You had a great pep rally for W on the other thread, but...

[AllyandJack]

I'm voting for Bush because John Kerry has voted over 350 times to raise taxes in some way, shape or form and yet, when given the chance to increase his own taxes and lead by example, he chooses not to.

I'm voting for Bush because John Kerry not only voted for, but put forth a bill, 5 YEARS IN A ROW to decrease intelligence funding.

I'm voting for Bush because John Kerry voted against military equipment that turned out to be crucial to our military - i.e. the Patriot Missle.

I'm voting for Bush because John Kerry doesn't care about me. John Kerry wants to give more handouts to people and tax me to pay for it. Free health care....what about me? I know I'm not included in that group. I don't even want free health care, I just want to be treated the same as people on welfare and free care. I don't want to be told that I can't have a certain procedure that I pay $600. a month for only to find out I could have had it had I been on welfare or free care. I don't know how it is in YOUR state, but that's how MA is. John Kerry is going to tax ME to provide more free health care to people who don't work. I'm not talking about people who CAN'T work, so let's not get going on that. I'm talking about people who DON'T work. And why would you?? Vote for Kerry....free health care, more welfare and let suckers like ME go to work to take care of my family and the people who are SMARTER than I am for choosing to let people like me support them. I'm all for free care for people who lose jobs (and my DH lost his job last month, so I'm not completely blind to that plight - thankfully he got another job right away), I'm all for free care for children - it's not their fault their parents don't provide them with insurance. I'm all for someone, ANYONE, forcing employers to provide insurance, even if their employees have to pay a portion (which I do) and for someone, ANYONE, to tell these insurance companies to knock off the crap and stop raising rates. Although, I have to say, I only saw a $5./year increase in my insurance this year.

I'm voting for Bush because I don't feel safe anyway and I won't no matter who is in office, so to me, the person who won't tax me back into the Stone Age is the right vote.

And that is why I'm voting for George Bush. Ter-AY-sa can call me an idiot all she wants. She spouts off about a person who can "walk the walk." Whatever....when John Kerry pays the voluntary increased tax himself, then he can raise mine. Until then, Ter-AY-sa should watch her mouth and stop acting like she's better than every one of the "idiots" who don't agree with her husband.

 

[Kendra17]

Originally posted by Disney Enthusiast

Another few reasons........ He doesn't believe in penalizing us for getting married. He doesn't believe in double taxing dividends. Although we are not personally benefitting from that, a lot of older people I know live off their dividends and believe they shouldn't have to pay tax on them again. And they are not just the rich who get dividends. A lot of retirees get them too. I love that he feels that the death tax is wrong. Yes the person may be gone, but the person already paid tax on that money and it should go to the family fully. I love the child credits and the tax cuts.

I truly feel he has the best chance of protecting us. I trust him to do his best and I trust Cheney like you would a strict father who only wants to protect his children. I just feel safer w/ them. Bush stands by his convictions and doesn't change course. He tells you he is going to do something and he does. He doesn't always make the most popular decision, but he makes the correct one. I really don't care what other countries think of us. I would much rather my President act proactively to save lives than to wait until something happens again, and then act. If it makes Germany and France and every other country out there angry, then so be it. They'll have to get over it. But our safety comes first and foremost in the President's eyes, and I love that he doesn't sell out to be well liked and popular. Kerry has changed his mind so many times about the war on terror. And Kerry even said he would react to an attack, but I want someone to proact an attack. Of course I am not sure he will be able to prevent an attack, but at least I know he is trying. I am a much different person since 9/11.

Lastly, I do believe he brought dignity and professionalism back into the White House. If my DH pulled w/ one of his employees what ExPresident Clinton pulled w/ his intern, my DH would have been taken to Human Relations for harrassment and would have lost his company. He was in a powerful position and took advantage of a star struck young woman. President Bush requires that ball players wear suit jackets when entering the Oval Office and he treats his wife and colleagues well. Kerry, on the other hand, yells obscenities at his secret service agent. I wouldn't treat a server who spilled food on me that way, not along a man or woman who is protecting my life. I personally feel that our President should be someone we respect. And I respect him very much. And his wife is a caring, articulate, lovely exteacher and I like her very much as well.

Those are just some of my reasons.

I don't think I could word my reasons as well as Disney Enthusiast, so why try?

However, I will add that I see Bush as a moral and honest person with strength and character. And, although i promise I'm not trying to bash Clinton, when Clinton was in office, many of his defenders said personal character was not an issue. I respectfully disagree. Although many out there defame Bush daily, citing his "lies", etc. I don't see it. . .and I research and read. I don't consider the WMD issue or the intelligence questions "lies". I believe to be one of the most moral, ethical, and trustworthy Presidents.

I want to stress that although i don't think that character and ethics can be found SOLELY in religiosity, I do believe that it is also found there. Bush' hero is Jesus Christ. Again, I'm not a Christian; I still appreciate that answer. He really believes he is answering to a higher power when he makes decisions. Not poll numbers, for instance. Not the changing of wind direction. I've said similar things before, and people have slammed me with references that binLaden believes the same thing. Well, that's why I am not an Islamic Fundamentalist. Bush' ethics mirror mine; bin Laden's doesn't.

In this day and age, I believe we must take preemptive action. I believe in Peace, but realistically, unfortunately, there will only be Peace through Strength. I'm convinced that Bush gets this; I'm absolutely not convinced Kerry does. We live in a beautiful but dangerous world. I believe Bush is best-suited to initiate and create policies that will send the message terror isn't an option.

I'm sure I've forgotten something but, really, that's it in a nutshell. I'm completely satisfied with how he's conducted himself in office these past four years, and have no reason to vote him out. He and his wife show care and concern for those they meet. Although his wife's conduct wouldn't be a primary reason to cast my vote one way, I do think she conducts herself elegantly and gracefully--as does Bush. Unlike the Heinz-Kerrys.

 

[Galahad]

The majority of Americans are not invested in the market

This is not true. The "investor class" is about 65% of the population.

 

[faithinkarma]

Originally posted by Galahad




I'll add (and I'm sure I'll get some rolling, laughing smilies out of this), that I still don't buy any of the "Bush as Liar" junk. There have been very few politicians in my lifetime that I have more personal trust in, even if I don't agree with all of his policies.

Galahad, I have a question for you. And I address it to you because I have respect for your opinion. If you found out that the president had lied about somethng significant, would that change your opinion? I am not baiting you with intentions of jumping back at you with some supposed proof of a lie. I am just really interested to know if it would change your mind in any way.

 

[Galahad]

Ter-AY-sa can call me an idiot all she wants

Apparently she will:

Heinz Kerry: Opponents Of Health Care Plan Are 'Idiots'
Candidate's Wife Doesn't Mince Words
Teresa Heinz Kerry says "only an idiot" would fail to support her husband's health care plan.

But Heinz Kerry, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, told the (Lancaster) Intelligencer Journal that "of course, there are idiots."

Kerry's proposal includes health care subsidies for children, the unemployed, small companies and more; and government assistance to insurers and employers that keep premiums for workers down.

If Kerry is elected, Heinz Kerry predicts that opponents of his health care plan will be voted out of office. She says, "Only an idiot wouldn't like this."

Heinz Kerry stumped in Lancaster, Harrisburg and York on Wednesday, the third day of a four-day campaign swing through Pennsylvania.

On Thursday, she holds a roundtable discussion health care at a hotel in King of Prussia.

 

[AllyandJack]

Wait, Galahad, you didn't put in the part where she said there should be someone in the White House who "walks the walk." That's the part that cracks me up.

 

[Laz]

Quote:

"I talked to a mechanic at my compound last week who just
got back from 2 tours in Iraq; he's voting for Kerry and says
all his friends are too. I guess it's simply your peer group not
the military issue that leads the vote. So, it you are voting with
the military....doesn't wash."

You have your military friends, I have mine. It washes with me.

Quote:

"And last-voting for Bush because the stock market goes up when
he rates well in the polls is, well naive. The rich are Bushies-hence the market reaction. The majority of Americans are not
invested in the market so the market reaction is simply the rich
feeling better. Oversimplification but true."

I must agree to some extent. The Market does not like uncertainty. The reaction to polls is just the Market feeling better about a double digit lead. As we get closer to election, wild fluctuations may appear. However, all americans are invested in some way in Stock Market. We are all helped or hindered by its movement

Sorry to those who do not want another debate thread.

 

[Galahad]

Originally posted by faithinkarma
Galahad, I have a question for you. And I address it to you because I have respect for your opinion. If you found out that the president had lied about somethng significant, would that change your opinion? I am not baiting you with intentions of jumping back at you with some supposed proof of a lie. I am just really interested to know if it would change your mind in any way.

I would likely change my mind, yes. However, for me to reject him (rather than just change my opinion of him) for a lie it would, as supporters of the former president might support, have to be significant to me...not necessarily significant to his opponents. Nor would I be incline to accept a source with an agenda, like the Swift guys, as evidence of a "lie". I will also say that I'd be very surprised to find that either of these candidates have lied about anything significant. I don't care, for example, whether John Kerry earned his medals or not. His on-the-record actions after the war are more significant to me that what he did for 4 months in Vietnam.

Edited to add: to clarify further.....a lie 30 years ago, or about an event 30 years ago would not bother me nearly as much as a lie in office about the Iraq war, for example.

 

[disney4us2002]

Originally posted by Disney Enthusiast
I can think of so many reasons. My DH owns a construction company and President Bush really really takes care of us small business owners.... Everything from increasing the amount we can spend on new equipment before taxes, to decreasing taxes, and many other incentives. And now he is talking about giving healthcare incentives which will help us even more. We already provide healthcare for our employees but every break we get really adds up. We are competing in a market which has a lot of immigrants who work for a companies who don't provide Workmen's Comp, healtchare or other such things, and they pay under the table. We have a lot of overhead expenses such as insurance and an office and healthcare and we like to see our President try to help us do the right thing, and yet compete more effectively w/ those who aren't.

Another few reasons........ He doesn't believe in penalizing us for getting married. He doesn't believe in double taxing dividends. Although we are not personally benefitting from that, a lot of older people I know live off their dividends and believe they shouldn't have to pay tax on them again. And they are not just the rich who get dividends. A lot of retirees get them too. I love that he feels that the death tax is wrong. Yes the person may be gone, but the person already paid tax on that money and it should go to the family fully. I love the child credits and the tax cuts.

I truly feel he has the best chance of protecting us. I trust him to do his best and I trust Cheney like you would a strict father who only wants to protect his children. I just feel safer w/ them. Bush stands by his convictions and doesn't change course. He tells you he is going to do something and he does. He doesn't always make the most popular decision, but he makes the correct one. I really don't care what other countries think of us. I would much rather my President act proactively to save lives than to wait until something happens again, and then act. If it makes Germany and France and every other country out there angry, then so be it. They'll have to get over it. But our safety comes first and foremost in the President's eyes, and I love that he doesn't sell out to be well liked and popular. Kerry has changed his mind so many times about the war on terror. And Kerry even said he would react to an attack, but I want someone to proact an attack. Of course I am not sure he will be able to prevent an attack, but at least I know he is trying. I am a much different person since 9/11.

Lastly, I do believe he brought dignity and professionalism back into the White House. If my DH pulled w/ one of his employees what ExPresident Clinton pulled w/ his intern, my DH would have been taken to Human Relations for harrassment and would have lost his company. He was in a powerful position and took advantage of a star struck young woman. President Bush requires that ball players wear suit jackets when entering the Oval Office and he treats his wife and colleagues well. Kerry, on the other hand, yells obscenities at his secret service agent. I wouldn't treat a server who spilled food on me that way, not along a man or woman who is protecting my life. I personally feel that our President should be someone we respect. And I respect him very much. And his wife is a caring, articulate, lovely exteacher and I like her very much as well.

Those are just some of my reasons.

Ditto! And may I say Brigitte, that your statement is quite eloquent. I firmly believe you can judge a man's character by the way he treats and talks about his wife. It would be difficult to top George Bush in that respect. Possibly only the Reagans come to mind.

 

[faithinkarma]

Thank you. I was pretty sure I knew the answer before asking, but I appreciate your honest answer.

 

[Galahad]

Originally posted by faithinkarma
Thank you. I was pretty sure I knew the answer before asking, but I appreciate your honest answer.

FIK....just added a line to the above (probably didn't change it but thought I should clarify)

 

[septbride2002]

septbride - Thank you for your comments. However, it looks like you are trying to turn this into a debate thread rather than answering the OP's question of why you want to vote for Bush. There are plenty of those debates going on, and I have found this thread to be different and refreshing. Please don't hijack!

I didn't realize that asking someone to look at something another way was trying turn this discussion into a debate?

The person I was quoting said, "I really don't care what other countries think of us. I would much rather my President act proactively to save lives than to wait until something happens again, and then act. If it makes Germany and France and every other country out there angry, then so be it. They'll have to get over it. But our safety comes first and foremost in the President's eyes, and I love that he doesn't sell out to be well liked and popular. "

My question to this is why do you feel this way?

Also there is another thread asking why people are voting for Kerry, Bush supporters have no problem posting on that thread asking us why we feel one way or another or asking for documentation. Therefore I didn't think that only Bush supporters were allowed to post in this thread.

Our troops have been pulled out of Afghanistan? Admittedly I've been out of the country for a while, but I don't recall seeing that announcement.

DMD - did I say that our troops were pulled out of Afghanistan? Thanks for the sarcasm though! I appreciate it! It would seem to me that our countries efforts are more focused on Iraq then they ever were on finding Osama bin Ladin. This is my opinion - I'm just sharing it. How can you say someone is tough on terrorism when 3 years later the person responsible for the largest attack on US soil is still at large? No really - this is a legitimate question I want to know.

~Amanda

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Originally posted by shortbun
I'm noticing that everyone voting for Bush has listed
fear directly or indirectly as one of their reasons for voting
for him.

I don't agree w/ you at all here. I am reading lots of other reasons on this thread.

But terrorism is part of our lives now and it must be taken into consideration. As Ron Silver, Dennis Miller, Angie Harmon, Zel Miller and many others have said...... I also believe I am a much different person since 9/11. These people, who do not agree w/ Bush on every issue, believe that security should take top priority and that is why they are voting Bush. Even Arnold mentioned that you don't have to agree w/ Bush on every issue, and you can still vote for him.

Cheney's remarks don't scare me. He just so happened to mention what I was already thinking.

 

[Kendra17]

Originally posted by shortbun
I'm noticing that everyone voting for Bush has listed
fear directly or indirectly as one of their reasons for voting
for him. It doesn't suprise me as the Bush Admin play directly
to that crowd and their fears. What if you didn't have a president
who's admin was constantly telling you to be afraid-a la Cheney
the other day-would Bush still be the right choice? Terrorists have been around for a long time. Should Bush benefit because
they chose to attack us horribly during his watch? Would another
President have simply ignored the attacks? Why does it make Bush better simply because HE happened to be in charge at
the time?

I talked to a mechanic at my compound last week who just
got back from 2 tours in Iraq; he's voting for Kerry and says
all his friends are too. I guess it's simply your peer group not
the military issue that leads the vote. So, it you are voting with
the military....doesn't wash.

And last-voting for Bush because the stock market goes up when
he rates well in the polls is, well naive. The rich are Bushies-hence the market reaction. The majority of Americans are not
invested in the market so the market reaction is simply the rich
feeling better. Oversimplification but true.

This argument, for me, is incorrect. It's not fear. I don't know any Bush supporters that are "afraid". It's a matter of crushing terrorsim, which exists. I don't have extra food in my pantry in case of an attack, there's no duct tape in my house right now (and i need some; have to buy it today), it's not fear.

To me at least, it's a matter of being realistic regarding the issue of Islamic Fundamentalism. That's it, really. I think that Bush and his folks know this, and Kerry and his people don't call this spade a spade. It's such a touchy subject because we have religious freedom (thankfully!) in this country. . .but, the issue is a direct and literal interpretation of the Koran that is being practiced today. This must stop and Bush is best-suited to stop it. IMO.

Most members of the military are behind Bush--so, your argument doesn't wash. I'm not surprised that your friends are voting for Kerry; you're friends are most likely liberal. The SBV is an issue for me. 200 of these are anti-Kerry--for whatever reason, and 16 or so are for him. Whatever you believe their reason is, is, to me, valid. If it's his actual conduct that's an issue. If it's his anti-war behavior, that's an issue. Even Jane Fonda apologized to the Vietnam Vets. Kerry never did.

Feb 18, 1970 Kerry began his political career stating: "I am an internationalist. I'd like to see our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United Nations." The UN's actions are completely misguided, their resolutions against Israel, laughable. Their inaction with Iraq, obscene. How can I trust Kerry with a statement like this?

Lastly, We are not wealthy. However, the stock market affects the economy. A climbing market gives the public confidence in the economy. This is indeed a valid concern.

 

[100%Disney]

Osama has been around for more than the 4 years that President Bush has been in office. He attacked American interests the whole time that President Clinton was in office also.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Thank you Kendra17 and Disney4us2002 for saying what you did. I appreciate the support very much.

 

[septbride2002]

I'm sure I've forgotten something but, really, that's it in a nutshell. I'm completely satisfied with how he's conducted himself in office these past four years, and have no reason to vote him out. He and his wife show care and concern for those they meet. Although his wife's conduct wouldn't be a primary reason to cast my vote one way, I do think she conducts herself elegantly and gracefully--as does Bush. Unlike the Heinz-Kerrys.

Ya know I can't say anything bad about Laura Bush. She is a true lady, one that can be respected and admired.

Just because Mrs. Heinz-Kerry is a different kind of person does not mean that she is not a good person. Mrs. Heinz-Kerry is someone that I can respect, she is a woman with a good head for business, who doesn't let herself be pushed around in a man's world, who holds her head high and states her opinion. And while she may not be demure like Laura Bush - she is not a bad leader and I think young woman in the business world can learn alot from her. She can also be respected and admired.

~Amanda

 

[Galahad]

How can you say someone is tough on terrorism when 3 years later the person responsible for the largest attack on US soil is still at large?

It's really fairly simple....but you have to accept a premise that I don't think you will agree with.

The premise is that to win the war on terror in any lasting and meaningful way it is at least as important to change the political landscape in the middle east as it is to catch one guy, mastermind or not. It is perfectly legitimate to think that the approach is wrong. But to say that there is no link between the necessity to go to Iraq and what happened on 9/11 is, IMO, not to see the war or terror for what it is.

Personally, I wish the people would frame the argument as a disagreement over the nature of the war on terror rather than an argument over the intentions or those trying to fight it.

 

[Olaf]

Originally posted by septbride2002
Do you think France and Germany will rush to our aid? Do you think they would help us fight back?

I guess I just find this hard to swallow regarding his fighting on terrorism since it doesn't really seem like we are still looking for Osama bin Ladin.

Hey, our so called "allies" were selling weapons to Iraq, in violation of several UN sanctions. Weapons which are now being used against our guys. With friends like that, we don't need enemies.

We're not looking for OBL? News to me. Who is your source?

 

[Kendra17]

Originally posted by septbride2002
It would seem to me that our countries efforts are more focused on Iraq then they ever were on finding Osama bin Ladin. This is my opinion - I'm just sharing it. How can you say someone is tough on terrorism when 3 years later the person responsible for the largest attack on US soil is still at large? No really - this is a legitimate question I want to know.

~Amanda

After 9-11, finding bin Laden was one of the most important things on the agenda. However, assuming they haven't found him or killed him, there are other things pressing presently that can't take a back seat UNTIL he's found. This makes complete sense to me, at least. Bin Laden's death would be a welcome gift, yes. And, the market would go up, confidence in the War on Terror would go up, etc., Bush' support would go up. However, if he's not found, that doesn't mean everything else waits. Furthermore, there is a huge network of bin Ladens. There are other groups that also are capable of murder and terror. These all have to be addressed. Bin Laden would is the mastermind of the 9-11 attacks, yes. However, his death is absolutely not the most important issue at this point.