Also, I know that the military vote traditionally breaks Republican. But I wonder how long that will last. Republicans threw our soldiers into harm's way without knowing what we were getting into or how to get out. Not to mention the way they've just decimated veteran's benefits -- taking money and medical care away from those who've served their country. There's only so long that people will keep voting against their interests.
It still broke Republican in 2004, but the margin narrowed. According to an after election poll (exit maybe? Done by CNN) I read (now this is going by memory here), the military voted 60-40 in Bush's favor. This year, I'm not so sure.
By the way, good post. I had no idea about that little bit of attempted fraud.
The Democrats in 2000 were happy to have absentee ballots from military personnel overseas counted -- when they arrived by the legal deadline. The overseas absentee ballots they were trying to "toss" were those that arrived *after* the deadline. (Oh, and Katharine Harris is learning that what goes around comes around. It's Karma.)
And there was plenty of evidence that the ones that arrived *after* the deadline were "arranged" by military personnel who encouraged voter fraud because the Florida election was so close. (Cable news at the time was showing videotape of an officer addressing a room full of soldiers and telling them that it was not too late, even though it was a couple days after the election.)
Also, I know that the military vote traditionally breaks Republican. But I wonder how long that will last. Republicans threw our soldiers into harm's way without knowing what we were getting into or how to get out. Not to mention the way they've just decimated veteran's benefits -- taking money and medical care away from those who've served their country. There's only so long that people will keep voting against their interests.
The largest federal aid convoy ever assembled should have been turned away because it arrived 2 days after Katrina hit N.O. The billions should've already been spent prior to hurricane season and that convoy should have been sitting at the gates of the city before Katrina even had a name is what should've happend.
............The 17th recount would've produced a Gore victory, right?
Please leave your wondering to yourself. Marines do not need your wondering involved in their decision making. Being a Marine is a career decision. Being a reservist is a calculated-risk. Signing up for the reserve hoping not to be sent to war is a gamble. Thinking 'you' will never be sent in intellectually dishonest. Military personnel do not need to be reminded that peolpe die as a result of warfare. Wars, as battles, are won and lost. Victory is never assured. But that is no factor of one's will to fight. That's part of Democrats problem. And it isn't shocking that that arrogant mindset encourages strong Republican turnout. Your interests aren't the American public's interests. Your interests do not sway public opinion and most certainly do not define American culture.
McCarthy was a villain, the Tet offensive was a vietcong victory and Saddam was just misunderstood. As long as people continue to believe that the country will continue to be severly polarized. Any guesses as to which party pushes these ideologies? Blaming Bush for polarization is silly. I believe the country was nearly as polarized the day after 9/11 as it is today. Show me the evidence that things were ever different. Pictures of Nancy Pelosi smiling alongside Tom Delay on the Capitol Hill steps on 9/12 will not be accepted.
"Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
The largest federal aid convoy ever assembled should have been turned away because it arrived 2 days after Katrina hit N.O. The billions should've already been spent prior to hurricane season and that convoy should have been sitting at the gates of the city before Katrina even had a name is what should've happend.
What the hell are you even talking about? I assume this is some sort of allegory, but I think you've missed the mark.
............The 17th recount would've produced a Gore victory, right?
What does this have to do with the military encouraging voter fraud in the immediate aftermath of the initial vote count in Florida? God, when you guys get backed into a corner, you change the subject.
Please leave your wondering to yourself. Marines do not need your wondering involved in their decision making. Being a Marine is a career decision. Being a reservist is a calculated-risk. Signing up for the reserve hoping not to be sent to war is a gamble. Thinking 'you' will never be sent in intellectually dishonest. Military personnel do not need to be reminded that peolpe die as a result of warfare. Wars, as battles, are won and lost. Victory is never assured. But that is no factor of one's will to fight. That's part of Democrats problem. And it isn't shocking that that arrogant mindset encourages strong Republican turnout. Your interests aren't the American public's interests. Your interests do not sway public opinion and most certainly do not define American culture.
First, your attitude towards reservists is disgusting. They are putting their lives on the line no less than the career officers and enlisted men. I feel nothing but sorry for the fact that they might actually find themselves under your command or serving with you given your appalling lack of respect for them and their sacrifices. And really, your willingness to impugn their will to fight is a scar on the uniform that I assume you wear. Maybe this is based on your own experiences? But I have heard many stories of reservists playing an important supporting role and exhibiting great courage while doing so. If the reservists you've been around aren't doing that, maybe it's a failure of leadership.
Second, your assumption that only the reservists are Democrats while the "true military" are Republicans needs fact checking. The bravest person I know -- the baby brother my mother never gave me -- made a career choice to enter the Army. He was guarding the convoys providing supplies in and out of Fallujah during the siege (suffering the same levels of casualties as the Marines but no one was talking about him and his men). He's NOT a Republican. In fact, my anger about the military operations in Iraq comes straight from him; he's my fact-checker. And he had alot of company among his fellow officers in being appalled by the Bush Administration and its slap-dash handling of this whole thing. (Oh, and he's the one who told me great things about reservists under his command.)
So is he not "really" military because he doesn't conform to your political views? Because he didn't drink your own brand of Kool-Aid?
Third, don't assume that because I'm anti-war, I'm also anti-military. Some of us with loved ones serving in the armed forces are driving ourselves crazy about the war out of fear for those we care about. I know -- he chose that life; he wanted to serve his country. And I couldn't be any prouder of him. Which is what makes me furious with Bush and how easy it was for him to pursue this action. So you can lose your patronizing, "you-don't-know-about-the-military" tone with me.
Finally, you're more than welcome to malign "my interests" as a Democrat. Here are some of "my interests" that you seem to find so repugnant and unAmerican:
-- Providing returning veterans with all the health benefits they need, including mental health treatment.
-- Paying our soldiers enough so that their families don't have to go on food stamps.
-- Making sure that soldiers and their families have adequate housing.
-- That crazy thing called the Powell Doctrine -- you know, objectives, exit strategies, planning, support of the American people and the international community. Or don't they tell you guys about it anymore?
"Things will just get better and better even though it
doesn't feel that way right now. That's the hopeful
idea . . . Hope didn't get much applause . . .
Hope! Hope is the underdog!"
ha! ... i'm unattached?? ... firstly, i have considered all your options but have you considered that someone might actually tamper with these machines in order to win? ... if you do not think that is possible - then maybe you should check your own reality ...
secondly ... ebizzie's post pretty much sums it up ... common sense would indicate that these polls however they are worded all say the same thing: discontent with this administration ...
that's interesting (actually it isn't.). you are assuming that each competitive congressional election will be decided as a referendum on george w. bush. and that's simply not the case. i understand it's difficult for many here to discuss politics without the cloud of george w bush hanging over them, but he is not the focal point of most americans, like is with you people.
my point about the polls is that they are of all adults. well, only 35% of these people vote in congressional elections, and republicans vote more than dems. so they are really meaningless in the aggregate, and even more meaningless when considering there are only about 40 races up for grabs.
as for being unattached from reality, seriously, you are believing these polls as solid gold, and have an excuse already ready if the Dems can't win the house. Seriously, where were you in Montana in 2002? I just think it's telling that your side has nothing to run on, no positives, it's all Bush, all the time, and if anyone supports him, they are either stupid or have been manipulated by the system. Seriously, take a step back, and you'll see how ridiculous it all sounds.
And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Comments
By the way, good post. I had no idea about that little bit of attempted fraud.
The largest federal aid convoy ever assembled should have been turned away because it arrived 2 days after Katrina hit N.O. The billions should've already been spent prior to hurricane season and that convoy should have been sitting at the gates of the city before Katrina even had a name is what should've happend.
............The 17th recount would've produced a Gore victory, right?
Please leave your wondering to yourself. Marines do not need your wondering involved in their decision making. Being a Marine is a career decision. Being a reservist is a calculated-risk. Signing up for the reserve hoping not to be sent to war is a gamble. Thinking 'you' will never be sent in intellectually dishonest. Military personnel do not need to be reminded that peolpe die as a result of warfare. Wars, as battles, are won and lost. Victory is never assured. But that is no factor of one's will to fight. That's part of Democrats problem. And it isn't shocking that that arrogant mindset encourages strong Republican turnout. Your interests aren't the American public's interests. Your interests do not sway public opinion and most certainly do not define American culture.
McCarthy was a villain, the Tet offensive was a vietcong victory and Saddam was just misunderstood. As long as people continue to believe that the country will continue to be severly polarized. Any guesses as to which party pushes these ideologies? Blaming Bush for polarization is silly. I believe the country was nearly as polarized the day after 9/11 as it is today. Show me the evidence that things were ever different. Pictures of Nancy Pelosi smiling alongside Tom Delay on the Capitol Hill steps on 9/12 will not be accepted.
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
Camden 5-28-06
Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
No, that was just a little story for the children. I prefer to get my bleeding hearts started young.
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
Camden 5-28-06
Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
What does this have to do with the military encouraging voter fraud in the immediate aftermath of the initial vote count in Florida? God, when you guys get backed into a corner, you change the subject.
First, your attitude towards reservists is disgusting. They are putting their lives on the line no less than the career officers and enlisted men. I feel nothing but sorry for the fact that they might actually find themselves under your command or serving with you given your appalling lack of respect for them and their sacrifices. And really, your willingness to impugn their will to fight is a scar on the uniform that I assume you wear. Maybe this is based on your own experiences? But I have heard many stories of reservists playing an important supporting role and exhibiting great courage while doing so. If the reservists you've been around aren't doing that, maybe it's a failure of leadership.
Second, your assumption that only the reservists are Democrats while the "true military" are Republicans needs fact checking. The bravest person I know -- the baby brother my mother never gave me -- made a career choice to enter the Army. He was guarding the convoys providing supplies in and out of Fallujah during the siege (suffering the same levels of casualties as the Marines but no one was talking about him and his men). He's NOT a Republican. In fact, my anger about the military operations in Iraq comes straight from him; he's my fact-checker. And he had alot of company among his fellow officers in being appalled by the Bush Administration and its slap-dash handling of this whole thing. (Oh, and he's the one who told me great things about reservists under his command.)
So is he not "really" military because he doesn't conform to your political views? Because he didn't drink your own brand of Kool-Aid?
Third, don't assume that because I'm anti-war, I'm also anti-military. Some of us with loved ones serving in the armed forces are driving ourselves crazy about the war out of fear for those we care about. I know -- he chose that life; he wanted to serve his country. And I couldn't be any prouder of him. Which is what makes me furious with Bush and how easy it was for him to pursue this action. So you can lose your patronizing, "you-don't-know-about-the-military" tone with me.
Finally, you're more than welcome to malign "my interests" as a Democrat. Here are some of "my interests" that you seem to find so repugnant and unAmerican:
-- Providing returning veterans with all the health benefits they need, including mental health treatment.
-- Paying our soldiers enough so that their families don't have to go on food stamps.
-- Making sure that soldiers and their families have adequate housing.
-- That crazy thing called the Powell Doctrine -- you know, objectives, exit strategies, planning, support of the American people and the international community. Or don't they tell you guys about it anymore?
doesn't feel that way right now. That's the hopeful
idea . . . Hope didn't get much applause . . .
Hope! Hope is the underdog!"
-- EV, Live at the Showbox
that's interesting (actually it isn't.). you are assuming that each competitive congressional election will be decided as a referendum on george w. bush. and that's simply not the case. i understand it's difficult for many here to discuss politics without the cloud of george w bush hanging over them, but he is not the focal point of most americans, like is with you people.
my point about the polls is that they are of all adults. well, only 35% of these people vote in congressional elections, and republicans vote more than dems. so they are really meaningless in the aggregate, and even more meaningless when considering there are only about 40 races up for grabs.
as for being unattached from reality, seriously, you are believing these polls as solid gold, and have an excuse already ready if the Dems can't win the house. Seriously, where were you in Montana in 2002? I just think it's telling that your side has nothing to run on, no positives, it's all Bush, all the time, and if anyone supports him, they are either stupid or have been manipulated by the system. Seriously, take a step back, and you'll see how ridiculous it all sounds.
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days