Ideas you look for in 08 Elections
 

Was wondering what people are going to be looking for as far as main points in the upcoming 08 elections, such as tax reform, tort reform, research spending etc. I’m looking for more off the norm topics people would choose to elect a person on and not the mainstream (ie Iraq war).

Also curious if you think the running has started to soon and maybe should be put it off to the proper time (in about a year). Do you think that all these people presently campaigning is distracting us from current events?

AS my commander and chief is who he is, I'll be happy when it's over. Right now, just about anyone is sounding pretty good.

To say you want a political discussion about the upcoming presidency and then qualify that statement by saying 'oh yeah, no discussion about the war' is quite daft, considering its the biggest topic on everyones mind.

Even if you could fine a candidate who has the exact values you want, his (or her) opinion on the war will be the deciding factor in the campaign. They could promise free health care and a free XBOX 360 to every home in America, but if they are pro-war, they won't get any votes.

Besides - how is one going to pay for anything else when 3 billion a week is going to an unpopular war? It's hard to look past that to other issues, issues which require funding, when so much money is being pissed away there. Any discussion of health care reform, social security reform, etc. is all just lip service without funding - and with all funds going to feed the war machine, other topics aren't even worth discussing until those monetary avenues are freed up so other ideas and changes can occur.

Oh, you're the spokesman for, "everyone," now? That's really cute that you think so. No, you're right though. No one cares about wages, medicare, social security, gas prices, or anything else that affects them on a daily basis. Nope. Americans all just sit around thinking about Iraq all day. "Hmmm... I'll continue to live without Medicare and pay sky-high taxes cause I don't like the way so-and-so talks about Iraq."

Awww... Sorry though that you can't turn the topic back onto Iraq in this thread. You'll just have to continue posting about the war in one of your other 78 threads. Wait, did I say one? I mean all of them. It doen't matter what the topic actually is; Antarctica, extraterrestrial life, cloning, Staturn, harsh child pornography laws, Native American Casinos... it's all logically tied in with Iraq.

I doubt I'll get what I want with the upcoming elections, but I would wish for gay marriage to become a possibility, an exit plan of that war (isn't Iraq supposed to be a democracy already?), and an end to the welfare system as we know it.

An end to welfare would be great. I heard the end of a "on the street: program on radio asking people about who's who in politics and what they would be voting for. Pretty much most of them didn't even know who the vp was. And even scarrier was the one topic voters,

Scary? So you want to choose a person who's good at A, but horrible at B,C,D.

So they would do great on Trade but run you into the ground on taxes.

It's like an auto mechanic that can only do oil changes. Doesn't do anygood if you need tires and starter. Or for those mechanically challenged, Like a chef who can only make burgers and works for a five star hotel.

I mean there's immigration, simplification of the bureacracy upgrading of infrastructure.

And because of the early start, and probably lack of popularity, the guy from Iowa dropped out a few days ago.

My view is so far I've been hearing snappy one liners and bashing of the present admin but not any really good people pushing past the anger and rhetoric.

I'll probably vote for whoever represents smaller gov't.

But if this election provides the same quailty of canidates that the last 2 have, I'm writing in Colin Powell.

Powell is still a pimp in my book.

Probably the best you'll see in the next decade are candidates who support a state-by-state basis of recognizing gay marriage or civil unions. Any presidential run with a platform of nationalizing recognition of gay marriage would guarentee the loss of many states and I'm quite sure the election as well. America isn't ready for it yet.

Domestically, I'd like to see more clean-ups with nonsensical items like pork barrel spending. I'd like to see a fence go up along the Mexican border as long as a guest-worker program is worked out. I really don't want to see the US joining the International Criminal Court or ratifying the Kyoto treaty. The ICC is as politically charged and motivated as the UN and Kyoto doesn't have the conclusive evidence to risk ruining the economy with.

Obama is totally out in regards to gaining my vote. He doesn't support the NAFTA and his energy policies make absolutely no sense. His lack of experience isn't a perk in my eyes and I'll admit the insane media attention he's attracted has alienated me.

If the primaries were held tomorrow though, I'd probably end up voting for Giuliani. But we have another year to go and there may be some interesting turns that the candidacies take.

Actually, Collin Powell would be an interesting candidate - though I don't know where stands on alot of domestic issues, he's certainly a tried-and-true kind of guy.

I hope at some point in the future Arnold Schwarzenegger is able to run for President. He'd be great to have in the White House.

Definitely gay marriage will not be an issue much discussed in elections; but if a Democrat president wins, and a Congress populated with democrats now, the reality of gay marriages is so close one can almost taste the hors d'ouvre set around the naked ice-sculptures. =p

Oh, and about this:
I could not agree less.XD
Most of America believes the government is not doing much in the border (and it definitely is not doing enough) but they do try some 'methods' of better security that are not only ineffective but highly annoying.
Every time there's hot talk about the Mexican border, they begin a small Inquisition in every car that passes through the bridges to demand documentation.
I suppose that could subjectively be right in some cases, but it's annoying that the more Mexican you look, the more likely your vehicle is going to be searched, regardless of whether you're an American citizen or not.
I've been late to school many times because of that, and any other increase in 'border security' will only increase the time in the road for us people that live in a bi-national metropolis.

I don't mean to pry, Jillian, but why do you commute across the border for highschool? That just sounds like such an obvious bitch of a trip back and forth all the time.

Education in Mexico is much better until high school, but colleges are overall better in America, especially z3h bIg 0nnz, like MIT and Rice University.
I entered High School in El Paso for all those SAT, and good transcripts and recommendation letters, and all that jazz.
It was worth it. I would never have won any scholarship staying in Mexico, as we have no SAT or anything.

That makes sense, but Oy what a headache that's gotta be. o_O

Well, I do have to get up at six when I enter at eight, but the part that I really hate is that I can't drive myself to school because the highway makes me sleepy. :p

Yes, Powell would have been. Alas, that boat has sailed. I get sad all over again every time I think of it.

I like the ol' govenator, but a U.S president with an Austrian accent? He'd have to single handedly haul in Bin Laden over one shoulder, firing from the hip just like in his movies to work a constitutional amendment based on awesomeness.

I think he's a good face to give character to the GOP right where he is.

I'm not very well-informed on the matter, but I'd like to see Giuliani run for the Republicans. Furthermore, I would rather pop each of my ribs off using a spoon as a lever than see Mrs. Clinton sworn into office.

Powel's been my fav for awhile. I think he's shown some good smarts and such. ALthough I think Condi should win. She's a great no nonsense speaker with lots of booksmarts. Of course we could clone Regan and pull a futurama.... lol

Mitt Sounds good but don't know enough yet. Giulani sounds the best for reps right now. All the dems sounds so angry and the only one that seems the best is Barrak, but he's got no record and he's to green.

I also think I would vote for a person who's for small govt and stream lining things. I don't think it's enough to just cut out programs or not just creat them. We need to be able to go into all areas and see what fat and paperwork can be trimmed. We'd save trillions prolly.

Also where's the centrists? We have left, right and even a little middle but no true centrists. Even though Clinton part deux is playing the card like her hubby.

As for the border thing we need to have strong borders on both sides. Not because imigration but for safety, No one ever talks about the animal smuggling and diseases that can and have been brought over. To solve the mexican ilegal problem Mexico needs to improve it's economy. We need to help by sending over agg teams and financial people and some money, but more on the other help and not financial side. That old saying about give a man a fish he eats for day, teach him to fish and he eats for life.

I also got a big hassle going into mexico on my motorcycle, aparently it's ok to bring anyhting in you want from south of the border as long as you don't bring it in from the states...lol I didn't even get a nod comming back.....

Dude, the *only* politicians in American politics are lukewarm centrists. Can you seriously imagine someone running for office and saying that he was a socialist, or a laissez faire capitalist?

Drake

My eyes mist over at the very thought.

My dad is this huge hippie, so when I want to threaten him, I tell him I'm getting a tattoo on my arm of a heart with an arrow through it, with Reagan's name.

Ha Ha!!! My parents pretty much share my view of politics.. although i do become a little more excited over it than them.

And yes although most poli's run as sort of centrists once they get into office you see their true colors.. so.. you just try and hope you pick the most honest one....

Futuramas hillarious.. I love the one where nixon steals benders body.. actually he buys it at a pawn shop....lol

And my favorite bender qoutes "Oh your god!" and "Bite my shiney metal ass!"

I want more political parties so I don't have to sacrafice one thing I want to get another. I also want improved rights for people with mental handicaps and to kill research out there that is looking for a way to kill autism.

Autism is fascinating. Although curing most kinds of it would be good. I've known several people with it and they have suffered horribly for long times between treatments and such. Autism should be studied as it is a great insight into certain mathematical genius like processes.

People should also know there are many types of autism and recently has been shown a genetic link to getting it. Which means that the scare campaign to blame chemicals and hospitals is pretty much shot out of the water.