As I said many times, as much as I don't agree with the war in Iraq, we all have to know that the US is the #1 protector of freedom in the World, weather you like it or not, that's the way it has been, is, and will be for a long time. It would be great just to take care of our own and not worry about other countries, but that is unrealistic. Sadam had to be stopped and had to be punished for the 100's, if not 1000's of murders he and his regime commited during his reign. At this point, unfortunately, we couldn't just walk away, that would show the Iraqi people who do appreciate us, that we have failed them. It's too bad other NATO countries will not commit as much as we do. As for the the next President, if Hilary or Obama is elected, I think there would be a presidential assasination, as bad as it sounds, I'm a realist. I voted for Bush and although I think he's an idiot, don't forget, the president has to get approval for just about everything that happens. My next vote is for Guliani.

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To be here or there!

Marc wrote: As I said many times, as much as I don't agree with the war in Iraq, we all have to know that the US is the #1 protector of freedom in the World, weather you like it or not, that's the way it has been, is, and will be for a long time. It would be great just to take care of our own and not worry about other countries, but that is unrealistic.

Why is that unrealistic? Unless there's a real threat (and Iraq certainly wasn't), what's wrong with minding our own business?

Marc wrote: Sadam had to be stopped and had to be punished for the 100's, if not 1000's of murders he and his regime commited during his reign.

Far more have died by American bombs since them. Things are a lot worse over there now, and there are worse dictators than Saddam.

Marc wrote: At this point, unfortunately, we couldn't just walk away, that would show the Iraqi people who do appreciate us, that we have failed them.

You're right that we can't just walk away now. That's what makes this administration's lies so damaging.

Marc wrote: It's too bad other NATO countries will not commit as much as we do.

Why should they? This is none of their business.

Marc wrote: As for the the next President, if Hilary or Obama is elected, I think there would be a presidential assasination, as bad as it sounds, I'm a realist.

How do you figure this?

Marc wrote: I voted for Bush and although I think he's an idiot, don't forget, the president has to get approval for just about everything that happens.

Not this president. If he doesn't get approval, he just does it anyway.

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To know me is to worry about me.

Why is that unrealistic? Unless there's a real threat (and Iraq certainly wasn't), what's wrong with minding our own business?

There is nothing wrong with minding our own business, I wish we would, but the fact of the matter is we are the most powerful country in the world and it is our duty to the world to handle things.

Far more have died by American bombs since them. Things are a lot worse over there now, and there are worse dictators than Saddam.

I agree, but war is war, it is what it is. And I don't believe there are worse dictators out there. Castro by far is not worse, nor is the N Korea guy.

As for the the next President, if Hilary or Obama is elected, I think there would be a presidential assasination, as bad as it sounds, I'm a realist.
How do you figure this?

Lets face the fact. Presidents are all and have been all been Anglo Saxon Christian men. I don't see this changing anytime soon. A women or a 1/2 black president if even voted in, I believe would have a very hard time, there is alot of hatred in this country.

Like I said, no matter what yours, mine or anyone's views are, The USA is the protector of freedom for the World, we don't have to like it, but a president change is not going to change this. Rep or Dem. I would love to have a great standing political, health care and justice sytem in this counrty, but I think we are many years away from that. I do agree that we need to worry about our own people, oust the immigrants, if they are hard working trying to earn a living with their family, then let them apply, if not...goodbye!

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To be here or there!

Marc wrote: Lets face the fact. Presidents are all and have been all been Anglo Saxon Christian men. I don't see this changing anytime soon. A women or a 1/2 black president if even voted in, I believe would have a very hard time, there is alot of hatred in this country.

I agree that this is why it's extremely unlikely that either of them will get elected.* We all know the joke about picking a black vice-pres to make sure that you don't get asassinated (or Satan-incarnate to make sure that you don't get impeached) But I don't think that sex or race really factors into the likelyhood of asassination. Kennedy wasn't shot because he was Catholic; and the guy that shot Reagan was just nuts.

Thanks for clarifying.



* On that same note, I think that Richardson, being half Mexican, is just ethnic enough to be electable. Not that I'm saying that that's a quality, just a political reality.

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To know me is to worry about me.

I have read and reviewed a lot of the ideas and statements of the Democratic candidates and to me the most overlooked but most cerebral member of the Democratic team might just be Dennis Kucinich. He was the youngest elected mayor of a major city at just 31...he's very intelligent.

Kucinich is one of 75 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives of the United States National Health Insurance Act which provides for a universal single-payer public health-insurace plan of the type supported by most Americans.

Kucinich voted against the USA PATRIOT Act.

He voted for the resolution calling for an investigation into President Bill Clinton's role in the Monica Lewinsky scandal, while most of his party opposed this resolution.

Kucinich crticises the revolving door between Washington and industry; the move by some senior Bush Administration officials from senior government posts to senior jobs in the industries that they were supposed to regulate.

Kucinich criticized the flag-burning amendment and voted against the impeachment of President Clinton.

HHe describes himself as pro-choice and said he had shifted away from his earlier position on the issue. Press releases have indicated that he is pro-choice and supports ending the "abstinence-only" policy of sex education and increasing the use of contraception to make abortion "less necessary" over time.

He has criticized Diebold Election Systems for promoting voting machines that fail to leave a traceable paper trail, and posted internal company memos on his website in which company executives promised to deliver the 2004 Ohio election to Bush.

He was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the United States presidential election, 2004.

Kucinich has criticized the foreign policy of President Bush, including the 2003 invasion of Iraq and what Kucinich perceives to be building American hostility towards Iran. In 2005, Kucinich voted against the Iran Freedom and Support Act, calling it a "stepping stone to war."

Kucinich has also been a strong opponent of space based weapons and has sponsored legislation banning the deployment and use of space-based weapons.

Kucinich advocates U.S. withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) because, in his view, it causes the loss of more American jobs than it creates, and does not provide adequate protections for worker rights and safety and environmental safeguards. He is against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) for the same reason.

He believes the U.S. should move aggressively to reduce emissions that cause climate change due to global warming and should sign a major international agreement signed by over 160 countries called the Kyoto Protocol to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted by each signatory.

Kucinich held a press conference on the evening of April 24, 2007, revealing US House Resolution 333 and the three articles of impeachment against Cheney. He charges Cheney with manipulating the evidence of Iraq's weapons program, deceiving the nation about Iraq's connection to al-Qaeda, and threatening aggression against Iran in violation of the United Nations charter.
During the first Democratic Presidential debate at South Carolina State University, none of the other candidates' hands went up when the moderator, Brian Williams, asked if they would support Kucinich's plan to impeach Cheney. In response, Kucinich retrieved a "pocket-sized" copy of the U.S. Constitution from his coat and expressed the importance of protecting and defending Constitutional principles.

"This is a pocket copy of the Constitution which I carry with me, because I took an oath to defend the Constitution. We've spent a lot of time talking about Iraq here tonight and America's role in the world. This country was taken into war based on lies. This country was taken into war based on lies about weapons of mass destruction and al Qaeda's role with respect to Iraq, which there wasn't one at the time we went in. I want to state that Mr. Cheney must be held accountable. He is already ginning up a cause for war against Iran. Now, we have to stand for this Constitution, we have to protect and defend this Constitution. And this vice president has violated this Constitution. So I think that while my friends on the stage may not be ready to take this stand, the American people should know that there's at least one person running for president who wants to reconnect America with its goodness, with its greatness, with its highest principles, which currently are not being reflected by those who are in the White House."
—Dennis Kucinich

Yup, he believes what I believe, and that's my choice!

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'Raising the bar for All Headlines'

I agree with most of that. If Richardson drops out, then I'll start supporting Kucinich.

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To know me is to worry about me.

Hello Folks ..Does it really matter?? Throw them in a hat and take a pick. Its all about the same . Hillery would be different , because she's a woman but its all the same deal just another day...All about secret political issues kept from us and the ultra Deamon "MOney" chig chig chig .....By the way I'm a republican but anymore I have no idea what I am and that' s bad , because I thought I had a stable mind.... . Pick your pic out of a hat of thieves and see what happens ....Sad We need a dramatic change!!!!!, especially for our next generation!!!! I'm cheerful but not about our politics, or religion these days ...Started with the Roman christianity and political power now they can't even figure what saints were real or not... I'm catholic .. I believe in the bible thats it.....If the church can help but one person they are doing a justice and if the money can run politics its working.......Take a choice.....Sorry to have such a grim attitude but these are touchy subjects they stink.....Bittersweet

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The Italian Girl Next Door....

One more thing...I use to be a representative for the poor people in the state of kentucky . Working with the people for the people and had to go to congressional meetings. I met some of the faiest and most wonderful people in our congressional circle . One for example Sr. Carl perkins before he passed . He worked hard for the coal miners and the lung assoociation , for black lung . I had the opportunity to meet several hard working men and woman for the people . They to have to answer to someone. To make one movement somtimes could take 10 years. Our congress is slow. then like any other society you have good and theirs always the bad apples that reek greed. You sum it up not everyone is bad , but look what it would take to make a change .Not that numbers don't matter because they do . its a long process and it takes togetherness. Something our nation needs to recognize . It makes me sick the men we are loseing in this war....So unfortunate to make a small change. I'm gone ...like Paul harvey says ...that the end of the story ...goodnight

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The Italian Girl Next Door....

All good posts here. I am traditionally a Republican voter, but at this point, I am unsure that I will vote Republican at all. For sure, I won't vote for Hilary. Her health care plan is too costly and won't work. However, there is much room for reform in that industry.

My main point: Securing the border. After all that's happened, we still have made no great stides with this very difficult situation. Does anybody know what Bush is trying to do to get Mexican trucks on our roads? It is God awful. Nothing against immigrants here; our country was built by immigrants (LEGAL that is).

I have enjoyed all of your posts.

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