Politics...

OK...in a nice, mature manner...lets discuss politics (PLEASE no name calling...no bashing...and no song singing)

I truly believe that we are mature women and that we can civilly discuss and disagree politics...

I'll start...

I have posted before that I am a centrist...and like others have mentioned I look at each issue and weigh the facts and come up with an opinion regardless of partylines...


I do not agree with going to war on a UN resolution without UN support...and I am not for bashing France (or French fries or toast for that matter), but admire them for standing up to the US for what is best for THEM...

OK...let the disagreeing begin:

I am hoping that since the newlywed board is usually calmer...that it might be possible...

Come on...restore my faith in man (I mean) womankind!!

I consider myself a democrat only because I tend to agree with that party much more often than the republican party - but I dont really care what the party thinks as a whole or how its labeled.

I can respect an anti-war position as I see numerous reasons why we shouldnt take any milatary action - but the French position seems quite belligerant to me. And in the first place, I dont see why France gets to hold such authority - just because they were part of the allied powers in 1945 shouldnt mean an automatic security council seat forever -what has been their contribution in the past 50 years to world order?

As stated above, I see many many reasons why we should not go to war just as see reasons why we should. There is no crystal ball, no one knows which scenario will make it worse or better. Both sides (anti-war, pro-war) claim to KNOW how its all going to turn out which is utterly ludicrious.

But in the end I am pro-war because I feel strongly that a) whether it this week or next month or next year - America WILL take military action against Iraq and b) the longer we drag this process out, the more the American economy suffers. c) Moving now would give us the advantage of shorter days (the US is better at fighting against Iraq at night, and the days are getting longer) and weather (think of the soliders in chemical warfare suits in dessert Iraq in July!) d) every day we delay give Iraq more opportunity to build its resources and allies.

Stef......I couldnt agree with you anymore.

They were talking about the weather. The longer we wait, it will be so hot over there, that if Irag does use chemical warfare, our soldiers would die of a heatstroke in those suits.

oops hit it twice

Okay yabbo! Because I love you!

I consider myself a Republican. (which I am pretty sure leaves me in the minority here!)

Oh well…

As far as France goes – I feel they have to do what they have to do, and what is best for them. I am a little peeved that they won’t get behind us, but who the hell are we to govern around like that. I am not pro-war. I don’t think any of us are, but I will admit that I am 100% behind the president. I feel that there have been enough sanctions, false promises, and too much leeway given in Iraq and my concern is that if it’s let go we will be in huge problems later on. I wish there were a peaceful way to go about it, and I think we are doing what we can right now to allow Saddam the chance to disarm and avoid this conflict.

I am not sure how much I think Saddam is hooked up with Al Qaeda. I feel confident there is some shady link there somewhere, and that gives me enough to feel a significant terrorist threat coming from Iraq. Not that Al Qaeda needs any help….

So there you go. I am pro-Bush which I know makes a lot of people cringe, but I am putting myself out there because I agree with Yabbo that we should be able to have clear air on politics!

Can I call Bush names
I am tend to be more of a Democrat, but I think both parties have gotten too big and full of BS.
I will say that I am Pro-Choice, Pro-Gay/Lesbian rights, believe in workfare over welfare, and believe that the eldery and children should have free medical access. I think we should leave Alaska alone and stop allowing Big Business to run our gov't with paying lobbiest. I DO NOT think smokers should get free medical care when they are the ones who did this to themselves. I think smoking should be banned in any public place, but also in front of office doorways ( I smell like a bar when I enter my office from the street- disgustting) And I want a fair tax system, instead of having everyday, regular people (most of us) pay more than our fair share.

I do not agree to go to War without the UN behind us. If you go against the UN you are just as bad as the terriorists. I think dragging our heels is killing our country. Our economy is a mess, and can get much worse.
How about we worry about the fact that North Korea HAS nuclear power already and Venezula is falling apart (we get a 1/5 of our oil from that country).
I also think the adminstration should stop pretending that he wants to help the people of Iraq. That is totally BS. Why didn't we help the Bosnia people or Serbia? Or how about the fact that father/brothers can KILL women in Jordon for dating a man that the family didn't approve of? And let's not even begin to get into the problems in Africa. So if we really just wanted to help people, we have lots of places to start with. I guess we only help people that have OIL in their land. Also, let's not forget that Jordon and Saudi BOTH have ties to the terriorists but we are closing our eyes to that fact.
Also Suddam in excile is a scary idea. Now they are underground and working with the people who hate the US even harder to get back into power.Oh, and I think a man who was ONLY a governor of Texas has NO business trying to run our country.

I don't like talking politics either but I do consider myself a Republican, but as others have stated -- there are issues that I tend to be more liberal on then others.

I support the President but I wish we didn't have to go to war. But if we do -- I will support our government. I agree with Stef about needing to make a decision at this pont instead of dragging it out and the economy down with it.

My husband and I definitely feel in the minority among our friends as Republicans so I just usually refuse to talk politics with our friends.

Republican here.... just checking in. Of course, I don't agree with every single aspect, but I tend to lean that way on most issues.
I am a minority amongst my Dem friends and our conversations regarding politics get pretty heated, so I wouldn't even attempt it on here!

Im a Republican, Pro-Bush, Pro-Choice, Pro Gay/Lesbian Rights, I too believe that the elderly and children should get health care. I feel that Bush is up against a wall right now and that war is inevitable. I feel for my new neice, my unborn children and all, that if we do not Saddam out of power, the world will live in fear for a long time. No one, including the US, should have this much power over the world. I do not want to see a war, but I feel that Bush has no choice at this point. I also think that France and Germany not backing us is the worst move they have ever made.

Okay, I went to lunch and thought about it and decided that I will restore your faith in womankind, even if it does mean that someone will call me a bleeding heart liberal and other names!!

I'm probably in the minority here. I'm not registered with any party, but voted Green (Ralph Nader) the last couple of elections-YES I did take a vote away from Gore, sorry, but Nader is planning on running again, and I will vote for him again!

I'm pro-choice, pro-union/working families, pro-immigrant rights, pro-environment, not sure where I stand on affirmative action, but there's no doubt about it, some people (mostly people of color) are less fortunate and do not get the same opportunities as others in terms of education and other rights. I believe that our sex education in schoos stinks and condoms should be made available, instead of only promoting abstinence. I also think it should be legal for homosexual people to get legally married.

I'm anti death penalty, but on this issue, who knows how I'd feel if someone murdered one of my loved ones. Maybe I'd change my mind. I also have a problem with the numbers of people (mostly men -and some- women of color) in prison for drug use and sales. The US is building way too many correctional facilities for housing people who committed minor crimes and this money could be going into education, health care, etc. I also think we spend too much on the military.

About the war, I am anti-war, especially in this case because we are not getting support from the UN. Personally I don't trust our politicians, not only in this office but in past administrations. I also get support non-commercial media sources, which are not run by corporations, and thus are allowed to give information that the major networks are not.
I know Bush has a plan to go to war no matter what, I don't think we would have close to 300,000 troops deployed without it. I know Saddam is a psycho, but I still don't understand why we and other countries are allowed to have weapons, but Iraq is not. It really frightens me how much of the world is starting to hate America. And, I am worried about terrorist attacks increasing here after we start the war.

Sorry about my really long post before...
just want to add that my field is in Public Health, and the cost of war to Iraq and us (if we're planning on helping them rebuild their nation) will be devasting in terms of food and nutrition, healthcare, housing and the environment. The citizens of Iraq have had to deal with so much already and if it's ture that the war will be fought in Baghdad, and that Saddam plans on bombing his own oil fields, can you imagine what those poor people will have to go through if there is war?
I think fifty percent of Iraq's population is under the age of 15 (not sure if that's the exact age).

I am so proud of us!!! see...no drama (although I have not ventured to the outside)


Nina...I make it a point not to vote for Democrats or Republicans...so that a third party can receive the needed funding...so I too voted Green in 2000 and Perot in 96...

I also just voted for the marajuana reform party for governor...b/c they needed 50,000 votes to get funding...although I am not really pro or anti- marajuana reform


MY FAITH HAS BEEN RESTORED!!

Quote from Nina:
'I also have a problem with the numbers of people (mostly men -and some- women of color) in prison for drug use and sales. The US is building way too many correctional facilities for housing people who committed minor crimes and this money could be going into education, health care, etc. I also think we spend too much on the military.'

I could not agree with you more!!! Why are we spending billions of dollars imprisoning drug users and petty criminals? Add white collar crime to the list and put those people to work for our community!

by the way...Erica...are you home from work today?!?! LOL...I usually dont see you post during the day!

Erica, good topic!

I have no time to respond, but I am glad that people can have a normal conversation about their political beliefs without it getting ugly!

But if you put the white collar criminals in jail, who would give the money to political parties
LOL, now we're back to catch 22.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if majority of people were raised with good ethics and morals!!!