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[HFishbine]

1. Home of the free, land of the brave?

Will it still hold true or will we become the land of monitored and home of the fearful?

[WilliamPitt]

2. Damage control

In 1998 we had enough money in the treasury to save social security while maintaining other necessary social programs, and we enjoyed an excellent reputation globally for the most part. That's all gone now, plus the environment is cratering. We've gone backwards in three short years. This election is about getting back to where we were, so we can move forward again.

[Bucky]

3. it's about the future

it's about damn time

[Droopy]

4. I think foreign policy is going to be a big issue

Especially if we run an anti-Iraq war nominee.

I heard something about the American people not having foreign policy that high up on their list of priorities. They're more concerned about the economy, jobs and education. But you can bet that Bush is going to use his so-called successes in the war on terror and make this a big issue in '04. I can see the ads already asking whether you feel safer with Bush instead of the Dem nominee.

[BOSSHOG]

5. The Constitution of the United States

I truly believe in my heart that conservatives want to whittle away at the Constitution because it gives rights to all. Conservatives do not want to DO anything for our country, they want to team together to OPPOSE this country's citizens who don't look like them, dress like them, go to their church or who have sex like them. They are evil bastards with an evil agenda who have been brainwashed to think they are the chosen ones with the chosen agenda. Get fired up my fellow Americans. Act as if your constitutional rights depended upon it - they do.

[baby_bear]

6. It's also about social class

The Republicans aren't even subtle anymore with their disdain for poor people. Even the middle class is snubbed. Just look at the records of the 107th and 108th Congresses. Appalling.

What galls me is the number of people who suffer at the hands of these people who can't wait to vote for GWB in 2004.

There's our challenge.

s_m

[BOSSHOG]

7. You are absolutely right S-M

They are being given poison and saying thank you, may we have more.

[baby_bear]

9. They want no "safety net" whatsoever

I just read this AP article about a recent CBO report:

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20031220_53.html

</snip>
Keeping the federal budget at or near balance over the next 50 years could require painful tax increases, spending cuts or both, the Congressional Budget Office says.
...
"The longer that lawmakers delay acting to counter an unsustainable budgetary situation, the larger the spending cuts or tax increases will eventually have to be," the 60-page study warned.

The big problem facing the government is the impending retirement of the baby boom generation, whose 76 million members will start later this decade relying on Social Security and Medicare and increase their use of Medicaid. The budgets for those automatically paid benefits are also growing as medical costs continue to soar. The three programs provide pensions and medical insurance for the elderly, disabled and poor.

Social Security is so large, and Medicare and Medicaid are expanding so rapidly, that limiting the growth of defense, education and other spending that Congress controls would not be enough for sound budget policy, the report said.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[Moderator]

12. Sierra_moon

Per DU copyright
rules please post
only 4 paragraphs
from the news source.


Thank you.


DU Moderator

[incapsulated]

8. What's it all about, then?

Just how far this country is going to allow it's fundemental ideas about democracy and freedom and truth in goverment to be flushed down the drain.

Or not.

[absyntheNsugar]

10. Beats me...I wanna move to Canada!

I thought it was about anger...then I thought it was about damage control...then several of the candidates voted for the Expanded Patriot Act...then the ones who didn't started attacking each other like cats addicted to catnip...then they found Sadaam and everyone started trying to sound like a Republican, which never works because you have to be one to sound like one...then I saw this really nice property up by Banff and thought "I like skiing...perhaps Toqueville was right..."

[JVS]

11. Elections don't have single themes

Many voters care about different things.

[Padraig18]

13. It is about reclaiming our sovereign right to self-government.

ALL other issues take second place to this one. After the Theft of 2000, this has been and MUST remain our primary issue; we must never forget it, and we must not let America forget it, IMO...

[Dommael]

14. The Big Picture

It's about whether Americans are really as stupid as we suspect.

[Julien Sorel]

15. The Republicans want to add legitimacy

to 2000, and solidify their hold on power. A significant portion of Democrats want to throw a temper tantrum. And sadly, that's what the election is about to date.

[Scott Lee]

16. Depends on which parties you ask.

For the GOP: A vindication of the Watergate era, part deux.

For the Rightwing Fascists: A chance to cement the PNAC and Eternal War Doctrine, firmly implanting US domination on the world (until the worlds people start waking up and resisting us).

For the Greens: Continue to punish those who don't like Ralph.

For the Democratic Statists: To annoint another Democratic president from the small crop of Entitled ones who have gained all the appropriate merit badges inside the Beltway.

For the Real Democrats: To overthrow the imperialistic, chauvinistic, big business mafia of the right wing and bring government back to serving people instead of a few large corporate interests.

For Reds like me: See above, with an eye on the inevitability of the failing of capitalism as we know it.