Both political parties are letting you/us down - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

sixate · 09-11-2003, 06:22 PM

Just so you know. This is coming from Bill O'Reilly.
I know some/many of you hate him and think he's a complete asshole, but he's right on target with this whether you like him or not.

LINKY

Quote:

Both political parties
are letting you down

Let me break this to you gently: Neither of the dominant political parties in America is looking out for you.
Now, I know the ideologues on both sides will reject my thesis because they are like arrogant parents who will never admit that their darling children can do wrong. But both the GOP and the Democrats have veered away from looking out for you.

Let's begin with the party in power. The Republicans control the national agenda but have done little problem solving. We are slowly coming out of a recession, but the federal deficit is historic, the borders are still chaotic, there is no cohesive national health plan and we are still overly dependent on foreign oil.

President Bush is popular because he vanquished the Taliban and has aggressively waged war on Al Qaeda and villains like Saddam Hussein. This is the President's strongest suit, and it may carry him into a second term. But Bush is also secretive and unsteady on many issues.

The weapons of mass destruction situation is a clear example. All Americans, but particularly those families who have lost soldiers in Iraq, deserve to be kept appraised of the WMD investigation. Fair-minded Americans will accept mistakes if they are made honestly, but there is no excuse for an information blackout on this important issue. We have captured enough Iraqis to get some kind of picture about what that country had or didn't have in the weapons department.

And why hasn't Bush urged Americans to conserve energy? Almost every week we find out another bad thing about our so-called friends the Saudis. Recently, that country cut oil production for absolutely no reason other than to drive up prices. Thanks again, guys, you've been great in the war on terror.

Inexplicably, the Bush administration has not mandated fuel-efficiency standards on U.S. carmakers, nor has it urged Americans to use less fuel so we can send OPEC a message. Hey, Vice President Cheney, can you explain that?

As far as the Democrats are concerned, you don't have to look any further than California. The nation's largest state has been rendered almost insolvent by Democratic hacks who spend recklessly and tax ruthlessly. All over the country, elected Democrats rarely impose discipline on public spending. They are in business to buy votes from special interests, and the working person be damned.

A new CBS News poll shows that two-thirds of registered voters can't name one Democratic candidate for President. These guys are largely invisible because they lack the boldness or notoriety that Americans crave from public figures.

There is no question that Sen. Hillary Clinton is the Democrats' great hope, but look at her record. She was in charge of improving public education in Arkansas, and that didn't happen. Her national health care proposal was hooted out of town, and her promise to improve economic conditions in upstate New York has been completely empty. Unemployment is up big in Buffalo and Rochester since she was elected.

Even if you are the most committed liberal on Earth, this question demands an answer: What has Clinton ever done to be the most powerful Democrat in the country?

So the political landscape on both sides of the aisle is bleak, and no amount of spin can change both parties' failures. Bush needs to level with us and solve some problems. The Dems need to get their hands out of our pockets and get new ideas.

Leslie Gore once sang: "It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to." We should want to.

For the record. Many of you think I'm a raging Republican..... Not!
My political views are very conservative, but I've never considered myself a Republican, and believe it or not I don't hate all dems, unless they have a last name like... Clinton! Sorry, had to throw that one in. All politicians are liars, and I don't trust any of them, but I certainly disagree with the liberals opinions almost all of the time. It's just too weak for my liking.

inkriminator · 09-11-2003, 07:07 PM

O'Rielly seems to be saying we aren't living in a perfect world, he's saying neither side is doing everything correctly. not exactly an earth-shattering analysis to me

laconic1 · 09-11-2003, 07:13 PM

I'm generally pretty conservative in my political views but I don't agree with a lot of things Bush has done. I don't care for any of the Democrats either. Really, watching politics for the past few years has really disenfranchised me on the whole thing.

JBX · 09-11-2003, 08:06 PM

My frustrations that I have been unable to articulate are encompassed in that article. I feel I have no where to turn to get representation in my government. Thanks for the Link sixate.

j8ear · 09-11-2003, 08:41 PM

Believe it or not...

Im just speechless in agreement.

Bill O'Rights · 09-12-2003, 04:53 AM

Well, since the Rebublicans <b>and</b> the Democrats have both managed to totally screw things up...perhaps the time has come to give the Libertarians a chance at cleaning up the mess. I'd say they at least deserve the chance to put their money where their mouth is.

onetime2 · 09-12-2003, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill O'Rights
Well, since the Rebublicans <b>and</b> the Democrats have both managed to totally screw things up...perhaps the time has come to give the Libertarians a chance at cleaning up the mess. I'd say they at least deserve the chance to put their money where their mouth is.

Sorry Bill, but they have not even been successful enough to get themselves elected, what makes you think they would be any better about building a consensus in Congress or with the American people?

As far as O'Reilly's thoughts, absolutely correct. I disagree with a lot of what Bush does but the Democrat's ideas are generally unrealistic and the candidates they are fielding don't have enough personality to garner the votes needed to beat Bush.

Hillary is probably the best shot and I would not be surprised in the least if she jumps into the race towards the end after allowing the other candidates to get beat up by the media and each other.

The Dems used a very successful strategy here in NJ for Senate which put Toricelli into the race and then pulled him in favor of Lautenberg when it was obvious Toricelli would lose. This strategy will be used again.

Conclamo Ludus · 09-12-2003, 12:34 PM

I couldn't agree more. It seems everyone I know feels like the gap between your average joe and jane, and the people that represent us, has grown way too far apart. I can't find a home in either party because they seem to spend too much time hating eachother and it just gets in the way of getting shit done.

Sun Tzu · 09-12-2003, 03:02 PM

The title of this thread alone sums up how I feel.

Thraeryn · 09-12-2003, 03:20 PM

They could get elected if you'd vote for them. So, as always, vote Libertarian, folks.

Food Eater Lad · 09-12-2003, 07:05 PM

Mabye if people got up off their asses, did some research on the politicians instead of listening to that guy they work with, and voted based on the proper researched information, the parties wouldnt be so bad.

I am voting rebuplican, does that mean I am 100% for that party? No way, but I feel they have more that I want, like LESS taxes, stricter borders, less social progams, and more personal acoountablity.
The things I dislike about the rebuplicans, and boy do I dislike it, is the rampant bible thumping.

All in all I will take the bible thumping of the GOP over the high taxes, big government, inept social programs, and "nothing is your fault or responciblity" mentality of the democrats.

seretogis · 09-12-2003, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Food Eater Lad
All in all I will take the bible thumping of the GOP over the high taxes, big government, inept social programs, and "nothing is your fault or responciblity" mentality of the democrats.

That's how I used to feel. I was a "recluctant Republican" before I discovered the Libertarian Party.

09-11-2003, 08:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
JBX Unfair and Imbalanced Location: Upstate, NY	My frustrations that I have been unable to articulate are encompassed in that article. I feel I have no where to turn to get representation in my government. Thanks for the Link sixate. __________________ "Youth and Strength is no match for Age and Treachery"

09-11-2003, 08:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
j8ear Gentlemen Farmer Location: Middle of nowhere, Jersey	Believe it or not... Im just speechless in agreement. __________________ It's alot easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission.

09-12-2003, 04:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	Well, since the Rebublicans <b>and</b> the Democrats have both managed to totally screw things up...perhaps the time has come to give the Libertarians a chance at cleaning up the mess. I'd say they at least deserve the chance to put their money where their mouth is. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

09-12-2003, 12:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
Conclamo Ludus Modern Man Location: West Michigan	I couldn't agree more. It seems everyone I know feels like the gap between your average joe and jane, and the people that represent us, has grown way too far apart. I can't find a home in either party because they seem to spend too much time hating eachother and it just gets in the way of getting shit done. __________________ Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold. -Son House, Death Letter Blues

09-12-2003, 03:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
Sun Tzu Conspiracy Realist Location: The Event Horizon	The title of this thread alone sums up how I feel. __________________ *To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.- Stephen Hawking*

09-11-2003, 07:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
inkriminator Insane	O'Rielly seems to be saying we aren't living in a perfect world, he's saying neither side is doing everything correctly. not exactly an earth-shattering analysis to me

09-11-2003, 07:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
laconic1 Junkie	I'm generally pretty conservative in my political views but I don't agree with a lot of things Bush has done. I don't care for any of the Democrats either. Really, watching politics for the past few years has really disenfranchised me on the whole thing.

09-12-2003, 03:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
Thraeryn Loser	They could get elected if you'd vote for them. So, as always, vote Libertarian, folks.

09-12-2003, 07:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
Food Eater Lad Banned	Mabye if people got up off their asses, did some research on the politicians instead of listening to that guy they work with, and voted based on the proper researched information, the parties wouldnt be so bad. I am voting rebuplican, does that mean I am 100% for that party? No way, but I feel they have more that I want, like LESS taxes, stricter borders, less social progams, and more personal acoountablity. The things I dislike about the rebuplicans, and boy do I dislike it, is the rampant bible thumping. All in all I will take the bible thumping of the GOP over the high taxes, big government, inept social programs, and "nothing is your fault or responciblity" mentality of the democrats.