Debates start popping up all over the place. hehe Personally, I think they're good and healthy and in a lot of cases they help put some of the issues into a form that is more understandable than the political mumbo jumbo found in speeches etc. This is going to be fairly long, but i wanted to get my 2 cents in and it didn't really fit into any other thread.

Now, my dad (bless he heart *sigh*) got me a year's subscription to Reader's Digest. Mind you, I have no idea which way the magazine leans, whether liberal or conservative. I'm guessing more conservative. But in August's issue there are 2 interesting articles. One on Bush, one on Kerry. And they managed to stick with interviews and facts, without throwing in a lot of useless opinion. I thought I'd post a few things that stood out for me.

A Bush Quote:
"Freedom is not America's gift to the world. Freedom is the Almighty's gift to every man and woman in this world."

Ok, now besides being a very poorly worded sentence, it is also horrendously hypocritical coming from a man who is against gay marriage, abortion and affirmative action. Who's freedom is he speaking of? Not Americans' for he has just taken away the freedom of several large and significant groups.

From Dick Cheney who... "lambasted Kerry for voting against the first Gulf War in 1991, against an $87 billion propriation to help fund the US war effort in Iraq, and against weapons systems such as the MX missile and the B-1 bomber."

Cheney: "The Senator... has given us ample doubts on his judgement on vital issues of national security."

Why? Because he doesn't like us throwing ourselves into pointless wars? Because he doesn't like weapons of mass destruction? Because he can't see the point on taking $87 billion for war when it could be put to better use? I'd be more afraid of a trigger happy president than one who may be more inclined to resolve conflict by other means BEFORE resorting to bombing the hell out of a country that can barely defend itself.

Kerry has been in the Senate for 20 years, fought for his country and voted for 16 out of 19 defense appropriation bills.

Yes, Kerry fought in Vietnam, then came home, threw his ribbons away and protested the war. It was his right to! Those on the front lines were more able than anyone to see what a pointless war it was. "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

Kerry's plans for expanding health insurance to 95% of Americans is a great call. How will he do this, you ask? He will be able to pay for it by rescinding the Bush tax cuts for those making over $200,000. They need tax cuts WHY??? It's the ones that live below the poverty level (most of the country!) that need the tax breaks. Not those whose net worth is more than I will ever see in a lifetime.

Kerry also has plans to help the evironment, and at the same time take independence from Middle East oil. It will take alternative and renewable fuels, and faster adoption of new technologies of hybrid cars, but with a motivated man in office, I think it can be done.

And, in my opinion, I think the best person to handle international affairs is someone who has lived overseas, been exposed to other cultures. Kerry has been all over the world, was brought up in Germany, and speaks at least one foreign language. Bush can barely speak English!