I need help with this question. I am writing a paer for my politcal science class and it is about the current election. I respect most of the opinions here and I would like everyone to help me. And for my RANT, why does engineering majors have to study general education crap? I just want the mechanical engeering degree and knowing the american government has nothing to do with it. Thanks in advance!!!

Man, its WAAAAAAY too early to answer that question!

So much can happen and most Americans aren't even ready to begin thinking of whom they will vote for.

As to your lament about education, be happy that we are not still on the classical model of education if you only want specificity in your education!

In the late 1700’s our higher education system changed toward the German style of specification in education. Before that we trained ALL students in Latin, Greek and the classics BEFORE they ever even GOT to a specific training program, in colleges and Universities.

If you hate general subjects NOW imagine if you had to still learn Greek and Latin before you learned engineering!


So, to sum up, I would LIKE Bush to win, but its too early to say. I will refrain from voting.

NOBODY! We all lose. :(

The election is Bush's to lose. If the economy keeps up steam and he is successful in the foriegn policy area he will probably win handily.

Right now polls and whatnot are meaningless. The only people paying close attention are people like us.

Most Americans have not been enlightened into who John Kerry really is.
I think once they get a glimpse into his voting record which is MORE liberal than Kennedy and is harmful to our national security, not to mention his repeated flip flops on important issues, that he will be another Dukakis and lose handily.

Of course, things can change rapidly but that is merely my prediction this far out.

It looks like Kerry will get the Democratic Nomination. Though I can't stand the guy (I prefer Kucinich or at least Howard Dean), anyone has to be better that the Shrub.

I predect it will be Kerry for Pres.

Originally posted by CCC
NOBODY! We all lose. :(

Bang-on!

prepare for mass dissatisfaction no matter who wins.

I suppose I prefer Kerry to Bush, so let's just say I think he'll win - I'm a hopeless optimist...

They're all the same. Doesn't matter.

Vote Different ! Vote Chtulluh !

http://www.chaosium.com/catalog/images/CHA0087.gif

Denis Kucinich :D

he's the man, no one else stands a chance agains thim.

Originally posted by CCC
NOBODY! We all lose. :(

I concur. It's just a matter of degree, really. How badly will we be ****ed, and will it be greater or lesser than it currently is?

Originally posted by Stage Monster
How badly will we be ****ed, and will it be greater or lesser than it currently is?

Vote Chtuluh, I say !, and be certain that it will be for the greater ****ing! :p

Oh my God I agree with Powerboss arrrrgh...It is Bush's election to lose. The economy and the war in Iraq will be two primary factors. If either improves it helps Bush but any further degradation and Kerry will benefit.

I would greatly prefer Edwards to Kerry tho but a Kerry/Edwards ticket would be very tough to beat all things being equal.

Edwards didn't run with the intention of winning, I don't think. I think he put himself in the race so he could figure out his game plan for an '08 run.

I'm gonna say Cthulhu would be good. Why settle for the lesser evil?

Originally posted by mike75
RANT, why does engineering majors have to study general education crap? I just want the mechanical engeering degree and knowing the american government has nothing to do with it.
- Be grateful for your education you spoiled, whiny, unreflected little dessert generation brat :P
¨
Ah, I love being old :D
Originally posted by ColWTH
So, to sum up, I would LIKE Bush to win, but its too early to say. I will refrain from voting.
- You should vote blank in stead. Makes more of a statement. If you can, that is....

Originally posted by Powerboss
The election is Bush's to lose. If the economy keeps up steam and he is successful in the foriegn policy area he will probably win handily.
- Maybe. But I get the impression that conservatives, at least the ones on this board(including you) are taking him less seriously. Could this be a year for 3rd parties?

Most Americans have not been enlightened into who John Kerry really is.
I think once they get a glimpse into his voting record which is MORE liberal than Kennedy and is harmful to our national security.
- Do enlighten me on what a "liberal voting record" is and how it's harmful to your national security. :hmm:

Originally posted by I don't know
- Maybe. But I get the impression that conservatives, at least the ones on this board(including you) are taking him less seriously. Could this be a year for 3rd parties?


Yep. Proud conservative here. Bush makes me shake my head, yet I don't want to see a Democrat back in control either. :nonono:

So while I really I don't want to vote for Bush, and I don't want Kerry either, but the game is rigged against 3rd parties so that we have no choice but to have either Bush or Kerry.

That's American politics for ya. Evil Party vs Stupid Party. Loser take all.

Originally posted by I don't know
- Do enlighten me on what a "liberal voting record" is and how it's harmful to your national security. :hmm:

They don't want to properly fund our armed forces, SDI, international intelligence, immigration, border patrol, yada yada yada. They'd rather use taxpayer funding on all sorts of socialized goodies that make us fat and dependent.

I am not Bush’s biggest fan. I wanted to vote for Ambassador Keyes for president in 2000!

However, the last good democrat president we had was Grover Cleveland! (Polk wasn’t too bad either, but there was not ONE other good democrat president in our history).

Kerry would be disastrous as president. he is a UNist and has repeatedly said that US soldiers should be placed solely under UN control. That in and of itself is dangerous but he also favors huge giveaway programs, the elimination of our intelligence gathering agencies, the reduction of our military, and higher taxes.

This man is a danger to our constitution and our country.

So, we are stuck with Bush. The lesser of two evils, I guess. And a far, far lesser evil he is!

The Republicans are screwed if the Democrats successfully portray them as the party of outsourcing and themselves as the party of protectionism. This is especially true when you look at the states where the election is going to be decided, states like Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin etc which have lost a ****load of manafacturing jobs. Keep in mind that Upper South states like North Carolina have also lost a ton of manafacturing jobs too. This is going to be a close race.

I would not be so confident with those regards, Vesp.
The Republican party serves the interests of the super rich yet operates within the framework of bourgeoise democracy. It needs a mass base in order to succeed. Last election cycle, Bush got far more working class votes than his policy proposals deserved. One of the strategies was the evasion of issues and the promotion of 'values' and for Bush it was about religion and guns. If this strategy can be employed with success this year as well, the economic realities of the working class might not play as significant a role as it should.

After all, Bush did say " start your engines" at the 500. The engines of the GOP's strategy to gain working class votes while maintaining policies in favor of the super rich have also started. It will be interesting to see who is at the finish line at the end of the race

I have considered that myself but I am confident that his circumstances have changed. For starters, Bush is now the incumbent. He has been president for almost four years now so he cannot simply run as an outsider like he did before. Millions of manafacturing jobs have been lost on his watch in the key states that will decide the election. Even if Bush were able to add millions of new jobs by November, by some miracle, they would almost certainly be low-wage service jobs.

Its true that Bush is picking up more and more "working class" votes. There are many reasons for this. Foremost amongst them, white males are leaving the Democratic Party. I don't really blame them for this either. The Democratic Party is obviously anti-white and anti-male. Bush has to a large extent neutralized this though by caving in on affirmative action, multiculturalism, amnesty for illegal aliens and so forth. His own supporters do not really seem that enthusiastic about him whereas the Democrats are ecstatic at the prospect of defeating him. Just listen to the people who post on this forum. They don't like Kerry but really aren't that fond of Bush either. The gunowners are not really that happy with Bush either. I think a lot of these people will simply sit out this time.

Religion is definately a strategy once more. Bush's stance on gay marriages is definately part of that paradigm. Furthermore, to restate what I have said, one need only look at the state of the union address. The seriousness of that address was used to pontificate 'values' much more so than necessary. The mentions of sports and steriods is a prime example of this.

I agree with you that this time around is definately different. GWB has dipped in approval ratings over time. I am a cynic however. With the RNC being held in New York this year I expect full exploitation of the 'patriotism' that bolstered Bush's favorable ratings years ago. With that new angle this time around, coupled with the old GOP strategy, I think it is highly possible for GWB to get re-elected. Lastly, he has broken his own fund raising records. Money counts. With all these factors in play, I see a real good chance for GWB's re-election.

Diebold

One of the main concerns I have is what I perceive as Bush's waffling and pandering.

Just this morning I read where Bush is wanting UN to get involved in Iraq turnover deal after months of essentially saying UN keep away.

The administration is backing down on their 'job creation ' estimates.

He is wiffleing on the gay marriage issue.

He speaks one way and then does not follow thru.( I hope that is true for his immigration plan)

Will he veto the Highway Bill? He said he would if it included new taxes or increase?

He stated in the Meet the Press interview that he is the war president. I'll give him that.

I suppose this is all part of the politics game.

I have concerns about Kerry too. I question some of his votes on defense spending.

But he's a democrat so you basically know what you are getting when it comes to social issues.

Wish we could get a centrist type - balancing the good from each ideology. Bush I guess is trying but he does not come across as 'real' to me.-at least not in his performance.

Bush just admitted the other day the economy will not as good as he said it would be.

Presdient Kerry does have a nice ring to it.:D