Democratic Convention in Denver

[panthera]

I've been awful busy these last few weeks helping my partner dig out from the nasty damage of a flood - but from what little I have read, the Democrats seem, once again, poised to rescue defeat from the jaws of victory.
Anybody have another opinion (please?!).
Still can't understand why a gay man or any woman would vote for the Republicans, but after these first two days, have the feeling it is more a question of voting against christianist terror than for anything really earth shaking-ly positive.

 

[danemodsandy]

Keven:

I don't disagree with you, but at least Hillary Clinton did her best to restore unity and get people behind Obama. Her speech last night was one for the books. I was particularly taken with her catchphrase that will hopefully stick in peoples' minds - "No Way. No How. No McCain."

I have personally never been an Obama supporter, because I'd prefer more of a track record in a President, but if it comes down to keeping the Republicans out of the White House this next term, then I have to put aside my personal feelings, is my reasoning. He will have Biden for advice and gravitas, and that's the best we can do under the circumstances. I am becoming very put out with the Hillaryites who continue to put their own hurted widdle feelings over party unity and the good of the nation. Obama has some very stiff resistance to overcome, and the didoes of Hillary's never-say-die advocates are making it just that much harder to get votes behind the man who is - like it or not - the Democratic candidate.

I personally would have been very comfortable with Hillary as President, but that is not going to happen this election cycle, and those of us who supported her run need to deal with that reality.

 

[iheartmaytag]

I supported Hillary, I still support Hillary

But, I have to go with her message. Can this country take another eight years of the same-ole? Look at the damage this administration has done so far without even looking at world opinion and the Iraq thing.

GWB has appointed three Supreme Court Justices. This is a legacy that will live on for years because the Justices are there for LIFE. This country is still feeling the effects of the Nixon adminsitration from his Supreme Court appointments. At least Regan had the (I don't want to say brains and I am not trying to be mean since he died of Alzheimers) but he had the input from people that had intelligence to appoint Sandra Day-O'Conner. One of the best appointments in the last 40 year IMO.

Though I think the country was ready for Hillary, the majority of the voters did not.

I think Teddy Kennedy and Caroline did a wonderful job on Monday. Hats off the the Kennedy's. While I am on my soap box, may Teddy do better in his recovery even though his odds don't look good.

 

[~sudsshane]

PUMA~

I don't trust Obama and I can't stand Joe ( I love to hear myself speak) Biden. Hillary won more popular votes than Obama, counting Florida and Michigan. She should have been vetted or at least considered for V.P. Had Obama chosen her, I would have in the end voted for him.

Now..I will gladly pull the lever for McCain in November.

Keven, there are many good people in the GOP that support Gay/ Human rights. To demonize a whole political party because of George W Bush and his cronies is grossly unfair. What do you suggest we do, surrender a major political party ( GOP) to the far right winged extremists? Don't you think we should have Gay and Lesbian voters in the GOP in order to effect change?

I have a good friend who is President of the local chapter of "Log Cabin Republicans". They have done alot of good for the advancement of Gay and Lesbians causes here locally and nationwide. Open your mind and realize not all Republicans are bad and against Gay/Human rights.

Check out their website. www.logcabin.org

 

[danemodsandy]

Shane:

Here's the fear we Dems have. I'm not arguing with your position that the Republican Party is not inherently a problem, because you're absolutely right - it's not. Some of my best friends are, and all that. So, it's not a Republican vs. Democrat thing going on with me here.

The problem I'm having right now is that John McCain's public pronouncements and voting record suggest four more years of the very hijacking of the Republican Party you deplore. We truly cannot afford that.

There is another factor, as well. Bush and his cronies have done many, many things that are - to put it as politely as possible - rather questionable, in both legal and moral senses. We need both investigation of the charges that have been levelled at the Bush administration, and we need to restore some things to where they were before Bush and his cronies began tinkering with them. If we do not, dangerous precedents will have been set for Presidential abuses of power.

Since McCain's base is also largely Bush's base, I don't think we can expect much in the way of investigations if McCain is elected. And I think that's very bad for the country, because if there's one thing we know, it's that politicians are not going to get more fair-minded and moral as the years go by. If no one investigates and brings wrongdoers to some sort of justice, the precedents set during the Bush years will give future power-grabbers quite a lot of latitude to expand upon Bush's "Imperial Presidency" style of running things.

This is asking a lot of any Republican, and I know it, but I hope you'll think hard about what a continuation of Bush's policies and ethics might do to America. Electing Obama is, frankly, not what I want this country to do, but at least we'd stand some chance of curbing those elements in the Republican Party you deplore. With McCain, I honestly do not see that happening.

I hope you will take this as reasoned discussion, not as "I'm right - you're wrong" stuff. There's way too much of that on the Web already. I've been very capably led by Republicans for much of my life (I remember Ike and Gerald Ford with especial fondness), and I, like you, would like to see that kind of Republican come back in style.

 

[rickr]

McCain = McSame

Which should be enough to scare anyone.....

 

[polkanut]

I 2nd Rick's sentiments!

 

[foraloysius]

Overhere in Europe we are holding our breath too. Not only the USA but also the rest of the world cannot afford another president like George Bush. What we have seen until now from McCain doesn't give us much hope. We all are keeping our fingers crossed that Obama will be the next president. Otherwise there is no hope that the world economy will be back on it's feet soon with somebody who wants to continue a war the USA nor the rest of the world can afford.

 

[dalangdon]

I liked Hillary. I liked Obama. Their policy positions are nearly identical, and their resumes similar. But Obama won. Thus, I'm voting for Obama.

And yes, the Log Cabin Republicans are a fine organization - if you are into appeasers, or people affliced with the Stockholm Syndrome.

I would like to know one - just one - good thing that a GOP-controlled Congress or White House has ever done for Gays and Lesbians.

While we try to find something, consider this: The GOP platform - greatly streamlined in an effort to get McCain elected - still manages to call out for a ban on gay marriage. This, in a time of serious economic problems, two wars that do nothing but feed war profiteers, record deficits, and unparalleled contempt for the US in the world community. The reaction from the LCR? Nada. Nothing. Zilch.

But no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of Americans, so who knows what will happen.

 

[oldhouseman]

The damage done

by the current administration will take decades to repair, if it can be repaired.

I question the sanity of anybody who supports that alcaholic frat boy who calls himself "president" and his party of destruction. Republican agendas are tearing the nation apart for the benefit of the wealthy. And there are masses of blue collar people who think it will get them something to vote republican.

Sure there are points I don't agree with about the democrats but good god in heaven how could anybody in their right mind even think of four more years of this hell???

As my grandfather once told me "Son, I'd like to be a republican but G*D* if I can afford to be one".

The nation is polarized ove issues like gay marriage. Here in Georgia the republicans always start chanting that mantra when they are afraid of loosing an office.

And my office is being cut to nothing because our republican secretary of state does not beieve we need a state archives.

I will be out of a job soon because of republican politics and policy. Who do you think I'm voting for......

 

[~sudsshane]

well~

"I would like to know one - just one - good thing that a GOP-controlled Congress or White House has ever done for Gays and Lesbians".

May 2, 2003: The GOP controlled Congress approved President Bush’s $15 billion AIDS Initiative Fund. While unpopular here in the states, Bush is a rock star in Africa. The fund is the largest international health initiative ever to fight a single disease, and Bush wants to double that amount to $30 billion over the next five years.

While I am no fan of Bush, this is something that sound be recognized. Even Clinton and Obama have praised this initiative.

 

[rp2813]

No question about it. Anyone who votes for McCain is voting for 4 more years of running this nation into the ground. Bush has run up a deficit that far exceeds comprehension let alone the amount of combined deficits of ALL presidents before him--that means back as far as George Washington, people. He has stayed true to his practices in previous roles as corporate head, running every entity he has ever touched into bankruptcy. He's just about there with the U.S. now too. Let McCain take over and we'll be spending trillions more in Iraq.

This SHOULD be a no-brainer for everyone who wants this country to avoid social and economic collapse. There shouldn't even be an element of choice about the right vote to cast come November. We MUST elect Obama or resign ourselves to have China holding us by the nuts for many generations to come, and throwing trillions upon trillions that we don't even have down the Iraqi and Afghan ratholes. I shudder to think of the economic impacts of pulling Iran into the mix.

Again, there IS no choice. It MUST be Obama or if you think we're in bad shape now, just think what 4 more years of the same economic and foreign policy of the last 8 is going to do to us.

How anyone can even consider McCain escapes me.

 

[oldhouseman]

That was

election year posturing. He waited until his last year in office and did it as a gesture to try and put a good face on his presidential "legacy". To little to late Shane.

 

[~sudsshane]

well~

I guess since the Democrats have done such a wonderful job the last 2 years since taking over Congress, we should give them the keys to the White House also? I think not. Barack Obama's far left liberal policies are going to send this country towards financial ruin.

Nancy Pelosi has been a MAJOR disappointment as House Speaker and Harry Reid can't seem to get anything done in the Senate.

They didn't even have the guts to vote for impeachment of Bush and Cheney after all the crimes committed in the administration, from wire taping to mismanagement of the war.

What were they elected for? Didn't they promise, when running in 2006, to not fund and end the war?

The Democrats are going to have a far reaching majority when the next Congress convenes. At least with John McCain as president, it will force both parties to work together.

Divided government is a good thing.

 

[oldhouseman]

Really Shane?

Divided government a good thing? It was divided in 1860 and look what happened the next year. I hope we don't get to that point again. I don't have any faith in McCain. He is living in the past and will not be able to put the parties together. As a historian he reminds me of McKinley. By the way, thanks for the rain, I hope it didn't do to much damage when you were pelted with it.

 

[~sudsshane]

speaking of posturing~

didn't Obama recently do that while running in the primaries against Clinton? First, he didn't want the Florida and Michigan delegation to be sat at the convention.
Then, as a compromise to appease the Clinton campaign, they agreed to sit half the delegation and count MY vote as a half vote.

Now that he has the nomination all but secured, imagine this...The delegation for Florida and Michigan is fully sat and restored 100%.!!

Barack Obama, just like the rest..A true blue politician!

 

[mihi]

and I think.....

I think the Bush presidency will haunt our children and grand children for many decades. I voted for Bush and I believe its the worst vote I've ever cast as an adult. Look at the value of the dollar and who is holding billions of dollars. And our country's way to controlled by special interest and way to quick to jump on a military solution, which in the long run turns out to not usually be a good solution. I've come full circle on this whole US military and our govt. meddling in other peoples affairs thing we've been doing to much of the last 40 or 50 years - and both the Republicans and Democrats are equally guilty. I think both parties have done a dis-service to our country - so I'm an independent.

This time I'm voting for Obama, and I like Obama and I think he has some real leadership qualities, but I won't like it if he ratchets up social spending, which I think should occur for education, health care and infrastructure, but doesn't ratchet down military spending, which also should occur to pay for the others.

I fear what Eisenhower said has come true, the biggest threat to our democracy is our military/industrial complex. Its self pertetuating and we can't afford it. Listen on YouTube to a fellow named Chalmers Johnson and he will explain what I mean here.

 

[westie2]

Shane Just for You

My feeling also normally don't get involved online with politics.

A cousin sent this to me so do everyday.

START EACH DAY WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK

 

1. Open a new file in your computer.

2. Name it 'Barack Obama'.

3. Send it to the Recycle Bin.

4. Empty the Recycle Bin.

5. Your computer will ask you: 'Do you really want to get rid of 'Barack  Obama?'

6. Firmly Click 'Yes.'

7. Feel better?

 

GOOD! - Tomorrow we'll do Nancy Pelosi!

 

 

[~sudsshane]

Why I support McCain over Obama

First off, if anybody is going to e-mail me from this site, do NOT, under any circumstances, accuse me of being a racist. As a gay man who has experienced discrimination first hand, I resent this and it couldn't be any further from the truth. Racism, Sexism and any sort of discrimination, on any level, is wrong.
At least identify yourself and not hide behind an anonymous email address.

Why I am voting for McCain over Obama:

John McCain has proven that he is a leader throughout his military and political career.

As a Naval aviator, McCain flew 23 combat missions over Vietnam before he was shot down and captured as a POW. While a POW, McCain was given the choice to be released early but chose to stay because other American POWs had been held captive longer.

After 5 and a half years of captivity McCain was finally released and returned home. He recovered from his injuries and regained his flight status. Then he commanded one of the Navy's largest attack squadrons.

In Congress, McCain has fought hard to eliminate pork barrel spending. He's challenged Republicans and Democrats to work together in Congress and has led by example in doing so.

John McCain has a long track record of working with members of both major political parties in Congress to craft and pass legislation that is in the country's best interests. Some people call him a maverick for breaking party lines and following an independent streak...I call him a true American. He understands that he's working for the American people and that's the kind of politician we need more of in Washington.

McCain was also right on the surge in Iraq. Whether you agree or disagree with the decision to invade Iraq, the fact is we're there. McCain has said since the beginning that we didn't have enough troops there to get the job done right. It took way too long, but President Bush finally realized this and sent more troops last year. The result has been a reduction in the level of violence and an opportunity for the necessary political changes to occur.

McCain is right on torture. If anyone is qualified to speak out about torture, it's John McCain. He was tortured for over 5 years while a POW in Vietnam and has sharply criticized the Bush administration for its use of water boarding and other torture techniques.

These are some of the reasons I support McCain over Obama. It is simple as that. Don't assume every white person who doesn't support Obama is doing it purely because of racism.

I am entitled to my opinion, just as everyone who has posted on this thread is. I think we all need to respect that