My Thoughts On The Next Four Years

[Johnny Stew]

"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.

[strandinthewind]

{{{HUGS}}}

to you Bri

[The Tower]

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.

[gldstwmn]

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.

[ontheEdgeof17]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

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.

[MikeVielhaber]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

"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.

hey well said

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

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.

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.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

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.

We must hang on to our republic.

[ShangriLaTroubl]

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

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

We must hang on to our republic.

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

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

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.

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.

[amber]

Originally Posted by The Tower

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.

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

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by MikeVielhaber

hey well said

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

[larg]

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.

[ShangriLaTroubl]

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