Will having Kerry in office change much?

[Don]

While I am rooting/expecting a John Kerry victory.... I've been wondering how much things will change under John Kerry.

I don't see hatred for the US and terriorist attacks going away drastically in many parts of the world. There might be a brief spell where things look good but once the Kerry administration vetos the next UN resolution that criticizes Israel (which has always been US policy - GOP or Democrat), much of the muslim world will continue to hate the US. That and combined with the fact that he'll keep troops in Iraq because no way he can pull troops out of Iraq w/o help from other nations and I can't see other nations wanting to get involved, and resentment of the US (and terriorist plots) will continue to remain constant.

Kerry's more protectionist stance in terms of jobs isn't going to help.

Also if the Dems don't take back the House and Senate than its a tough road for his administartion.

However I hope that he will be respected more by the rest of the world leaders thus leading to better relations. But i don't think it will be as much better as people think. One european newspaper was predicting a huge let down when Kerry gets elected... not because of Kerry himself but because people have such expectations because he is not Bush only to see that drastic changes will not happen.

Maybe I'm off target here. But I think people love Kerry because he's not Bush. I think a month from now, if Kerry is elected those same liberals who are shwoing him with affection and saying he's the man will be slamming him.

I think it is time for Bush to leave but I am not really that enthusiastic about change as much as others. I think people are in for a big let down.

 

[Don]

Should mention that the differences may be much more pronounced in terms of domestic policy. I guess I was speaking from the standpoint of people outside the US....

 

[Keyser Soze]

The biggest change/impact will be to the Supreme Court -- the people who put Bush in office in the first place. There will almost surely be retirements/deaths of one or more justices during the next 4 years.

Bush has shown by his appointees to lower Federal courts that he will appoint justices that will be very right-wing religious judges. Kerry will most likely appoint more left-wing judges.

 

[Don]

I know much of his US job protectionism was aimed at China and India but I always wondered if Canada was also in his radar. I remember Kerry (or his campaign) called out Bush because Bush was touring in a bus made in Canada. But I believe you are right... Kerry in office won't really affect Canada to a significant degree... which brings me back to my original thought.... how much difference will Kerry bring in the eyes of the outside world? I don;t think that much...

 

[Don]

I hope that he will be a breath of fresh air.

I'll be glad to get this election over with. Hopefully the Lounge will go back to be dominated by more trivial threads!

 

[Don]

LOL good point!

I guess I'll have to root for a resounding victory

Too be honest I think the Bush bashers here clearly outnumber the pro-Bush folks. So while we may get some of "Kerry stole it / sucks" threads, the overall US political threads should hopefully decrease.

 

[gala]

On all the issues anybody talks about I think there's little difference between Kerry and Bush. One says he'll stay the course, the other says he'll be better at doing the same thing. Kerry talks about building alliances and such, but realistically, who is he going to build an alliance with that matters and that there isn't already an alliance with? France, Germany, and Russia aren't sending any troops to Iraq no matter who is president; and just recently Martin said Canada won't be either. So that's just talk.

On all the issues nobody talks much about there are big differences. Bush will continue the process of stamping out scientific rationalism in the United States, replacing evolution with creationism in schools, and wiping out research into stem cells and such, and probably continue spending money at an alarming rate. Kerry will raise all hell with new restrictive trade policies, and unleash the walking dead on corporate America by bailing out companies and industries that would be better off dead. He'll probably also give a nice boost to his fellow trial lawyers--ensuring expensive litigation continues in America for years to come.

What a sorry choice. I'd hate to be an American voter because I really don't know if I could stomach voting for either of these dudes.

 

[because]

Even tho' most Americans think Kerry would do better in most areas of running the country and foreign affairs, Bush maintains a very large lead in polls dealing with Iraq and terrorism. These last two items are the reason Bush remains ahead of Kerry in most polls by a couple percent. I can't believe it could come down to how many liberals vote for Nader again.

 

[onthebottom]

While I am rooting/expecting a John Kerry victory.... I've been wondering how much things will change under John Kerry.

I don't see hatred for the US and terriorist attacks going away drastically in many parts of the world. There might be a brief spell where things look good but once the Kerry administration vetos the next UN resolution that criticizes Israel (which has always been US policy - GOP or Democrat), much of the muslim world will continue to hate the US. That and combined with the fact that he'll keep troops in Iraq because no way he can pull troops out of Iraq w/o help from other nations and I can't see other nations wanting to get involved, and resentment of the US (and terriorist plots) will continue to remain constant.

Kerry's more protectionist stance in terms of jobs isn't going to help.

Also if the Dems don't take back the House and Senate than its a tough road for his administartion.

However I hope that he will be respected more by the rest of the world leaders thus leading to better relations. But i don't think it will be as much better as people think. One european newspaper was predicting a huge let down when Kerry gets elected... not because of Kerry himself but because people have such expectations because he is not Bush only to see that drastic changes will not happen.

Maybe I'm off target here. But I think people love Kerry because he's not Bush. I think a month from now, if Kerry is elected those same liberals who are shwoing him with affection and saying he's the man will be slamming him.

I think it is time for Bush to leave but I am not really that enthusiastic about change as much as others. I think people are in for a big let down.

This is exactly right, he'll walk thru old Europe on his knees and come back with nothing for it, his policies will be the same in Iraq and on Israel..... Domestically he'll raise taxes and piss off our trading partners with protectionism. And you are correct, a R controlled legislative branch won't let him accomplish much.

OTB

 

[softhands]

As much as I hope the American people do the right thing and fire Bush’s ass for cause; I fear that Kerry won’t be able to make much headway with the mess in Iraq and he’ll end up with a legacy like Nixon’s on Vietnam. He may end up expanding the war in an attempt to “win� it and get out with “honor�.

But I still think the American voters should give Kerry a chance to try, as Bush’s record isn’t supportable or justifiable.

 

[Cinema Face]

Nothing will change if Kerry is elected...

It'll be the same but with more scandals. Remember Clinton?

 

[WoodPeckr]

Re: Nothing will change if Kerry is elected...

It'll be the same but with more scandals. Remember Clinton?

How come these so-called upright, moral, BJ-FEARING GOPers have let Halliburton off so easy. Plus Kenny Lay is still walking around free as a jaybird.....does hypocrite and politically motivated come to mind?!?!?!...:

Whistleblower Says Halliburton Out of Control
By JOANNE MORRISON
Oct 30, 2004, 06:32

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' top contracting official on Friday called the government's grant of multi-billion dollar contracts to oil services giant Halliburton the worst case of contracting abuse she has ever seen.

"It was misconduct, and part of that misconduct was blatant," said Bunny Greenhouse, in an interview on NBC's Nightly News program.

Greenhouse has already demanded an investigation into the contracts that last year were granted to Halliburton, the energy services firm run by Vice President Dick Cheney from 1995-2000. According to her attorney, the FBI has since asked her for an interview on the matter.

A spokesman for President Bush on Friday said the president expects a full investigation into allegations of wrongdoing in how Iraq-related contracts were awarded to Halliburton.

"If there is wrongdoing, the president expects it to be investigated fully and dealt with," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters traveling with Bush to New Hampshire.

That letter to Acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee, sent by lawyers for Greenhouse, complained of repeated interference in the billions of dollars of contracts given to Halliburton unit Kellogg Brown and Root for work in Iraq and the Balkans.

"It was the worst abuse of the procurement and contracting system that I have seen," Greenhouse told NBC.

Halliburton spokeswoman Wendy Hall earlier this week said KBR did not have any information on what Greenhouse may or may not have said to Pentagon officials in 2003 when the no-bid contract worth up to $7 billion was given to KBR to rebuild Iraq's oil industry.

"On the larger issues, the old allegations have once again been recycled, this time one week before the election," Hall told Reuters earlier this week in response to Greenhouse's letter. Hall could not be reached for comment on Greenhouse's latest remarks about the contracts.

Greenhouse, who is registered as an Independent, said she was not trying to influence the election.

Nonetheless, on Friday she also questioned the Pentagon's decision to award Halliburton that 5-year, no-bid contract worth up to $7 billion to repair the Iraqi oil industry.

"One year to me was reasonable. But not 5 years," she said.

That contract has since been replaced by a smaller competitive bid contract of which Halliburton's KBR was awarded a portion.

Greenhouse also questioned the Pentagon's waiver of its rules requiring Halliburton to justify pricing for services after a government auditor found the company may have overcharged by $61 million for fuel.

"It all favored Halliburton," she said.

Halliburton, which is already under investigation for overcharging for work in Iraq, has been a target of Democratic criticism ahead of the Nov. 2 election, with suggestions the Texas firm got special treatment because of Cheney.

But Greenhouse vowed she was not alleging any impropriety by President Bush or Vice President Cheney.

"None whatsoever," she said.

© Copyright Reuters 2004

 

[papasmerf]

having kerry in the whitehouse should result in first degree tresspass charges
unless Bush invites him in to have lunch someday

 

[irlandais9000]

It is difficult to say how much having Kerry in office would change things, but in my opinion, it's a good start. If Kerry wins. look for the right wing media to hold Kerry accountable in a way they never did with Bush. Don't get me wrong, accountability is fine, but both parties should be held accountable.

 

[papasmerf]

Speaking of tresspass - what do think GWB has been doing the last 4 years in the Gore Whitehouse.


bbk

Serving the American people, quite well I might add.

p.s. Al as i recall was, now what is the word
Ah yes the LOOSER

 

[papasmerf]

Humm, lets do the math.

Starr inquisition: $70M
9/11 commission: $17M

There's a difference between accountability and character
assasination. Accounting ($$) for accountability.

So you are saying Bill Clinton cost the American public more

 

[papasmerf]

Now
now
now don

Fact remains Clinton had his chance at bin ladin and refused it.

 

[papasmerf]

Sorry don
I don't do tests on the weekend

But as I recall the 9-11 reprt was not flattering to anyone

 

[papasmerf]

LOL
but back to kerry and his tresspassing

Sorry bro but at 1700 I will be in the rack
I needs to be back to work by 2100

 

[irlandais9000]

Humm, lets do the math.

Starr inquisition: $70M
9/11 commission: $17M

There's a difference between accountability and character
assasination. Accounting ($$) for accountability.

I couldn't agree more, Don. Someone's priorities are F**d up.