[Rhodes22-list] Politics

[Ronald Lipton]

Why wait 4 years to say "I told you so".  This president has been a
complete disaster and the fact that he is even in the race is a sad
comment on the judgement of the American people and the efficiency
of the PR machine.  He has:

- Invaded a country for reasons that were just wrong, despite protests of
  many of our friends and allies.  Defended that invasion for a different
 set of reasons and has stuck our country with a problem that will linger
for
 decades.  There are a whole lot more people with strong personal reasons
 to hate the US and will be willing to resort to terrorism to get their
revenge.

- Before the war there were MANY warnings about the lack of planning for
  the "peace".  Clearly the administration did not have a realistic plan,
misjudged
  the situation that has ensued, and is at a loss for an effective response.

- We went from a substantial surplus to a record deficit.  Not all GB's
fault but the
  tax cut, weighted toward the higher income folks, is a major contribution.
The
  combination of this and the huge trade deficit is a problem that our
children and
  grandchildren will be dealing with.

- He has consistantly made decisions on policy matters based on conservative
  doctrine rather than rational policy.  The recent protest by Nobel Prize
winners
  cites detailed instances where decisions and appointments, previously
based on
  scientific advice and reputation are now based on politics.

- He has instituted an education policy based on testing which many
districts have
  found so restricting that they have forfeit federal dollars rather than
participate.
  Much of this is based on the Houston(?) program which whose success has
turned
  out to be based on fraudulent reporting.

- Are arrogent unilateral policies (the war, global warming, world court)
have
  alienated our friends.  The world and it's problems are increasingly
intertwined
  the "go it alone" policy won't work.

The country has real problems. Terrorism is one (I personnally think that we
were
in greater danger in the cold war with hundreds of millions of lives
balanced on a
hair trigger - but somehow people got used to it and it doesn't seem so
bad).
The loss of manufacturing and, more seriously, the loss of associated
infrastructure that will allow innovation (I have had to buy most high tech
parts
from Europe or Japan) is an issue which we will have to face sooner rather
than
later.  W has not really faced these issues, Kerry may not succeed with them
either
but I would like to see someone leading this country who will make rational
judgements
based on unbiased thought and analysis.

Ron Lipton
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "stan" <stan at rhodes22.com>
To: <sifood at austin.rr.com>; "The Rhodes 22 mail list"
<rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 11:24 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Mohammed, Prophet of Doom


> Thanks Mike,
>
> We share the same logic:  The only reason I am voting for Kerry is I do
not
> like the other guy.  Actually Bush is not that bad.  He is reported as
> saying to his bosses that he thought a tax cut tilted to the high end was
> not right, but he is not in control.  Of the two, Kerry is the finer guy.
> You are being brain washed by flip flop propaganda when Bush really wins
> that one by far - even down to flip flopping on the 9-11 commission's
birth.
> You might want to catch the NOVA presentation that covers them both
> simultaneously from Yale on, I think tonight on Public TV.  Anyway, I'll
> defend your right to vote for Bush.  (But if he squeaks in, 4 years from
now
> I don't want to hear you complaining without putting up with my saying I
> told you so.)
>
> stan/gbi
>
> ---- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mike Abdullah" <sifood at austin.rr.com>
> To: "stan" <stan at rhodes22.com>; "The Rhodes 22 mail list"
> <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 11:35 AM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Mohammed, Prophet of Doom
>
>
> > Mr Arab here.
> >
> > Thanks Stan you made me think (and it hurts ;-))!  The Saudis are the
> > villians! I spent years in Mecca and Medina (cities with no infidels
> > allowed) installing telephone equipment. The only reason that they did
not
> > kill me for my opinions was that they thought I was a stupid American
> > muslim that did not know the real (their fake) Islam. Plus they were to
> > dumb to put in telephones themselves ;-)! Actually, the common/normal
> > people are normal just like any other group - but they are trapped in a
> > system that does not allow them to express and exchange ideas. When I
> > would point out that the  Book of Islam (Koran) supports Isreal they
would
> > have a fit and run to their Holy Book and then try to re translate it
and
> > make justifications. Quite funny but dangerous for me, luckly (being
from
> > the south) I know how to play dumb just like Bush does.
> >
> > Only reason I'm voting for Bush is because I'm anti Kerry. I just don't
> > like the man. If  Liberman or some other sensible Democrat was running
> > then I'd vote democrate, maybe.
> >
> > Happy Sails,
> > Mike Abdullah
> >
> >
>
> __________________________________________________
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