president... we have no way of knowing now. I'm just asking that all of you, rather than miserably "suffering" through the next four years, try to look at Bush in a more positive light. He's done some pretty good things; he took an evil dictator out of power (even if it was for his own, selfish and bad reasons. Read some things by the philosopher Hallie some day and you'll begin to understand that sometimes we have to look at the product, not the means, to judge a person), he's helped make it more difficult for women to use abortion to EXCESSION (that is, he's prevented women from having more than one or two abortions-- I know at least two people who have had in the abortions DOUBLE DIGIT numbers, and this prevents them from that ability; they now have children, yes, but they also regret their past ways because of having children and the abortions becomming difficult. Not to mention they both have various internal problems that are excrutiatingly painful due to abortions), and he's created programs that make it possible for me, a 3rd class 18 year old white male who was a straight A student through high school go to a good college and NOT be paying out of my ears for the rest of my life. I respect the things he's done. If you democrats can ignore Clinton's oral sex affair AND his lying to the country, why can't you look past the couple of flaws our President has? Besides, don't you think we could get more allies in this war we're in if people in other countries saw that we SUPPORT our president?
Please take time to consider what I've said, because I've tried to be polite and intelligent about this all, and its stuff I've been wanting to say for quite some time. I've dealt with all the democrat stuff here with a pinch of salt, the anti-Bush remarks that are undying, the sometimes crude and offensive images that tag posts, and the sometimes ignorant things people say here. I don't see how you all think you are so great, when you daily call republicans stupid, greedy and any other list of mean names. Seems to me sometimes like you are a bunch of kindergarteners who need depserately to grow up.
Finally, I wish to thank all of you who DO act respectively in all of this pish posh. It's refreshing to see that there are people in the world who can accept my views and my right to my opinions, even if they disagree. I can accept yours. Maybe you should try my method sometime; you'll find yourself surrounded by more friends because of it, as well as in some very interesting conversations that in the past were either one sided or formed as crude attacks.
One final thing, even though I am republican, I admit, I AM pro-same-sex marriage. It IS about love, after all, although I do agree it would be a type of desecration to the Christian religion to have Christian same-sex marriages, although I see no reason why two lovers cannot wed technically and have it acknowledged by our country. So my heart does go out to all of you who feel you have lost hope. Although maybe being a Mainer I'm ignorant, so please fill me in; why do you believe it's less likely to ever see such a law now with Bush? Wasn't Kerry ALSO against same-sex marriages? Forgive me for being confused.
Thank you all for taking the time to listen to me, and any rude comments made by people who say I'm dumb or ignorant, expect a letter from me personally trying to prove other wise. If there's one thing I hate, its people who think they are better than someone else simply because they have a different opinion.
God bless you all and the beautiful country we live in that TRULY gives US the choice to make these decisions.
Do you think Sadam or Bin Laden were elected by the people?
That's what makes this country fantastic.
Please don't forget that.


Adam R.

Ok so who do we want for 2008? I know it's a little early , but hey!

Everyone says Hillary, but I just dont see her being able to win..



Chris

All I have to say is that there better be tons of 'Mac/solo material coming our way to keep our minds off things for the next 4 years.

Tour in:

'05! (Liddy solo)
'06! (Stevie solo)
'07! ('Mac)
'08! ('Mac)


:wavey:

Preech it Brother Curtis

Bush has become too cocky and power drunk. I foresee a scenario where Dubya will make an errr in judgement so grave it will result in his impeachment.

Are you suggesting we send Monica to the whiote house to stir things up for Bush :laugh:

Reality check time here--Shrub gave basically the same speech after the 2000 election and promised to heal our country, and I think we all know how that turned out.

On the bright side, think about the last several two-term presidents--something always came up in that last term to haunt them.

Nixon--Watergate
Reagan-Iran/Contra
Clinton-Monica

Right. And more than just fighting *against* Bush, we must continue to fight *for* what we believe.

Oh--and one more thing--I'm not going to "get over it". And I know before the next four years end, you'll be the one doing the complaining when you see what this president's right-wing, extremist agenda will do to further tear this country down and further apart.

Thanks Adam R.!! That was one of the most well thought out and insightful posts I've read in a long time.


Ali
(And for the record I am not a Republican..or a Democrat for that matter)

*Sigh*

I really thought Adam's post would make people think a little bit about how they respond to other's who don't have the same 'beliefs' as the majority on this board.

Nothing ever changes.

Adam... I think I can say, without seeming to be immodest, that I tend to be one of the more optimistic people around. Check out this thread, and I think you'll see that.

Still, I have a hard time seeing how the one, maybe two things that Bush has done correctly are worthy of praise, in comparison to the myriad things he has botched.

You said you feel he's "done the best that any mortal human being can do," and you're entitled to your opinion, but I respectfully, and whole-heartedly, disagree.
I think there are plenty of men and women who could have and would have done a markedly better job than Bush has.

And maybe it's terribly naive of me, but I still have a very difficult time understanding the mind-set of people (friends even) who tell me with utmost sincerity that they support same-sex marriage and gay rights, but that they're a Bush-supporter.
Yes, I realize that John Kerry also said that he doesn't believe in same-sex marriage... a fact that I was not happy with... but, unlike President Bush, Kerry wasn't actively seeking, as Bush has, to take back some of the rights we ALREADY have, nor was he actively seeking, as Bush has, to amend the constitution to forever ban homosexuals from marrying. Thus forever sealing our fates in this country.

That's the difference between the two candidates. I can't stress this enough though... I never claimed to agree with John Kerry on all issues. I think it's impossible to agree with any politician 100%. But I felt very strongly that he would have been a better leader for this country, than George W.

And the issue of gay rights may seem like a trivial matter to some, but for some of us it has tantamount importance in our lives.

I am deeply disappointed that Bush won, and I'm angry that the country I have so much faith in once again put their faith in a man who's done little more than divide us.

In fact, I was so angry that he won... and the reasons why he won... that I didn't sleep at all last night, and was a miserable S.O.B. for the better part of today.

But I don't like living without hope... so I reminded myself that it's always darkest before the dawn, and I started hoping that this is as dark as things are going to get.
And, yeah, I imagine I'm desperately clinging to that right now.

I'm glad you don't think things are bleak. I honestly am. And I hope to have that feeling myself someday.

I understand where you're coming from, Ali, but I don't think it's unreasonable for people to want and need to express their disappointment right now.

Even for those of us trying to hold onto a glimmer of optimism, there's no way we can't help but be disappointed.
It's been a long, heated battle, that we, obviously, felt very strongly about. I don't think we can be expected to just say, "oh, we lost and you won -- no biggie."
It's not a card game or Hide-N-Seek. For many of us, the outcome of this election has the potential to deeply impact our lives. With an extreme conservative in the White House, and the GOP controlling a ruling majority in all branches of the government, there is the possiblity that laws will be made (and rights denied) which will effect many of us for years to come. Potentially forevermore.

I don't expect everyone to share my beliefs... but I guess I do expect people to be a little more compassionate towards me and people like me, since I extend that same compassion towards others.

I spent the whole year before the election being undecided. And I was kind of undecided yesterday, and now one day AFTER the elecetion I've finally come to the conclusion that I wish Kerry had one. The way he kicked Bush's ass in the election, just everythign about him, I'm going to miss him now, and before today I didn't realize this. It's a little late now, but this is weird.

Oh damnit - I just cannot resist - so here goes:

The assessment of the ballots in all of Florida clearly indicate W lost Florida last time, no matter how Gore chose to wage the struggle there. So, you are wrong on this point - if you know better - let's see the proof.

Open your eyes and look at some of the things that he's done that AREN'T so bad... Not that I'm saying the man is a genius or anything, and I agree he hasn't been the best President; but he has a very hard job, one I wouldn't want, and I think that he's done the best that any mortal human being can do. Maybe John Kerry WOULD be a better president... we have no way of knowing now. I'm just asking that all of you, rather than miserably "suffering" through the next four years, try to look at Bush in a more positive light. He's done some pretty good things; he took an evil dictator out of power (even if it was for his own, selfish and bad reasons. Read some things by the philosopher Hallie some day and you'll begin to understand that sometimes we have to look at the product, not the means, to judge a person)[/QUOTE]

I guess the parents of the American sons and daughters that were killed can take comfort in that - not to mention the tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi's we slaughtered in our mistaken process. I am sure you would take comfort in W's retro fit reasoning if your son or daughter died fighting in a war we did not have to fight, esp. when W swore he would go to war only as a last resort and only if the US was in immediate danger, both of which were not met.

Exactly how has W done this? And - if he has, how has it not made it more difficult for a one abortion kind of girl to get one. What makes the second one more difficult than the first. I must have missed that legislation. Som again, I submit you are flat out wrong here and look forward to seeing the facts you come up with to support this tripe.

What program is this? I have not heard of a federal program that allows for this. But, I do not know everything (contrary to my own high opinion of myself :laugh: ) BUT, if he did do this, great - it is a feather in his hat. But, I am interested to know exactly what Federal program you are referring to.

Because Clinton's lying and obstruction, while bad and certainly not overlooked by me, never killed anyone much less 1,000's of our soldiers, it never screwed the education system, economy, and environment. That is why.

The reason why is that your rights as presumably a white straight Christian male are not in danger. If you are that, then you are W's dream consituent. So, go ahead and vote for him and worship at his alter while listening to his lies. Just do not expect others to agree with you when they are being trampled upon in the name of W and therefore in his eyes the name of God.

Finally, I cannot believe you even thought anyone could talk about this on any rationale level after Kerry's defeat this morning. I think you posted this to bait people. But, I am not inside your head, etc. So, I guess you did not, but it is awfully suspect :shrug:

AHHHHHH how can you compare lying about Oral Sex to how Bush lied. Sorry larg but that is an awful argument. Clinton could've ****ed Monica and her chinese stepmother all the while Al Gore was videotapping and seriously WHO CARES, it has nothing to do with us! :laugh:

I disagree here with you Strand. I definitely don;t think LArg would do that from his lengthy posting history at the Legacy :nod:


And lastly Strand, where was all this Ant-Bush Super Pro Kerry attitude during the whole campaighn. You always seem to really to go either way, and now you seem madder then Dissention/

As always, well said, Johnny.

I would like to add that I'm a little tired of people accusing those of us who don't support Bush of whining because "our guy lost". It's so much more than that. Many of us are scared to death about Bush's cavilier agenda and what it will mean for us regular people.

Even Republican larg said:
" Not that I'm saying the man is a genius or anything, and I agree he hasn't been the best President"
"Maybe John Kerry WOULD be a better president"
"he took an evil dictator out of power (even if it was for his own, selfish and bad reasons"

When did this become acceptable in a president? Why do we gleefully accept so little from Bush?

And Clinton's lie didn't callously disregard the lives of thousands of people...

And as thoughtful as your post is larg, that is decidedly NOT what Bush presents. He moves forward with a "Screw y'all" attitude, talking like a schoolyard bully, not like I IMAGINE the leader of the free world should.

I've given Bush chances...I waited for some great FDR-like words to come from him after 9/11. Didn't happen. All we got was some spagetti-western dialog.

After the WMD debacle I wanted some acknowledgment that mistakes were made, maybe some assurance it wouldn't happen again, even a "I know this isn't the way we wanted it, but we're still doing the right thing," kind of attitude. But he didn't he shifted the focus like a child caught in a lie.

This isn't a game to most of us. This isn't a contest. This is all too real.

I tend to base all judgements on facts. Many do not and instead just blast away in a blindly partisan manner. But and in any event, I have never been an ardent Bush supporter and have been very vocal about W's lies and the horrible nature of his administration.

I think I think too much for people :laugh: - who like a two second pithy soundbyte as opposed to analysis of any kind. For instance, although I voted for him twice and voted for Gore and Kerry, I think Clinton should have been impeached because he clearly and in a calculated manner used Fed. Govt. resources to obstruct justice in the cover up of his affair and I could care a less about his affair. Well, that point of view infuriates D's to no length because they cannot ever allow anything bad to be said about Clinton - ever. Same for the war in Iraq. I think after 9/11 and even though SH had nothing to do with 9/11, W was correct to pursue the threat of SH having WMD - the possibility was too great to risk. Where I object to W is when he lied about the nukes and the links between SH and OBL to sell a war he otherwise could not sell (Powell's speech to the UN was ineffective). People see that as me supporting W, which I am not. I think his lying to go to war, our getting there without a plan to win the peace, and the US having no exit strategy are horrible. Yet, D's see me as giving W credit and that can never happen with this scorched earth policy.

In the end - I just do not tow that or any other party line when the facts do not support it. Thus, I think people percieve me as flip flopping :eek: But, I re-read a bunch of my poltical posts earlier and I have not been pro Bush and anti-Kerry. I hope that helps.

And - Adam R. - I apologize if I miscontrued your intent.

Sorry, but that is a lot to ask. Bush is NOT my president and will NEVER have my support. Period.

Consitutional Amendment banning gay marriages ring a bell? At least with Kerry we had some hope. With Bush in power, there is NO chance.

I totally agree with you on that. And found your post to be very thoughtful. :)

Technically, neither was Bush the first time. :sorry:

In all honesty, I think the problem with this country is religion (and you know the one I'm talking about.) Check this out.

Moony

Film at 11. Look for the crawl on CNN. :laugh:

Not too sure about that. We'll see. I support the United States as well.

You do your thing and I'll do mine. Mine is to see that I can help in any way possible from him doing any further damage to this country.

Meh. Go drink your Kool Aid.
EDITED TO ADD: Saddam Hussein was elected. Go take some of that college money Bush gave you and study it. Don't even think about trying to write or pm me an unsolicited letter.

Too drunk/high/Valley Of The Dolls to...well, you know.

Amen. I don't care what the giggling murderer said today, I'm not about to forgo my principles and start acting like some flag waving automatron.

Preach it! :nod:

I am stunned you just typed that. :shocked:

Thank you for saying so eloquently what I no longer have the patience to today.