What makes people vote Republican?
DAMIMRED
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 13,495
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From: Syracuse, NY
I can see both sides on most of this stuff. To me the most unacceptable mainstream republican beliefs are the "family values" stuff. Any way you cut it, I can't see opposition to legal gay unions as anything other than bigotry. Abortion is a little more of a gray area, but the bottom line is that your* religious beliefs have no place in a secular government.
I can agree with most of James' statements, for instance, but I think a lot of republicans need to reconcile the ideal that the government should play a minimal role and butt out, so to speak, with the reality that under republican leadership, spending (and national debt) has increased, the government has condoned domestic spying, warrant-less wire tapping, and building/buying prisons in foreign countries so suspects can be detained indefinitely without trial. For all the rights you stand up for, you certainly don't mind other rights being violated.
*you = a hypothetical republican, I'm not trying to attack any HANners here
I can agree with most of James' statements, for instance, but I think a lot of republicans need to reconcile the ideal that the government should play a minimal role and butt out, so to speak, with the reality that under republican leadership, spending (and national debt) has increased, the government has condoned domestic spying, warrant-less wire tapping, and building/buying prisons in foreign countries so suspects can be detained indefinitely without trial. For all the rights you stand up for, you certainly don't mind other rights being violated.
*you = a hypothetical republican, I'm not trying to attack any HANners here
i dont really have an issue with gay unions, IMO somebody should be able to share a household with whomever they please. and if somebody wants to name somebody their beneficiary or share their family benefits with somebody of the same gender, none of my business... now gay unions with children..... that doesnt really fly with me but thats another can of worms
as for the republican administration leading to higher spending, etc... circumstances overall havent been that favorable. after 9/11 we had no choice to be respond. whether or not that includes iraq is debatable. lets also keep in mind that the democrats have controled 2/3 of the federal gov't for the past 2 years and haven't come through on any of their promises. (get out of iraq/afghanistan, fix the subprime crisis, eliminate the bush tax cuts, handle the energy crisis, take care of illegal immigration, etc)
on the domestic spying front, they only tapped suspected terrorists. i dont see why anybody is trying to protect them???? foreign prisons are in place to handle prisoners of war. these people were caught plotting against the US and/or commiting acts of violence toward the US. They are lucky to be alive, much less 'awaiting trial' those people didnt give the innocent people in the towers a chance to get out alive, neither would they have given the chance to anybody else in their thwarted terror plots. the fact that they were granted that blessing should overshadow guantanamo.
ZOMG Pew Pew Laserbeams
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,451
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People need to stop citing that "democrats have control of congress" crap
It is not control if you can't pass a bill or get any bills passed because you constantly get filibustered or vetoed and you don't have enough votes to override it.
233 to 203 in the House and 51 to 49 in the Senate, so a minor majority. They can't override a filibuster with those numbers. A bill has to get through both the house and the senate and then make it past the presidents desk, so even if it gets through the House and the Senate the President can veto it. From that point if there is no Super Majority, 2/3rds of both House and Senate it can't be passed. So don't place blame on all of the Democrats because they don't have enough controlling votes to block filibusters (3/5ths to override here) or override vetoes (2/3rds to override here). So yes you can blame Bush for vetoing a lot of the bills that get on his desk.
DAMIMRED
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 13,495
Likes: 0
From: Syracuse, NY
ZOMG Pew Pew Laserbeams
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,451
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Control is not control unless you can actually do something, therefore your accusations against the democratic "controlled" Congress means nothing. They don't control anything, they just have slightly more numbers but those numbers don't allow them to do anything on their own behalf.
v-card member alpha
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,010
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From: Assplosion, NE
I actually agree with some of what ISP James said (:ugh
, such as in regards violent criminals. However, I agree more so with Anthony and white_n_slow.
All your opinions are valid and I respect them. I'm in the middle to a degree as well.
, such as in regards violent criminals. However, I agree more so with Anthony and white_n_slow. All your opinions are valid and I respect them. I'm in the middle to a degree as well.
I go duffy on dem bitches
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 28,248
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From: Gonzales, Louisiana
If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people (and elected by only about 10% of those people), 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive. 
I heard a recording of her speech yesterday, and a chick in the audience, who was genuinely trying to help Palin quell doubts or whatever, asked about her views/experience in foreign policy. She completely dodged the question and basically said, "I'm confident." She sounded like a total idiot.
Palin focking terrifies me. :nervous:
I heard a recording of her speech yesterday, and a chick in the audience, who was genuinely trying to help Palin quell doubts or whatever, asked about her views/experience in foreign policy. She completely dodged the question and basically said, "I'm confident." She sounded like a total idiot.
Palin focking terrifies me. :nervous:
DAMIMRED
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 13,495
Likes: 0
From: Syracuse, NY
the funniest thing about this quote is that this thread should have nothing to do with mccain/obama but really just about why people choose to vote republican....
but, i'll bite...
my grandfather is 87 years old. he has seen cancer and a heart attack (more than 20 years ago) and still lives independently. my grandmother just turned 80. fortunately, her health has been good.
mccain is 72, his health record is much cleaner than that of my grandfathers when he was 72. my other grandmother passed away at 77, she was diabetic and had several cardio issues. again, mccains bill of health is much cleaner than hers was. use things close to home as your basis for judgement.
there is a chance that any elected official might not live to see the end of their term. plane/car crashes, assanation, sudden illness... you name it. we have had presidents with much worse health elected to office. hell, teddy kennedy continues to get re-elected term in, term out. dick cheney was written off as dead in 2000 and he is still on the move.
i dont buy the "McCain is too old" argument.
but, i'll bite...
my grandfather is 87 years old. he has seen cancer and a heart attack (more than 20 years ago) and still lives independently. my grandmother just turned 80. fortunately, her health has been good.
mccain is 72, his health record is much cleaner than that of my grandfathers when he was 72. my other grandmother passed away at 77, she was diabetic and had several cardio issues. again, mccains bill of health is much cleaner than hers was. use things close to home as your basis for judgement.
there is a chance that any elected official might not live to see the end of their term. plane/car crashes, assanation, sudden illness... you name it. we have had presidents with much worse health elected to office. hell, teddy kennedy continues to get re-elected term in, term out. dick cheney was written off as dead in 2000 and he is still on the move.
i dont buy the "McCain is too old" argument.
i like cheese
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,158
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From: Rancho Cordova :\
it baffles me that for some reason, if you are conservative/republican, liberals/democracts think there must be something wrong with you :dunno:
so why am i a republican? lets see:
- tax dollars going towards perpetually abused welfare systems that the democrats refuse to reform
- the idea that successful people are responsible to hold the rest of the nation up, rather than get rewarded for their hard work doesn't really fly with me. (perfect example... my 80k in student loans but still my tax dollars contribute to the free education of those that are considered 'less fortunate' i say give them the same loans i have since they will be qualified for the same jobs... for the same pay)
- the idea that basic constitutional rights are considered outdated is complete bs (and you all know which amendment really comes to mind)
- the idea that repeat violent criminals should be reformed and returned to our communities is absolutely absurd. fry 'em.
- the idea that its okay to let above mentioned criminals re-enter society and that corporal punishment is deplorable whereas, terminating a pregnancy is 'a womans choice' doesnt really work with me.
- the idea that people aren't smart enough or well enough suited to make responsible decisions for themselves so we need a goverment to do it for us is one step toward a complete lack of rights.
- for some reason, the money that i am contributing to social security is completely beyond my control. why can't i privatize at least a portion of that contribution? i understand that i am here to pay for the people who are retired right now but if we allowed people to save toward their own retirement at the same time, we wouldnt need a battered social security system to take care of our future retirees.
this is just a short list. i guess if that makes me close minded, ignorant, or whatever else, so be it.
so why am i a republican? lets see:
- tax dollars going towards perpetually abused welfare systems that the democrats refuse to reform
- the idea that successful people are responsible to hold the rest of the nation up, rather than get rewarded for their hard work doesn't really fly with me. (perfect example... my 80k in student loans but still my tax dollars contribute to the free education of those that are considered 'less fortunate' i say give them the same loans i have since they will be qualified for the same jobs... for the same pay)
- the idea that basic constitutional rights are considered outdated is complete bs (and you all know which amendment really comes to mind)
- the idea that repeat violent criminals should be reformed and returned to our communities is absolutely absurd. fry 'em.
- the idea that its okay to let above mentioned criminals re-enter society and that corporal punishment is deplorable whereas, terminating a pregnancy is 'a womans choice' doesnt really work with me.
- the idea that people aren't smart enough or well enough suited to make responsible decisions for themselves so we need a goverment to do it for us is one step toward a complete lack of rights.
- for some reason, the money that i am contributing to social security is completely beyond my control. why can't i privatize at least a portion of that contribution? i understand that i am here to pay for the people who are retired right now but if we allowed people to save toward their own retirement at the same time, we wouldnt need a battered social security system to take care of our future retirees.
this is just a short list. i guess if that makes me close minded, ignorant, or whatever else, so be it.
i'm a Dem
- i agree welfare needs work.
- i think we should help people, the more we help the more productive members of society we have. We let them fail then they let the cycle continue.
- i can see both sides of the second amendment argument but i don't think banning guns is the answer. But you kind of contradict yourself, the patriot act/domestic spying is slowly tearing the constitution apart.
on the domestic spying front, they only tapped suspected terrorists. i dont see why anybody is trying to protect them???? foreign prisons are in place to handle prisoners of war. these people were caught plotting against the US and/or commiting acts of violence toward the US. They are lucky to be alive, much less 'awaiting trial' those people didnt give the innocent people in the towers a chance to get out alive, neither would they have given the chance to anybody else in their thwarted terror plots. the fact that they were granted that blessing should overshadow guantanamo.
- i am pro choice but strongly believe there needs to be some way to make sure women aren't just being cheap/lazy and using an abortion to clean up the aftermath.
- i agree, i'm all for our rights.
- partially privatized social security seemed like an ok idea but i'd have to do more research.
i don't think you're close minded or ignorant since you clearly stated your opinions and why you feel that way, i just think you just have different beliefs than me.
it's my D in a B
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 24,787
Likes: 1
From: Your Mom's House
And how much legislating has McCain been doing in the last year? Or Biden or Palin, for that matter. Moot point.