Soaps.com - MESSAGE BOARDS

I know Noonan has been critical of Reagan. Conservatives criticize other conservatives all the time...I still read Noonan even though I don't agree with everything she says, & I liked the quote about when life begins. I read Pat Buchanan too...& I disagree with him a lot.

So I guess Noonan is not a liar when she criticizes Reagan?

Thanks for the props EJ. I didn't think that you were addressing me, but I wanted to make sure.

As far as your above post (or last post - I am not quoting to same space) that is the crux of the issue - whether we believe Bush or not. I (go figure ) think that he knew exactly what he was doing. Colin Powell even came out publicly and said that Bush was wrong to go to war. Other members of his cabinet have come out and said that bush wanted it to be Iraq. No one wants to think that someone would do that, but government is corrupt. And both political parties are so tied with special interest groups that they are owned by them. The Bush family is friends with Bin Laden's family. He flew them out of the country after the attack during the no fly situation. Oil is as much of a reason than anything else. With the hold that the automotive companies and the oil companies have over the republican party, it wouldn't surprise me.

You mention intelligence....the funny thing is that we are so understaffed (if that is even the right word) in terms of intellegence officers placed in covert positions that any information that we get is minimal. Plus, when we have our president "outing" our undercover agents as a revenge act, it doesn't help matters. We cut and cut budgets (both parties) until we don't have anything left in the coffers. We outsource everything possible, yet the pentagon spends thousands on a flippin hammer. (I know, old example but the sentiment is still the same) We talk about a global economy, but where is the benefit to us? Sure we can buy cheaper tv's but no one has a job to afford one. We are a nation of constant contridiction (and I love that I have the right to say what I think and feel unlike other countries)...We allow guns (fine) but don't require a permit prove you know how to use it. We have restrictions on buying guns, but you can walk out with one at a gun show or a garage sale. We go to war, but we don't give our troops the proper gear to give them their best shot (no pun intended) at safety. Outsourcing (and yes, I know that was Clinton) shmoutscourcing. I say let's outsource the government, we might get more done.

I had hopes for Bush, I really did, when I saw him give that speech at the collapsed twin towers. The one where he said "I hear you and the entire country hears you" that impromptu speech made me hope. But then I watch what happens next and I weep. I don't think Bush enjoys war. I don't think he enjoys this part of the job. But I also don't think that he cares enough to stop. I also think that political office should be like jury duty. One day, you go to your mailbox and see a letter that says "you are expected to start your term as county commissioner on 11/14...Kidding...kinda.

The Reagan thing, We aren't ever going to agree on that. I can tell you what I witnessed. I will never think that man was great. Well, he gave great speeches, but that is about it.

Iraq? I put alot of blame on Cheney. Rational or not, I do!

AIDS & Reagan era? Have you read or seen "And the Band Played On?"

That's all I got. I got too riled up about the abortion issue. I'm going to soap land now!

i know i haven't posted in a while, hard to compete with some of you that are so bright and know a lot more about history and other things, however i do know what is important to me, i want to vote for a president on the issues, not how many houses they own, how much money they have etc.
as far as abortion, i don't think that should even be a consideration, that is between a woman, her doctor, the gov't has no business being in our bedrooms, i am interested in HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, JOBS, GETTING OUT OF IRAQ AND NOT GOING TO WAR WITH ANYONE ELSE UNNECESSARILY, voters talk about experience, bush had experience and look where we are now, mccain a war veteran, a brave man, but how much experience does he actually have? obama is smart enough to surround himself with good people and i have more faith in him than mccain F Y I there is an e mail going around that obama is not a citizen so therefore he cannot run, well i checked it out on my favorite, www.snopes.com and guess what? it is false, looks like the mccain camp is worried

Hey cats! Margo and EJ have tons of facts. I just have tons of opinions. LOL Trust me, sometimes I feel like an idiot when it comes to exchanging facts. I do agree though, what really matters to most people is what happens in their lives, their money, their jobs, their kids, their future. If we had to weigh the welfare of our family against any "peripheral" issue such as gay marriage, I think most people would would choose their family and let gays get married. Seriously, would you say "ehhh, I don't need a job, just stop those gays from getting married" LOL I don't think so.

There are issues that are important and then there are the issues that we care about but rank lower than others.

Catsmeow, we vote on what is important to us. I can't cite you alot of facts or stats either. I'm 65 years old and have been watching presidents since Eisenhower. I can't give you facts but I can give you experience. What was wonderful for one guy was the pits for another. We should all get as much information as we possibly can and then vote what we believe. It's what we can do and what we should be proud to do. And remember, if you don't vote you can't complain. A good reason to vote right there!!

Calliope, I used to say the same thing...you can't gripe if you don't vote. Now, I have changed my mind. I think I am voting by not voting. Or, I will vote off, or I will vote for everything but president. I still believe in politics in the local level, but not in the national arena.


So, my absence of a vote is a vote that I am disgusted.

EJ - I totally understand where people are coming from about how Hillary was treated.

I don't think that the journalists had a love affair with the Clinton's. Look at how they were treated from everything from whitewater to cigars to what is "is" to what health care should be. The journalists were up in business over the impeachment hearings and the Starr report (talk about a waste of money!). Actually, I kinda think Bush keeps the press in a pretty tight reign. Bush says don't show the caskets of the women and men who died coming off the planes, and the press doesn't show it. I wasn't alive enough to remember VietNam, but I have seen the photos of the masses of caskets that were unloaded from planes. That is just one example, there are more. But in all honesty, since I have decided to not vote, I haven't been paying much attention. I can't watch MSNBC or CNN (let alone FOX LMAO) without getting so angry and bitter. Not good for me, so I leave it alone.

Plot - You could do a write-in vote for Hillary. I doubt you'd be the only one doing that. I said before he got the nomination that there was no way I'd vote for McCain. I still don't think I will, but I will vote for someone. I think the Republican selection of McCain, along with the fight for the Dem. nomination, shows a lot of irritated people on all sides of the political spectrum. Republicans didn't want McCain 8 years ago, & I don't see what is different now excpet that no one stepped up to the plate & got people excited, & so McCain is like a default.

Obama does excite people for sure, but it is almost as if this is happening too soon for him - this was Hillary's election, & she, along with her supporters, is still in shock that she won't be the one giving a speech this Thursday night.

hey EJ, i guess i didn't make myself clear, what i meant to say was obama will surround himself with good people, biden being the first step altho i was hoping he would pick hillary, anyway i got the e mail about obama from a born again friend of mine, i am sure she was trying to be helpful, we are so different but so close, and i know how age sometimes gets into this thread so i have to tell you, she is 32 and i am 57, i am curious would you have voted for hillary?
i do need to apologize to you, i really have no idea who is responsible for that e mail, i just assumed