RoR: Forum

Well at the 23 vote mark, no majority yet.

Gary Nolan has 48%

followed up in second by "No to all" at 22% beating out bush, kerry and nader.

Post 1

Monday, April 12, 2004 - 3:15am

I went with "Third party": Me.

: P

Post 2

Monday, April 12, 2004 - 10:24pm

Another 4 years of Ashcroft and America will be a Taliban-style theocracy. I shall hold my nose and vote for Kerry, this being the only way to do my utmost to get rid of Ashcroft. And of course keep my passport up to date, just in case Bush-Ashcroft win.

Post 3

Monday, April 12, 2004 - 11:59pm

Well Adam, To me its kind of a pick the government you would rather overthrow someday.

Bush and Friends: Might build a theocracy

Kerry and Friends: Might build a stronger American Fascist state in league with the EU's

I favored having to overthrow the Theocracy personaly. Reminds me of Robert A. Heinlein, Revolt in 2100

Eric

Post 4

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 9:48am

Adam:

You wrote:

Another 4 years of Ashcroft and America will be a Taliban-style theocracy. I shall hold my nose and vote for Kerry, this being the only way to do my utmost to get rid of Ashcroft. And of course keep my passport up to date, just in case Bush-Ashcroft win.

I'm no big fan of the Bush Administration, but I have to say that I am at a loss as to how Attorney General Ashcroft will be converting the United States into a "Taliban-style theocracy" by 2009.

For one thing, it would be extraordinary if Ashcroft even remains Attorney General for long if Bush is re-elected. The average tenure of an Attorney General is less than four years. Reno clinging to that office for eight long years under Clinton was unusual and is not likely to be repeated.

Another thing, where's the evidence of a such revolution in the works, let alone one led by the Justice Department? If anything, Ashcroft has re-professionalized the DOJ after Reno's politicization of it. Professionalism does tend to counter ideology in a bureaucracy, so I don't see how DOJ will be in the vanguard of a theocratic subversion of this country.

Is it Ashcroft's enforcement of the Patriot Act that worries you? Is not the remarkable thing how restrained the Patriot Act is light of the incineration of three thousand of fellow citizens by cabal of religious zealots? Moreover, what does the Patriot Act permit that law enforcement could not previously do under a court-ordered warrant? Not much. In any event the Patriot Act has a sunset provision and will evaporate as law soon enough.

Of course, maybe you are just resorting to hyperbole to make a point. If so, what is that point? If a theocratic revolution isn't a genuine concern if Bush is re-elected, then what is? Why would Kerry's pursuit of those policies we KNOW are destructive of the free market and our sovereignty be less of a threat to our liberties than Chicken Little paranoias of a Taliban takeover?

Regards,
Bill a.k.a. Citizen Rat

Post 5

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 - 1:43pm

A different reason for voting one way or another would be based on how easy it is to undo the damage a person is likely to do. For instance, economic programs are difficult to get rid of because they steal from one group and give to another. That means you have a bunch of people who will lose if you eventually try to take it back. So once accepted, they're difficult to get rid of.

Laws telling people what they can do in the bedroom seem like they're easier to fix, since there is no direct beneficiary. These are the laws that Republicans love so much. And even if the laws aren't removed, they may not be enforced under a new administration.

I have no idea if this distinction matters in practice. Are social restrictions easier to get rid of, as opposed to economic laws? We got rid of the first prohibition, but never got rid of the income tax. It'd be interesting to have an historic comparison.

It also doesn't matter much because Republicans spend like mad whenever they're in office. Also, democrats are just as likely to plunge us into a theocracy, but their god is "Mother Earth". Neither sounds very appealing.

Post 6

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 1:49am

As an outsider looking on at your election, I must say I couldn't vote for Kerry under any circumstances - his blatant phoniness churns my stomach. As Bush said, "My opponent does have strong convictions. It's just that he doesn't hold them for very long."

Is the Libertarian Party running with Browne again? (I hope not!)

Who is the Nolan in the poll here?

Linz

Post 7

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 2:34am

Is the Libertarian Party running with Browne again? (I hope not!)

Who is the Nolan in the poll here?

Nolan is an LP candidate - I'm not sure if he has the nomination yet. I don't think Browne ran at all this time.

MH

Post 8

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 10:48am

I had a look at his site and am not inspired. He's another Browne- "we really can be big" - type that is also against the US-led intervention in Iraq. Wishy washy consultant-type as far as I can tell (but hey, I'm only judging him on HIS website!).

Post 9

Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 12:13am

Thanks to some public information laws we now have this fun site to play with...

Take a look at your city on the map or look up to see if your neighbor has donated to a political candidate. Perhaps you can find your local politicans or business men and see who they might be voting for...

http://www.fundrace.org/

You can also do a search on this sites sister site to see which candidate win's the word associate race.

http://www.googlerace.com/

Al Sharpton for example had the most associations for the word 'asshole'
George Bush for example had the most associations for the word 'socialist'
Howard Dean for example had the most associations for the word 'porn king'

You too can join in the fun of word association and psuedo spying on your neighbors.

Regards,

Eric J. Tower

Post 10

Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 3:27pm

And I quote:

================================
"Al Sharpton wins the 'OBJECTIVISM' award"
================================

(Edited by Rodney Rawlings on 4/15, 3:29pm)

Post 11

Friday, April 16, 2004 - 7:36am

If there was a "None of the Above" option, I'd choose it. Since there isn't, I'll settle for Nolan, or whomever gets the LP nomination. I want out, but there's nowhere to go.

Post 12

Friday, April 16, 2004 - 10:50am

There is a 'none of the above' on this one.

"No to all candidates" It has 29% right now.

There is no 'none of the above' in the real election unfotunatly

eric

Post 13

Friday, April 16, 2004 - 1:15pm

Eric, you said, "There is no 'none of the above' in the real election unfotunatly". That's exactly what I was bitching about. I guess I wasn't explicit enough. Sorry.

Post 14

Friday, April 16, 2004 - 8:44am

I vote for the GOP. At least with the GOP it will take longer for the US to become a European-style socialist state. By that time I'll be dead and I won't care. With the Democrats we'll be a socialist state by the time I'm in my 40s or 50s.

Post 15

Friday, June 18, 2004 - 7:31pm