I am afraid that by the time President Kerry takes over from *

[Veggie Meathead]

the country would have sunk so low, it may not even be worth it to be the President for any person.The budget deficits and the debt service it would need in the years ahead would make it impossible to find money for any programs like Prescription drugs for elderly to be properly funded.The trade deficits would require some hard decisions on their own.If kerry decides to remain in Iraq, the costs will continue to harm him.

Meanwhile, the Republicans will have a field day about how he is putting in a tax increase, not keeping our military commitments and how he lied about getting his own coffee in the morning.

Much as I hate to see Kerry lose, I am already feeling sorry for him if he wins.

[miamimama]

1. Think - Supreme Court

No matter what happens - that is the future.

[Zero Gravitas]

12. Right

Bush will leave a fucking mess for Kerry to clean up, and envitably Kerry will blamed for things that are Bush's fault, but at least Bush won't get to appoint some fundy nutcases to the SCOTUS.

[Raster]

2. There is no doubt this country is a fucked-up mess. However, you gotta...

...start someplace. If you have a mess to clean up, you don't make any headway by standing around and whining. You have to roll up your sleeves and dive in. That's what we have to do.

If nothing else, the days of w have shown people in this country that we need to make some changes. We need to take the initiative to make things better, for ourselves and our fellow world citizens.

[Veggie Meathead]

5. I agree.I was just pointing out how difficult it is going to be.

[LisaLynne]

3. I do not envy Kerry.

I think he'll be up for the job, however.

[Poiuyt]

4. It would still be better for Kerry to win, even if it is hard on him

America has been in messes before and has always worked its way out. The trick now is to not go any deeper into the shit.

[Joylaughter]

7. when your in a hole stop digging.

That's the first rule.

[Lancer]

6. LBJ assumed the Presidency

under very unenviable circumstances, too. And before Vietnam destroyed him personally and professionally, he appointed Thurgood Marshall to the high court, presided over passage of the Civil Rights act and did so many other good things.

No one ever wants to become President in the wake of a national tragedy.

We are in the process of one now; a long, slow, drawn-out bitter agony. Whether John Kerry is the man to lift us out of this, I'm not sure. I don't know if HE knows in his gut that he is the right man, but a vote for him is a chance I'm willing to take.

[Mr Bojangles]

8. What I'm worried about

is the inevitable whining from the "instant gratification" crowd when everything isn't hunky dory within the first 100 days (working in retail, I deal with these people a lot). We all know that the repubs will be on Kerry like white on rice, pissing and moaning about how he's dragging his feet to help America, and it's his fault that the country is in such piss-poor shape ("What do you mean? This country was doing fine when GWB left office!").

We just have to remember that all the damage that's been done can't be fixed overnight. Hell, I don't think he can fix it completely if he has all eight years...but dammit, we've got to start somewhere, and hopefully he can get the ball rolling.

[whathappened]

9. the road will be

up hill , but the day isee all these crooks carried out of town on a pole , tared and feathered will be the greatest day of my life

[the_outsider]

10. true it'll be hard, but think how much harder it will be if * has 2nd term

The damage has to be controlled at some point. The sooner the better.

[Vitruvius]

11. Clinton beat Bu$h daddy, took over Bu$h's mess of an economy, turned

it around, and did very well indeed.

Kerry will do the same -- both with the economy and Iraq -- if elected.

And if Kerry NAILS Bu$h Jr. on the way he fouled up Iraq and the economy, people will support him.

In other words -- if Kerry does what he need to win -- i.e. if he nails Bu$h on how he's wrecking the US economy and wrecking Iraq -- then Kerry have a mandate to fix things.

[MostlyLurks]

13. Saw a book echoing this point over the weekend

"Neoconomy". Had never heard it mentioned here in all my time lurking.

Written by an economist who argues that Bush (and the neocons) have a radical agenda for economic reform that will either destroy America or lead to an era of unprecedented prosperity. I didn't have a chance to read much more than the dust jacket, but I remember it mentioning something about how the Bushgang's idea was to so radically alter the tax and economic landscape that their predecessors, regardless of party, would be unable to restore the system to its old (read: pre-Bush) structure. So as far as the economic side of things is concerned, this pretty much jibes with your fears.

Anybody read "Neoconomy"? Have a review/synopsis.