Yeah, I can't wait to see how long this "peaceful" campaigning goes. The second Kerry drops behind in the polls or sees his chances fading, watch out for flying mud.

And this stem cell research thing really disturbs me. I majored in biology during my undergrad years and I am now doing graduate studies in this very field. Here's the thing. You can do the exact same kind of "life saving" research with stem cells from umbilical cords. The only thing you can't do with umbilical stem cells is clone. That's it. The whole issue f-ing up research on stem cells is that scientists want to have access to fetal stem cells "just in case" (and I do quote), they wish to clone. It's a very sad deadlock at both a scientific and political level, and one the general population does not understand very well. Including Kerry, apparently.

Im sure the Rep Convention will be much more negative and a miracle will occur and they capture bin laden during it or something.
It's ok- i think the negative will backfire on them and just move the swing voters to Kerry.

They already captured a "top level" al queda member 3-4 days ago apparently and they just release it yesterday- how convenient.

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Originally posted by xKaoSx Im sure the Rep Convention will be much more negative and a miracle will occur and they capture bin laden during it or something. It's ok- i think the negative will backfire on them and just move the swing voters to Kerry. They already captured a "top level" al queda member 3-4 days ago apparently and they just release it yesterday- how convenient.

My sentiments exactly, if people think the Republicans won't stoop to mudslinging just wait and see. New York will look like a mudslide before they are through. Its sadly all that they have left to engage in, they have no vision, positive message or clear strategy for America's future short of the corrupt path that they are now on. How can any decent American believe that what America's standing is today is somehow okay is besides me. No administration has caused so much harm to America' image in its history as this one has done and in today's world image is important to help overcome the terrrorists, unless we are willing to invade every nation

Four more years of Bush/Cheney will be four more years of negativism, the continued War on Terror(day after day after day) that we have to listen to, probably more huge tax cuts for the wealthy and as always the coursive arrogance of this adminstration in dealing with others at home and abroad. Where is our crediblity in dealing with North Korea and Iran and to a lesser extent Cuba. Few nations are willing to support our positions any longer because they have no trust in the Bush administration and its motives. Simply remember no man is an island unto himself indeed.

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Trance = Heart, Mind, Body and Soul all in 1

Current fav. Global Experience = Madras

I'd like to say he did an ok job, but like Kerry typically does--he put me to sleep, so I missed a lot here and there. Like most political speeches it sounded like a lot of hooha and pie-crust promises. I've yet to hear him say how he actually plans to accomplish any of his goals. Just paint a pretty picture, get people excited, and pass the buck for another 4 years. He could've promised guv'ment cheese for everyone and the crowd still would've gone nuts.

Of course, that's just my opinion.

Nice photoshop, Imokurok!

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Originally posted by Shakka I'd like to say he did an ok job, but like Kerry typically does--he put me to sleep, so I missed a lot here and there.

I don't think I've heard one pundit say that they rate his speech as the best, which is sort of a bad thing. Obama, Clinton, and Edwards all had far more charisma, and it appeared to overshadow Kerry's moment in the sun. Now, of course everyone here's entitled to their own opinion on how good his speech was or wasn't, but Zogby's reporting today that polling during the convention shows no bounce whatsoever for the campaign. If Clinton didn't perk up the voters, monotone John didn't either.

What absolutely floors me is how people can say the convention did nothing but preach for unity among Americans. "Oh, they will bring us all together!" Apparently, those people missed John Edwards' speech, which was 1960's class warfare to the core. There's two Americas? Really? Sorry...it just so happens that the US has the world's wealthiest middle class, that's far better off than Edwards wanted it to appear. And if there really are two Americas, and they are trying to unify the country, what are they doing to secure the votes of both Americas? It was the most divisive address I've heard at a convention in my lifetime, except perhaps for Buchanan's in 1992, which I enjoyed, but was quite a bit too conservative for the entire country to digest.

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Nice photoshop, Imokurok!

Can't take credit for this one, but I love it.

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FLUSHED THE JOHNS!

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Originally posted by imokruok What absolutely floors me is how people can say the convention did nothing but preach for unity among Americans. "Oh, they will bring us all together!" Apparently, those people missed John Edwards' speech, which was 1960's class warfare to the core. There's two Americas? Really? Sorry...it just so happens that the US has the world's wealthiest middle class, that's far better off than Edwards wanted it to appear. And if there really are two Americas, and they are trying to unify the country, what are they doing to secure the votes of both Americas? It was the most divisive address I've heard at a convention in my lifetime, except perhaps for Buchanan's in 1992, which I enjoyed, but was quite a bit too conservative for the entire country to digest.

I find it rather ironic that you ask what the Democrats are doing to unify the "two Americas" can't the same question be asked of the Republicans, or do you believe that there is no such concept as two America's. Moreover the most divisive address, you cannot be serious. In the world's richest nation, with one of the best healthcare systems why is it that so many Americans are uninsured and have to go to emergency rooms just for a doctor visit, why are so many senior citizens having to order their prescriptions from Canada if they are able to do so, why is it that we are still discussing the issue of education when Bush said "No Child Left Behind" his philosophy should be "No Corportation Left Behind"

Whether you realize it or not these are core issues to many Americans and taken seriously, not just "War on Terror" I am still waiting for one Bush supporter to state his policies that have improved this country and brought us closer together, or is it a philosophy that is not to be too concerned with. How suited that would be for such a divisive administration. Its just a reflection of their overall attitude since coming to office in dealing with others.

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Trance = Heart, Mind, Body and Soul all in 1

Current fav. Global Experience = Madras

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Originally posted by NYCTrancefan In the world's richest nation, with one of the best healthcare systems why is it that so many Americans are uninsured and have to go to emergency rooms just for a doctor visit, why are so many senior citizens having to order their prescriptions from Canada if they are able to do so...

Because they have been conditioned to believe that it is their implicit right to have these things and that it is their government's obligation to provide it for them at no cost.

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Originally posted by Shakka Because they have been conditioned to believe that it is their implicit right to have these things and that it is their government's obligation to provide it for them at no cost.

Well if they are the working poor, living on every paycheck, still pays their taxes should they not have decent healthcare in their own nation. You make it sound like its a bunch of welfare crackheads that are knocking at the doctors door for free healthcare. I'm sure you are smarter than that to realize that many Americans are hardworking and still cannot get a decent healthcare coverage through their jobs and certainly on what they make. I remember a few years ago my mom had surgery for fibrosis and they couldn't wait to kick her out of the hospital bed, the insurance company kept calling and inquiring when she was leaving. Never mind that she was covered through her job at St. Johns University as a custodian or that such a surgery was taxing on her. Thankfully she is okay but it just demonstrates where the priorities lie.

If you can't pay for it then rot for all we care is the impression that I am left with from your statement. Not every American is blessed with a high wage job and access to top notch healthcare. Frankly there are animals in America that get better healthcare than some tax paying citizens, what a shame. I think that most Americans can care less about socialism if that's what you are suggesting. The first thing you are asked when you step into the emergency room or see a doctor, What insurance do you have, they can care less what is wrong with you short of you dying. I guess its all wrong to expect decent care when you pay taxes, spoken like a true Bush fan.

___________________
Trance = Heart, Mind, Body and Soul all in 1

Current fav. Global Experience = Madras

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Originally posted by NYCTrancefan Well if they are the working poor, living on every paycheck, still pays their taxes should they not have decent healthcare in their own nation. You make it sound like its a bunch of welfare crackheads that are knocking at the doctors door for free healthcare. I'm sure you are smarter than that to realize that many Americans are hardworking and still cannot get a decent healthcare coverage through their jobs and certainly on what they make. I remember a few years ago my mom had surgery for fibrosis and they couldn't wait to kick her out of the hospital bed, the insurance company kept calling and inquiring when she was leaving. Never mind that she was covered through her job at St. Johns University as a custodian or that such a surgery was taxing on her. Thankfully she is okay but it just demonstrates where the priorities lie. If you can't pay for it then rot for all we care is the impression that I am left with from your statement. Not every American is blessed with a high wage job and access to top notch healthcare. Frankly there are animals in America that get better healthcare than some tax paying citizens, what a shame. I think that most Americans can care less about socialism if that's what you are suggesting. The first thing you are asked when you step into the emergency room or see a doctor, What insurance do you have, they can care less what is wrong with you short of you dying. I guess its all wrong to expect decent care when you pay taxes, spoken like a true Bush fan.

You're making a lot of conclusions based on my comment. True or false: The typical mindset in this country now feels that free healthcare is a right? Somebody has to pay for these things--but is it the implicit obligation of the wealthy to be the babysitters for those less fortunate than them? Sure, it's nice if they voluntarily help, but you can't demand such things at the point of a gun--that's a violation of another person's freedom. Just because someone has more money than you doesn't give you the right to treat them as a punching bag.

And if a person is really sick, they can still go to a hospital and recieve some basic level of healthcare even if they don't have insurance. Doctors adhere to the Hippocratic Oath, which means that their primary duty is to help the sick, not worry about whether they are insured or not. I'm sure a lot of doctors would be more willing to help out for less if they knew they wouldn't have the John Edwards of the world hunting them down after they perform a life saving operation to collect a lottery verdict which in turn raises the cost to all for insurance. Last I checked my homeowners insurance wasn't paid for by the government, why should health insurance be so different?

Charity is fine. Charity at the point of a gun is not fine. I give lots of money to charity, but not because I'm told to, but because I want to. If someone tried to mandate charity, I'd laugh at them and swear to never give their organization money as long as I live.

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Originally posted by imokruok Really? Sorry...it just so happens that the US has the world's wealthiest middle class, that's far better off than Edwards wanted it to appear.

And yes, how proud we are to have the world's wealthiest waiters. How dare Edwards attack the integrity of our precious service-centered middleclass. The democrats speak of improving our foreign policies, yet they say they want to keep large corporations from giving good jobs to hard working Indians. When will this crazy doublespeak ever end?



Anybody know when the debates begin?

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Originally posted by Shakka You're making a lot of conclusions based on my comment. True or false: The typical mindset in this country now feels that free healthcare is a right? Somebody has to pay for these things--but is it the implicit obligation of the wealthy to be the babysitters for those less fortunate than them? Sure, it's nice if they voluntarily help, but you can't demand such things at the point of a gun--that's a violation of another person's freedom. Just because someone has more money than you doesn't give you the right to treat them as a punching bag. And if a person is really sick, they can still go to a hospital and recieve some basic level of healthcare even if they don't have insurance. Doctors adhere to the Hippocratic Oath, which means that their primary duty is to help the sick, not worry about whether they are insured or not. I'm sure a lot of doctors would be more willing to help out for less if they knew they wouldn't have the John Edwards of the world hunting them down after they perform a life saving operation to collect a lottery verdict which in turn raises the cost to all for insurance. Last I checked my homeowners insurance wasn't paid for by the government, why should health insurance be so different? Charity is fine. Charity at the point of a gun is not fine. I give lots of money to charity, but not because I'm told to, but because I want to. If someone tried to mandate charity, I'd laugh at them and swear to never give their organization money as long as I live.

Who made these people wealthy in the first place?
Probably people who couldnt afford health insurance and spent
the money instead on their goods or services.