It is called the lesser of two evils phenomenon. You do not have to like Kerry to vote for him - he is the lesser of the two evil choices. Same thing happened in 2000. Gore was not likeable but he was disliked more because of his link to Clinton then. Everybody in country knew Bush was a dumb crack-head but they could not stand Gore. I too could not stand Gore. But the table has turned now and Bush is at the receiving end.
Faos, let me take this back. After further reflection, it makes total sense for you to feel that way, IMO.
I did 2 minutes of research and found how Kerry plans to help the middle class with meaningful tax cuts that will help offset the rising costs of healthcare and education that have been the result of the Bush tax cuts (aka dividends to the rich). Kerry Offers Middle-Class Three Times As Much Tax Relief As George Bush Tax Day Brings More Evidence That George Bush Doesn’t Understand Middle-Class Misery April 15, 2004 For Immediate Release Washington, DC Play Now As middle-class families across the country file their taxes today, the John Kerry for President Campaign released a comparison of the middle-class tax relief proposals offered by John Kerry and George Bush. The side-by-side comparison shows that Kerry has proposed three times as much tax relief for middle-class families – a result that will come as no surprise to middle-class families that have been increasingly squeezed by a President who is out-of-touch with their needs. “George Bush’s failed economic policies have put the middle-class in a world of hurt,” said Kerry spokesperson Chad Clanton. “The middle-class is struggling like never before, yet this President lavished tax cuts on wealthy Americans and stubbornly refuses to change his failed policies or propose any new solutions. John Kerry offers a new economic plan to change the direction of this country, which includes three times as much tax relief for middle-class families.” According to a new Middle-Class Misery Index released this week, middle-class families are suffering more under George Bush than under any President on record. Yet with middle-class misery at an all-time high, President Bush has yet to unveil a plan to help. In fact, he has done just the opposite and pushed reckless proposals that have directly contributed to shocking increases in the cost of education and health care. John Kerry recognizes the struggles of the middle-class. He offers real solutions to help families keep up with rising costs in education and health care, like $50 billion in tax cuts for college tuition and $177 billion in tax cuts to make health care affordable for all Americans. Today’s side-by-side comparison of the Kerry and Bush middle-class tax relief proposals follows. -30- John Kerry Has Proposed Nearly Three Times As Much New Tax Relief For Middle-Class Families As George Bush Middle class families are increasingly being squeezed by the economy. The Middle class Misery Index has worsened substantially – in part because college tuition has been rising at the fastest rate on record and health costs have risen at the fastest rate in decades. At the same time the economy has lost 2.6 million private sector jobs under George Bush – falling 7 million jobs off the prediction the Bush Administration made in February 2002. John Kerry wants to extend the middle-class tax cuts and make them permanent. In addition he is proposing new tax cuts for middle-class families and job creation: John Kerry Is Proposing Nearly Three Times More In Tax Cuts to Help Families Pay the Bills Education Kerry $50 billion in tax cuts – pays 60 percent of $4,000 in tuition Bush No proposal Health Kerry $177 billion in tax cuts – part of a plan to provide more affordable coverage for all Americans. Bush Less than half the amount of tax cuts, fails to provide insurance for most of the uninsured and fails to help middle-class families with premiums. John Kerry is Proposing Tax Cuts to Help Businesses Create Jobs; George Bush Has No Jobs Plan Job Creation Kerry New Jobs Tax Credit – covers the payroll taxes for new hiring by manufacturers, other businesses affected by outsourcing, and small business. Bush No proposal. Small Businesses Kerry Tax cuts for small businesses that create jobs and for small businesses with health insurance expenses. Bush No proposal. All Businesses Kerry 5 percent reduction in the corporate rate will cut taxes for 99 percent of taxpaying corporations. Bush No proposal. I will be able to continue going to college if Kerry takes office, but I don't think I will be able to afford it if Bush is elected. Even so, the strongest reason I have for backing John Kerry is that he has a far more ralistic, sustainable long term plan for the War on Terror. I believe that he will fight the war much more effectively than Bush has.
If we are a damned empire, why the hell did we give back Kuwait after the first Gulf War? Why did we give back Iraq to the Iraqi people, huh? If we were truly an empire, Saudi Arabia would be a fiefdom of ours supplying us with all the oil we could take from it. God you people have gone insane. You think Kerry is a better option, when the left in this country has a sorry history of weakness and cowering when faced with security threats? Four more years of Bush will get us closer to some sort of victory in the war on terror. Four years of Kerry will get more mother-may-I's from the UN while our people are butchered by these islamo-idiots. Just like the eight years of Clinton.
How many Americans were killed under Clinton's watch compared to Bush's? How do you respond to the Republicans who said Clinton was obsessed with Al-Qaeda in the 90s?
Clinton had Bin Laden just about handed to him, but he declined to take him. Well....now that's a b**** huh?
Or people understand that the specifics of campaign promises are usually abandoned about sixteen seconds after taking the oath of office so why get bogged down in the specifics. No matter what the President would like to do, there will always be political realities that force some degree of compromise. I'm sure someone like John Kerry, who's been in Congress, understands that he's going to have to work with that body to get what he wants accomplished. So, if he, for example, wants to raise the top income tax rate to 40% and have it kick in at $500K. He can propose that and see the Congress end up making it a 36% bracket that kicks in at $450K. If he gets too specific, it becomes a campaign promise broken if he ends up having to compromise.
That wasn't aimed at ya, sorry about that (that is seemed it was). I have stayed away from this forum for a while now....I think I should continue just lurking....
It facinates me, bama, that you believe this stuff. "You think Kerry is a better option, when the left in this country has a sorry history of weakness and cowering when faced with security threats?' FDR wasn't exactly cowering in the White House, too frightened to try and prepare the country for a confrontation with facism. His greatest obstacle was the isolationism of Republicans and members of his own party. Truman was ahead of his time opposing discrimination in the armed forces, but he didn't shy away from going to war. JFK was determined to increase the budget of the military and confront the Soviet Union. LBJ, even if I despise his micromanagement of the war and overdependence on bad advisors (which is so much like George W. it is scary), and his decision to go into a conflict the French were finally smart enough to hall azz on, didn't shy away from going to war to confront Communism. Carter, for all his faults, was covertly raising hell with the USSR in Afghanistan and planned to do more. And Clinton was lucky enough to not face any major conflicts dring his prosperous 8 years in office. In short, what the hell are you talking about??
That's a good point, mrpaige. LBJ got so much through Congress because he understood the game and was a master player. I wouldn't dream of putting Kerry on his level, in that regard, but Kerry understands the system as well. I think he will get things done.
I don't. Watch the Republican National Conventions, and see how much of the pandering that occurs is directed to him and his ilk. They have a major influence on Republican Party policy, and I can't vote for any group who's policy is influenced by his ilk. If some prominant Republican suddently tried to run on a platform of nationalising major industries, other Republicans would disown him. They are conversely amazingly quiet with regards to Faldwell. What I am trying to say, and perhaps I didn't express it well, but what I was trying to say is that when I look at the way that Hillary is attacked, I see a degree of excitement and fervor that I typically associate with people like Southerners in the 1950's trying to hide their racism behind states rights arguements, or NORML trying to hide their desire to smoke pot behind the whole "hemp as wonderfiber" arguement. I see the hatred of Hillary with the same sense of disproportion, and I don't know what it is. I don't get it. I was perhaps suggesting the first reasonable theory that came into my mind, but I'm sure that there is something more there than her politics.
Oh I know. Sorry if I sounded like an ass...I know we get along. Don't lurk though. If you have something to say, say it!
Andy, I've mentioned before all that is based on speculation of what Kerry is "planning" to do. I guess the gamble you and others will take is will these things actually get done? I still haven't had anyone answer what Kerry has accomplished of substance in the past 16 years as a Senator (as challenged by Orren Hatch).
Andymoon- All you showed me is tax cuts Kerry is offering. Where are teh new taxes coming from? he's said taxes will be raised and you've showed me where he is promising to lower other taxes, but where are teh tax increases coming from? he is claiming it is coming from the rich but what is his definition of rich? But thanks for the research, but it doesn;t answer my question of how kerry will raise taxes.
You are right. John Kerry like with any cadidate running for new office doesn't have a track record in that office. So if we look at the track record of the guy in office, vs. the guy's plans who wants the office then we can decide which guy to vote for.
Come on, give me a break. What had Bush done in political life before HE became President? Did he have anywhere NEAR the accomplishments as Gore (or McCain, who I would be voting for if he were the GOP candidate)? If you are basing your support on what the candidates have done as far as public service you would be running towards the Kerry camp as fast as your legs could take you. I don't think it is a gamble. Kerry wants to fight the war on terror in a way that I believe is the right one. He plans to use the intelligence services and covert military operations rather than attacking countries that are not a threat and occupying them at exorbitant cost to the American taxpayer. Bush plans four more years of what he has been doing, which I think is the worst thing we could do.
What I have heard is that he plans to repeal the highest end of the Bush tax cuts to offset these costs. I would assume that means ditching the reductions in capital gains tax, the estate tax, and the reductions in the tax rate for the richest Americans. Look at the part of the Bush tax cuts that affect only the top 1% and that is what he is talking about getting rid of. He is not proposing RAISING taxes above their pre-Bush tax cut days. With the deficit and debt where they are, SOMEONE will have to raise taxes eventually, I stand in favor of the guy that wants to do it NOW rather than passing OUR debt on to another generation of Americans. Besides, when I said I did 2 minutes of research, I was being literal. I suggest that if you truly have an open mind, do some research yourself (www.google.com) and you may find your answers.
