Do you think that Vietnam will be an issue in the GE?

[rhino47]

And why ?

[Rowsdower]

1. no

people have no interest in digging up the ghosts of vietnam. let's move forward and talk about the issues please.

[rhino47]

3. Hi Rowsdower Welcome to Du

:hi:

[Zynx]

2. Not a major issue and I hope it's not.

This is because all the talk about Vietnam service will not win us very many votes at all and will cloud the real issues at hand. This election should be about the future of this country.

[anti-NAFTA]

5. Amen to that.

Kerry's boasting will only take him so far until his pro-NAFTA, pro-IWR record comes up.

[Taeger]

13. You're right

It's still the economy stupid. And Vietnam has NOTHING to do with the economy.

Honestly, I think that Kerry will let others do the attacking so he can stay ABOVE the fray. I can only imagine that he will bring this up in the debate with regard to his sending tens of thousands of Guardmen overseas for over a year when he couldn't even fullfill his sweetheart deal to avoid the draft.

Kerry can rightfully paint Bush as a chickenhawk who is for war as long as someone ELSE fights it.


You are right that Kerry needs to get VERY clear about getting rid of NAFTA. He has a VERY POOR record of voting for free trade. He has even recently voted to give Don Arbusto fast track authority to make EVEN MORE free trade deals, FTAA, CAFTA. By the way, the CAFTA agreemant includes provisions for UNLIMITED numbers of guest workers. They would esentially be abolishing the border.

Kerry's rich butt seams VERY out of touch on this issue. The labor bosses are endorsing him. But they are bought and paid for by the DLC. If the rank and file union men had to vote, they wouldn't choose Kerry.

We'll see how the Wisconsin debate goes tonight. I believe that Kucinich, Edwards and Sharpton are poised to beat Kerry over the head with a CAFTA club.

If Kerry will make a promise to END ALL FREE TRADE AGREEMANTS, I will support him. I don't want to hear any more wishy-washy crap about modifying these deals. They aren't modifiable. You cannot bargain from a position of weakness.

When bargaining, you have to show that you WILL walk away from the table if things don't go well. The truth is, that the US DOES NOT NEED WTO and free trade. It is hurting our nation. It's the third world Plutocrats and International executives who want it. They are the ONLY ones benefiting from it.

In the general election, we can SAVAGE the Republicans on this issue. They will be largely POWERLESS to defend themselves since they are 100% controlled by corporate executives and neo-cons. The irony is that your average Joe Conservative DOESN'T WANT free trade. Can you imagine how many Republican voters would switch sides just to get rid of NAFTA and WTO???????

I will tell you this. I would vote for ANY candidate who made a pledge to eliminate NAFTA and WTO. I wouldn't care if they were republican, fascist, green or communist.

WTO and NAFTA are DESTROYING this nation like a rotting fungus. I could care less about less mundane struggles and so-called wedge issues. Once we get rid of this great threat, we can start arguing among ourselves again.

[anti-NAFTA]

20. Hell yeah.

Your post sounded so much like something I would say that for a moment I thought it was my post until I checked your screen name. :wow:

"If Kerry will make a promise to END ALL FREE TRADE AGREEMANTS, I will support him. I don't want to hear any more wishy-washy crap about modifying these deals. They aren't modifiable. You cannot bargain from a position of weakness. "

I'm also sick of Arnold Schwarzenegger-esque platitudes and non-issues.

"In the general election, we can SAVAGE the Republicans on this issue. They will be largely POWERLESS to defend themselves since they are 100% controlled by corporate executives and neo-cons. The irony is that your average Joe Conservative DOESN'T WANT free trade. Can you imagine how many Republican voters would switch sides just to get rid of NAFTA and WTO???????"

That is so true. Back when Gephardt was in the race, my conservative friends (the ones who aren't sheep) and myself were in unanimous agreement that Gephardt would be a better president than Bush. Even Pat Buchanan had kind words for Gephardt. This is THE issue because it's effects are clear even in heavily conservative areas of the country. If we don't put this issue on the table and prioritize it above pretty much ALL others, we're toast.

"I will tell you this. I would vote for ANY candidate who made a pledge to eliminate NAFTA and WTO. I wouldn't care if they were republican, fascist, green or communist."

Me too. Well, except for fascist. :shrug:

[Taeger]

21. Your right about the fascists

Me too. Well, except for fascist. :shrug:

Yeah you're right on that. A fascist government is an alliance between big business and a dictator. So a fascist candidate COULD NOT oppose the corporate free trade agreemants.

Yep, Bush is a fascist. And it's very clear that he WANTS to be a dictator.

[LiberalTexan]

4. Not in the least

We should have hammered it home in the 2000 election. I think we missed our chance.

Besides, "it's the economy, stupid"

[Silverhair]

9. Sorry, but "It's National Security, Stupid" will be the correct motto...

this time around. 9-11 did happen. It wasn't just a movie. And something deep in the American collective psyche changed that day. And the Democratic Party has a real problem there as we have been percieved as weak on national security ever since 1972. The Reps are already attempting to define Kerry as weak-on-defense.

And the AWOL thing did come up in the 2000 elections, and it didn't get any traction then. In about another two weeks it will have lost traction this time around too. The average American isn't going to care about a few NG drills over 30 years ago. They are going to focus on what kind of job he has done in the last 4 years. That, and only that, is what we need to hammer on.

[Taeger]

16. Yes ...

National Security WILL be a big issue. And ANY Democratic candidate will bash George W Bush's "artificial" security apparatus.

He failed to defend our nation against terrorism. He HELPED the 9/11 terrorists. He was warned about the threat and did NOTHING to protect our nation. He was far too concerned about generating revenue for Halliburton, Bechtel and defense contractors with missle defense and Iraq.

He has FAILED to make our country more secure after 9/11. He has failed to reinforce first responders and give them the tools they need to fight terror. He has whitewashed Saudi involvement in financing terror. He has cut funding for border patrol. He cut money for air-marshalls. He pushed through legislation that would limit 9/11 victims ability to sue.

He demobilized the military "peace-keeping" training outfits as one of his first acts in office because he objected to "nation building". These were the very skills we needed in Afghanistan AND Iraq. They failed to adequetely arm guardsmen who were going to the middle east with armored jackets and vehicles.

He alienated our Eurpean allies and made intelligence gathering efforts HARDER, not easier. His administration is 100% responsible for INTENTIONALLY compromising EVERYONE attached to Valerie Plame in efforts to track down and find Weapons of Mass Destruction.

He cut programs that bought decommisioned Soviet nukes in order to keep them OFF the black market.

This all comes from a man who couldn't even serve out his guard duty as a fighter pilot because he was getting high on Cocaine. No, it IS relevant. The man has no honor, respect or integrity. He is a pretty puppet who has been marionetted into the White House.

He is incompenent. He has made the world MORE dangerous. He has made our country LESS prosperous.

So yeah, it is "National Security" as well as "The Economy" stupid. And Bush is stupid on BOTH counts. The only thing he DOES do well is read speaches, and whore for campaign money.

[Raven]

6. It will be, or should be... and for good reason.

It emphasises the fact that Bush is a liar and a great imposter. It emphasises that fact that he is a shirker and a fake. It emphasises that fact that he is a lightweight who has skated by in life on his family's name and contacts.

Four years ago it may not have resonated with folks but today...a bogus war, no jobs and a fake economic upswing will raise questions in many voters' minds...is this guy for real?

I am not saying that it should be the centerpiece of the Dems attack but it should not be allowed to die.

[vetwife]

7. Vietnam won't but Vets will !

Veterans issues will be top and center. As the founder of a Vets organization (no money at all) totally non-profit and in the hole, Veterans will be a HUGE issue !. The veteran voting bloc is tremendous. I was on the Guy James show yesterday and I have just put out a GET OUT the VOTE CD..Take it Back...Motivational Speaking the truth ...The truth is when you invade a country pre emptively like Bush did and cut 28 billion the very same day from the veterans budget..That is not supporting the troops ! I won the C=Span contest and I will be interviewed on there. I plan on taking up for veterans and blasting Bush and especially Anne Coulter. This administration has got to go. As the wife of a disabled 100 percent combat vet, I know what this administration is doing to the veterans. When I decided to put out the CD telling folks all abou the cost of war and what it is costing us in lives and money, it is with great hopes every free thinking and the majority vote Democratic. I don't think Vietnam will be the issue but the vets like the children left behind will most certainly !
You can check out a sample of the cd at
www.cafeshops.com/focusgroupnow/9200633
or email me at [e-mail]

[Taeger]

18. The military HATES Bush!!!!!

Sorry, but all signs point to a military force that is VERY hostile to George W Bush. He has savaged veteran programs. He is treating returning soldiers like SHIT. He has pushed the nation into an ill-conceived mission against terrorism. He has undermined their ability to train for "peace-keeping" mission that were so successfull under the Clinton administration.

He sent Guardsmen over to Iraq without proper body armor or armored vehicles. He has hired companies that don't provide adequete shelter or nutrition to our servicemen.

Did anyone watch the Daily Show last week???? The academy trucked a whole BUNCH of cadets on TWO days to a show that criticizes and insults the Commander in Chief MERCILESSLY. Do you think that the West Point staff is trying to send a message???? Of course, they already did when they released a report stating how ill-concieved and pointless the Iraq war is.

In the general election, you will see an army of veterans and retired officers campaigning AGAINST Bush. That is one thing that Kerry DOES have going for him. He has an excellent war record and it's VERY obvious that he understands these guys. They will go to war for Kerry. They HATE Bush.

Finally, the AWOL issue is big when you consider that the Bush administration has put stop-loss orders in place against fighting guardsmen. You see, Bush couldn't even finish his sweetheart guard duty assignment. He stopped fighting jets which they ALL know the military would NOT let THEM do.

"Sir, I just don't feel like I want to fly jets anymore."
"Son, we spent millions of dollars training your coward ass. You get back in that fucking jet before I send you to the stockade!!!!!"

You see, Bush didn't serve like he was supposed to. He didn't even serve in an "adequete" fashion. Plus, he got out 9 months early to go to business school. There is NOTHING about college that prevents a guardsmen from doing his regular duty. Their are thousands of guardsment who will testify that.

Now, Mr. Deriliction in Chief is telling Guardsmen who HAVE gone to war and HAVE served with honor and distinction that they CAN'T LEAVE. They did their duty. They fullfilled their contract AND MORE. And they CANNOT LEAVE. Bush shirked his duty and THEN LEFT EARLY. He DID NOT fullfill his contract with the Air Force. He wasted the taxpayers money because he DID NOT complete his duty in an honorable fashion.

A LOT of guys from that era would have JUMPED at a chance to fly F-102s AND stay out of Vietnam. Bush was pushed to the FRONT of the line. Then, he decided that he didn't want to do it. It didn't suit him. BTW, there was NOTHING about working on a political campaign that prevented Bush from reporting for duty once a month ... ABSOLUETLY NOTHING.

This is a question the press has avoided.

"Mr. President, why couldn't you just DRIVE back to Houston once a month to do your duty???? Why did you NEED a transfer when you were only required ONCE A MONTH!!!! Wasn't your father wealthy. Couldn't you just rent a Cessna (that you allegedly trained on) and FLY back to Houston once a month???? It was well within your families means?????"

This gets closer to the REAL reason that Bush stopped flying. He couldn't take his physical because he was on Cocaine. He did the "community service" IN HOUSTON (See, if he was in Houston, why couldn't he do his one weekend a month flying F-102s) for a Cocaine bust that was expunged from his record.

No. The issue goes STRAIGHT to dignity and character. This is what he said about HIMSELF. He had the integrity, dignity and the character to be President of the United States. Shirking your duty (after getting a sweetheart deal) does NOT show dignity or character. It shows that he's a fuckup.

There are lots of recovered fuckups out there. Things go wrong in people's lives. But do we honestly want an ex-fuckup in the White House???? Actually, he's still a fuckup. He simply has well paid people around him that prop him up.

No the AWOL issue will keep walking on it's HUGE legs because the White House CANNOT let the ugly truth come out. George W was a drug addict and lied to cover that fact up.

[goobergunch]

8. It shouldn't be

I don't know whether it will be or not, but we should make the election about the last four years and the future - not about events that occured before my birth.

[Adelante]

10. It's a reflection

of the Baby Boom bulge in the voting population combined with wartime. There's no way out of it this time around.

[Skittles]

11. yes and it should be

we have a warmongering piece of garbage in the White House who even though we was AWOL in the Guard still had the nerve to strut around an aircraft carrier IN UNIFORM. Well, now the snivelling little shit is running against a REAL WAR HERO. Should it be an issue? HELL YES.

[lovedems]

17. And I think it begs to questions his credibility. He has been saying

since he first ran for Gov. how proud he was of his National Guard "doodie" (I think it is akin to shit). He has misrepresented that like he has everything else the NCLB, the IWR, the tax cuts, etc. It shows a patter of deception dating back to when he was 26 years old. I think it is important and is just one more nail in his credibility coffin. It also shows what a chickenshit he is. He skipped out of Vietnam and played hide and go seek in Air Force 1 on 9-11. This is the kind of idiot that people want as their CIC?

Edit: Couple that with Cheney constantly being in an "undisclosed location" what do these people when the going gets tough? They hide like sniveling little cowards. I think that is a big issue.

[PatrickS]

12. Boomers controlling debate...again

Not to make light of it but the Vietnam war was 30 to 40 years ago. Enough already. There's a disastrous war right now in Iraq. We should be concern about that war. Enough with boomers obsession with themselves.

[Raven]

15. I don't think it's "Boomers obsession with themselves"

it might be that it brings up a discussion of Bush's basic character and a reminder that the Vietnam War was a disasterous example of this country's nation building. Perhaps if there had been more talk about Vietnam and it's consequences we wouldn't be in Iraq right now.

We boomers are not necessarily obsessed with ourselves...we've just been there.

[Skittles]

19. YES

I tired of boomer-bashing a long time ago. We boomers are much too big a group to stereotype.

[LandOLincoln]

22. The candidates are all Boomers. The incumbents are all Boomers.

A majority of the voters are Boomers.

Deal with it, and be patient. Your time will come.

[sadiesworld]

14. My only concern with this issue...

is that everytime W's service (well, lack thereof) is dicussed it is always accompanied by a whole raft of photos of him in a fighter jet, in uniform, being pinned by Poppy, etc.

[snippy]

23. No. It will be a referendum on Bush.

Nearly every election featuring an incumbent is a referendum on the incumbent. That means this election will be about the economy, Iraq, and Bush's compulsive and incessant lying about everything.