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What the fuck is happening to me?!

15:42 / 17.03.06

I am past the point of outrage. I have to live the rest of my life knowing that I not only voted for Bush (twice...) but I spread his propaganda. That mother fucker. I have been spending a lot of time trying to think of ways to make up for what I have done.

I just started a new club at Snow College, a club for the five or six democrats on campus to come together and fight against the tyranny. Yes ladies and gentlemen, we have a left wing liberal club as of this week. We plan to pull some serious stunts, we invited a speaker from the ACLU, that was interesting (people here are not big on civil rights). You know you are fucked when the people in power get really upset when you have the ACLU come to speak, and I think that is a sign you need to have such a group come to your campus.

Anyway, I have written a short that tells about one hair raising experience I have had here, I will post in in the creation forum.

15:49 / 17.03.06

I never thought a Barbeloid would've voted for Dubya twice.

Why on earth did you do that?

16:02 / 17.03.06

Bad parenting...

The worst part about it is that I was active on the barb at the time, last time around I even changed my name to bushwinsfox. (hangs head in shame)...

I grew up in a very pro-bush republican family, I have pretty much been thrown out of the family over all this. But right is right, and bush is wrong, thats my motto.

16:09 / 17.03.06

As a non-American, I have a really hard time understanding that people actually think that the current Bush admin is a good thing for America and, given the choice, are the best to vote for.

What's it like*?

(*seriously - I want to understand the mindset)?

16:24 / 17.03.06

An attempt. Tell me if I'm right.

1. Anti-elite. He's a man of the people, not an out-of-touch egghead intellectual.

2. Straight shooter. He sets out to do what he says and doesn't compromise on what he thinks is important. (This was a big deal with Kerry -- but it tends to be a big deal every time one's opponent comes out of the compromise-is-king Senate).

2a. He is saved. However loony his actions might seem, the president (and all heads of state) are in some way closer to God, and are regularly used by God to enact His Divine Will. Bush recognizes this and accepts his duty.

3. He's tough. He sees a problem that threatens America, he goes after it. He doesn't waste time with ineffective exercises in diplomacy or "half-attacks" like that Carter hostage fiasco. He sends the greatest soldiers in the world to do what they do best -- kick butt and take names.

3a. (and I think this was *vital* to his re-election). He's a wartime president. Like him or not, it would have been disastrous to not follow through once America was engaged with "International Terrorism" in a particular way; the message that America was displeased with its strongly anti-terrorist leadership (rhetorically, at least) would be tantamount to writing Osama bin Laden a thank you note and sending out invitations to mad bombers, "Come on over, we're confused and self-contradictory! We don't know what we want, so we can't defend ourselves from you!" It also would have been a blow to the morale of our soldiers already fighting a difficult fight overseas at a time when good morale is especially vital.

So, how'd I do?

16:28 / 17.03.06

The Bush admin presented themselves as the good and moral candidates. They also painted (in the last election) Kerry and his people as evil un-ethical flip-floppers.

Kerry didn’t help himself much by pointing out that Bush is really really dumb. It made him seem mean to the American people. Kerry also had people like Michael Moore and Rosanne Bar (for those of you unfamiliar with these two: they are truly to of the most offensive personalities you could ever meet. Conservatives at large HATE them, and conservatives hate them because both Michael and Rosanne attack conservatives whenever they can) campaigning for him, Kerry polarized people (it at least seemed that way to me). Kerry and his people were some of the most angry with the way Bush had been running the country, and I think that much of their anger came out during his campaign, and I think that the many of the American people where not ready to understand how bad Bush has fucked up our country and on how many levels.

Many Christian groups came out and warned their followers against Kerry, saying that electing him would be a "sign of the times", my parents church was one of them.

I think that many people like Bush because he is so simple. And I think on some levels people look at Bush as a real man's man. I don't know... These are just my thoughts.

16:48 / 17.03.06

grant, i think you did very well. people who dont mind hearing bush butcher the american language (which is more difficult, even, than butchering the english language) believe that he speaks like they do, he makes mistakes not because he's stupid but because he's human (is what they say).

those of us who know better and arent afraid to say it realize that those people who feel that way are just as stupid as bush is and, unfortunately, we have a lot of stupid people in america. and they all voted for bush.

thats not to say that you had to be stupid to vote for bush. it probably helped to be a free-spending racist pretending to be a conservative, just like the rest of the republican party. or, it could be that you come from a family of right-wing crazies, like our friend here. at least he's come to his senses.

kerry was the worst candidate ever. if he was any good, the smart people who voted for bush in 2000 could have been swung back to reality in 2004. but he wasnt. he couldnt commit to anything, and there is nothing that red-blooded americans hate more than failing to commit to something. except if that something is the same gender as you, in which case you need to be saved, which gwb is, and so there you go.

kudos for getting something off the ground. but stay away from "democrat" "republican", if you're at all able to. thats whats gotten us into this mess in the first place.

17:03 / 17.03.06

Also as a non-American, I'm pretty convinced Bush won ellection 2 (I won't even bother with election 1) because he promised "jesus land" he'd ban gay marriage. Which, btw, iwas a complete demagogic promise.

And the "not-change president in mid-war" is another point. Which is fun, because it's a war on an abstract concept ("terror") first and foremost, which means it can go on forever. And they started hte was which kept them in office, so there's no real interest in actually wining it, is there?

American politics is a shameless travesty, if you ask me. And American constituent, for the most part, too. But I'm just angry, so never mind me

(and I can't stand hearing Bush talk. I know 6 year old kids who are more articulated than that damn meat puppet)

17:06 / 17.03.06

Good work, Ender. It's more than a lot of people would have done. Best of luck.

17:19 / 17.03.06

Plus he automatically got the Republican vote, as Kerry wasn't really doing anything that would sway a Republican to vote his way. So, every Republican vote plus a bunch of "don't change prez while in war" votes and there ya go.

His opponet would have had to be a conservative war-mongerer democrat to have had a better chance.

17:20 / 17.03.06

So why did you jump to the Democrats Ender? I commend you on your courage, I know that must have been tough esp. in Utah! But I no longer see a difference between the Dems and the Republicans.

grant-- I think you're post is spot on! It's all that fake cowboy "aww shucks" junk that people really like.

17:25 / 17.03.06

But I no longer see a difference between the Dems and the Republicans.
You don't think things would have turned out different if Dole beat Bush?

17:28 / 17.03.06

Did Dole go against Bush in the primaries?

17:33 / 17.03.06

Sorry assayudin, I meant Gore. Don't know why I had Dole on the mind.

17:35 / 17.03.06

Oh I get it now. Well I think that we wouldn't have invaded Iraq, but the PATRIOT act would still be there, and I imagine that the legislation that has gutted the working class every step of the way (like the bankruptcy bill) would still be in place. So yes and no.

17:38 / 17.03.06

Either way it might not be a good comparison as I think (hope?) that Bush/Cheney is a unique adminstration, and any random Republican or Democrat would have done a better job.

17:45 / 17.03.06

Agreed there. The whole system is rotten (IMO) BUT yes I would prefer good ole fashioned Republicans to Neo-Con fascism any day. Though I wouldn't say he is unique, let's see who they field in '08. Condoleeza Rice? Mitt Romney? I think we've effectively seen the death of old school conservatism. These guys won't be happy until they have a Corporatist Oligarchy with a Theocratic gilding (or some other such thing).

But then again, I have been known to be paranoid

17:52 / 17.03.06

Is is paranoia when they're actually going after you???

Anyway, my dream election would be Condolezza x Hilary. Not that it would change anything.

17:56 / 17.03.06

Is is paranoia when they're actually going after you???
My opinion, yes! My Wife and friends, no, I'm just mental.

Anyway, my dream election would be Condolezza x Hilary. Not that it would change anything.

I have actually had nightmares about that ticket. It should have "We're gonna screw the poor one way or another!" campaign

17:59 / 17.03.06

That should have been:

It should have "We're gonna screw the poor one way or another!" as a slogan.

I think. Oh god the voices are starting in again!!!!

20:45 / 17.03.06

For what it's worth, the President's approval rating was only 34% last time I heard. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE, but oh well.

Oh and speaking of percentages, I recently read in TIME magazine that 85% of US troops fighting in Iraq believe the main objective there was/is to topple Saddam as retribution for 9-11. Frightening.

Good for you for being pro-active, Ender. It must be heartening to realize that there are like-minded people at such a conservative college (and region). What sorts of things have you talked about doing? Or has it not gotten that far just yet?

20:52 / 17.03.06

Yay! Democrat club! Ender is a remarkable man who has travelled the right way across the political spectrum while he has been with us. I think he could be doing a huge amount of good through his visibility as a counter force to the prevailing culture in Utah. He is a hero.

21:04 / 17.03.06

It was hard to get this club started. I agree that it is this two partisan system that has gotten us so far from the mark, but in this case I look at as an enemy of George dubya is a friend of mine. Also I think that the democratic party is open minded enough to let independents share a bit of the pie, as republicans want you to sign papers of intent, swearing that you agree to toe the party line.

We have already been calling speakers to come and try to lighten things up a bit. Also I am the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, not that I bias the news but the paper no longer reports church news, and a calender of LDS church events.

In fact we recently wrote an article about the Admin of our school REMOVING CONDOMS FROM CARE PACKAGES sent to our students (gifts from advertisers trying to get students to sample their products ie, shampoo condoms razors etc.). It was the largest scandal of the paper's history, I ran the story on the front page, with a picture of the pile of condoms that were removed and "sent to a school where the students have sex" to quote our former dean of students.

We have plans to be a loud voice on campus, I feel that their are other closet case independent thinking students that, like me, have been forced fed right wing conservative thoughts all their lives.

21:16 / 17.03.06

condoms that were removed and "sent to a school where the students have sex"

I think I attended that school.

Bubblegum Death

21:16 / 17.03.06

Did your former dean of students think you were all eunuchs?

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

21:44 / 17.03.06

Good on you, ender. Apart from anything else, the kind of self-examination you've gone through since being on the board takes guts. As, I imagine, does starting a Dems society in Utah! Best of luck.

Bubblegum Death

23:53 / 17.03.06

I voted for Bush in the 2000 election(I was young); and I was wondering: was there a "straw that broke the camel's back" so to speak? F'r instance, mine was during the SOTU speech when he first mentioned the Defense of Marriage Act. It was just such blatant pandereing. I said to myself;"Well, that won't happen again".

All Acting Regiment

00:18 / 18.03.06

Well done for starting the democratic society. One thing I'd recommend is to start doing charity work. Set up raffles, competitions, sponsored walks and whatnot for non-profit organisations. In my experience of campus politics conservative and/or religious groups tend to have these bases covered in a big way. It's great for their PR: using charity as a smokescreen means it's easy for them to hide the fact that some of them encourage hate.

The niceness of giving to charity also tends to hide the fact that most of them have a whole churchful of ready participants: it's a simply a lot easier for the Chrisitan Union to organise a charity bike ride than it is for Respect because the CU know loads of people in the religious community, whereas respect is limited to the 4/5ths disaffected student body. Thus the CU can easily make themselves out to be all charitable and loving whilst at the same time wanting to "cure" homosexuals, whereas Respect can be painted as nasty intellectual outsiders with no links to the community.

19:34 / 18.03.06

The Bush admin’s treatment of foreign affairs broke my back. I think that bush has an idea of world being a room full of monkeys, and we are the biggest guerrilla in the room and he thinks that the world has to business with us no matter what. I miss the days of friendly foreign policy.

And watching the bias slant that FOX news puts on everything really made me feel like the conservative party thinks its members to be stupid. I felt insulted.

Also, I think that charity work would be a great spring board for the Dem club, thanks for the advice
!