Bush's a Done Deal...or is it?
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Megan Forbes wrote: Apparently unemployment hasn't been this bad in the US in 70 years I don't know where you got this from Megan, but it is way off. Currently, unemployment is the same as it was in the mid 90's. It is not bad at all. There are spots that are "bad" (6.5%), but it's mostly been blown out of proportion. It's about half of what it was in the early 80's. Comparisons to the Great Depression are completely absurd. BW The Biggest Loser
"Farm Donkey makes us laugh.
Farm Donkey hauls some ass."
-The StovesThe problem with the unemployment figures (and this has always been the case), is that they don't show what kind of jobs have been lost, versus what kind have been created. More manufacturing and technology jobs have been lost in the last 4 years than any other type of job. However, the new jobs that have been created have been retail and service based. A bigf generalization - people who used to work in the technology industry are now working at Home Depot or Wal-Mart. I personally know 3 people at my local Home Depot who were working in corporate America and after downsizing, had to take something to make ends meet. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
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It depends on where you look. Some news sites have called Ohio (which would mean it's over for Kerry) but others still call it too close to call. I imagine that if it gets extremely tight we'll see more of what happened last year. We'll just have to wait and see what happens in the morning I guess. I give up for now. It's 2:12am EST and I've had it.
Bush has a 130,000+ vote lead in Ohio. Even if there are 250k provisional ballots to be counted (and we get to wait 11 days for that...) Kerry would have to take 76% of those just to tie. As close as the election was, it isn't even remotely likely that he would get that percentage. The Dems are just being Gore losers again. Bush won with 51-48% majority in the popular vote (US wide) as well... Why would anyone waste time arguing with an accountant about anything? Their sole function is to record what happenned, and any higher aspirations are mere delusions of grandeur. On the ladder of productive contributions they are the little rubber pads at the bottom that keep the thing from sliding out from under you. - Roger Wright
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The problem with the unemployment figures (and this has always been the case), is that they don't show what kind of jobs have been lost, versus what kind have been created. More manufacturing and technology jobs have been lost in the last 4 years than any other type of job. However, the new jobs that have been created have been retail and service based. A bigf generalization - people who used to work in the technology industry are now working at Home Depot or Wal-Mart. I personally know 3 people at my local Home Depot who were working in corporate America and after downsizing, had to take something to make ends meet. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
To compare our economy with the Depression Era is ridiculous no matter how you look at it. We aren't even close to that. No doubt we've lost high tech jobs and manufacturing jobs, but we do have the means to get by during the slower period, and avg. incomes are steady. We'll be booming this time next year. ;) BW The Biggest Loser
"Farm Donkey makes us laugh.
Farm Donkey hauls some ass."
-The Stoves -
a very good point and i also note that CNN say something different to the previouly listed website http://us.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/[^] Bryce --- To paraphrase Fred Dagg - the views expressed in this post are bloody good ones. --
Publitor, making Pubmed easy. http://www.sohocode.com/publitorOur kids book :The Snot Goblin
Like the Dems, The Communist News Network clings to hope event in the face of fact. Why would anyone waste time arguing with an accountant about anything? Their sole function is to record what happenned, and any higher aspirations are mere delusions of grandeur. On the ladder of productive contributions they are the little rubber pads at the bottom that keep the thing from sliding out from under you. - Roger Wright
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The problem with the unemployment figures (and this has always been the case), is that they don't show what kind of jobs have been lost, versus what kind have been created. More manufacturing and technology jobs have been lost in the last 4 years than any other type of job. However, the new jobs that have been created have been retail and service based. A bigf generalization - people who used to work in the technology industry are now working at Home Depot or Wal-Mart. I personally know 3 people at my local Home Depot who were working in corporate America and after downsizing, had to take something to make ends meet. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
Yes there has been a net job loss since 9/11 but what person could have prevented THAT job loss? no one Second there has been a net job GAIN in the last year to show that we are bounceing back. ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO MICROSOFT! Demonware Studios Leader
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At 5:19 pm AEST Bush - 269 Kerry - 211 According to http://www.realclearpolitics.com/[^] If I understand the American system properly he needs a total of 270, therefore he is one away from the win. [update] http://us.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/[^] says something different seems its not quite so clearcut after all , ahh the murky world of elections results... ;) cheers Bryce --- To paraphrase Fred Dagg - the views expressed in this post are bloody good ones. --
Publitor, making Pubmed easy. http://www.sohocode.com/publitorOur kids book :The Snot Goblin
The actual numbers are still much lower - the 269 is the news predictions, which are probably close but not exact. The number of positive electoral votes for Bush is still below 150. Something else to consider is the Colorado vote, for example. Yesterday they also voted on whether or not to change the way their Electoral votes are allocated. If approved, it will take effect for yesterdays election and will disperse the Electoral votes based on a percentage rather than the all-or-nothing approach used by other states with the exception of Maine and Nebraska. That could drop Bush a couple of points and give Kerry a few extra. The measure did not look like it was going to pass in earlier polls last week but since then a judge threw out a challenge and left it up to the colorado voters to decide.
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some FYI notes about the election Republicans (conservatives for those of you who don't follow American elections) increased their majorities in the senate and the house. Democrats (liberals) lost senate seats including their minority leader which has almost never happened in the history of American politics. One of the most interesting exit poll notes was that the issue that really turned many votes for the president were cultural issues. According to CNN, %21 of people exit polled named cultural issues (gay marriage being at the forefront) as their #1 issue, the economy came in second at %20 and the Iraq war came in third at %17. This is significant in that I don't think any of us thought the election would turn in the end on cultural issues. I'm curious if cultural issues are much of an election issue in Europe where things are much more culturally liberal. Or Asia where it seems to be more culturally conservative. thoughts?
Allen Anderson wrote: This is significant in that I don't think any of us thought the election would turn in the end on cultural issues. To be honest, IMHO the worst thing Kerry has going for him is that he doesn't appear to truely love his wife. Deep down this really bothers me. He even signed a pre-nup before they married and she retains her maiden name. Bush relies on Laura for support is isn't ashamed (in fact he is even proud) to admit that. Bush may not be the best public speaker, but WYSIWYG. He is open and honest and not afraid to say things that may not appeal to the vocal minority. Either way, Kerry couldn't connect with me and I fear he may have many a skeleton in the closet that I'm not interested in finding out about after-the-fact. Anyway, just my 0.02USD. ~Nitron.
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At 5:19 pm AEST Bush - 269 Kerry - 211 According to http://www.realclearpolitics.com/[^] If I understand the American system properly he needs a total of 270, therefore he is one away from the win. [update] http://us.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/[^] says something different seems its not quite so clearcut after all , ahh the murky world of elections results... ;) cheers Bryce --- To paraphrase Fred Dagg - the views expressed in this post are bloody good ones. --
Publitor, making Pubmed easy. http://www.sohocode.com/publitorOur kids book :The Snot Goblin
Last I checked it was still up in the air, though likely a Bush win. However there are enough votes counted that Kerry cannot get the majority of the popular vote. So, for all those who were saying Gore should have been president 4 years, ago, will you now be saying that Bush should be president if Kerry wins?
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some FYI notes about the election Republicans (conservatives for those of you who don't follow American elections) increased their majorities in the senate and the house. Democrats (liberals) lost senate seats including their minority leader which has almost never happened in the history of American politics. One of the most interesting exit poll notes was that the issue that really turned many votes for the president were cultural issues. According to CNN, %21 of people exit polled named cultural issues (gay marriage being at the forefront) as their #1 issue, the economy came in second at %20 and the Iraq war came in third at %17. This is significant in that I don't think any of us thought the election would turn in the end on cultural issues. I'm curious if cultural issues are much of an election issue in Europe where things are much more culturally liberal. Or Asia where it seems to be more culturally conservative. thoughts?
I know they were an issue for me. A lot of the debates hinged on Iraq and security and terrorism. But the history of countries like Israel have taught us this much - you can't stop terrorists with security measures. Period. If you stop them from getting on planes, then they'll bomb the malls, and if you stop them in the malls, then they'll bomb the schools, and so on. Israeli's have been bombed in night clubs, restaurants, busses - you can't stop terrorists, other than to find them and get them. Anyway, my point is, given the above, neither Bush not Kerry can gaurantee my safety and security, so it makes it a non issue for me. The troops are also a non-issue - in that despite their best promises, there is just no way that we can pull out of Iraq in short order. There is too much to be done there, and too much at stake. Whether Bush or Kerry is in the Whitehouse, we will still be in Iraq 4 years from now. So it's a non issue. I don't really have much faith in either Kerry or Bush when it comes to the economy and healthcare issues. That's just me, but I think they are both useless in those areas. So again, for me, a non-issue. That leaves cultural issues. Gay marriage. Stem cell research. Prayer in schools. The mixing of church of state. For me, these are important issues. I support gay marriage. I support stem cell research. I don't support prayer in school. I don't like it when federal law is based on religious beliefs. So I had to vote on those issues alone. -Todd Davis (toddhd@gmail.com)
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Then we are all truly doomed Christian I have several lifelong friends that are New Yorkers but I have always gravitated toward the weirdo's. - Richard Stringer
Do you really believe that, or are you being melodramatic? Gary Kirkham A working Program is one that has only unobserved bugs He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot Me blog, You read
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The actual numbers are still much lower - the 269 is the news predictions, which are probably close but not exact. The number of positive electoral votes for Bush is still below 150. Something else to consider is the Colorado vote, for example. Yesterday they also voted on whether or not to change the way their Electoral votes are allocated. If approved, it will take effect for yesterdays election and will disperse the Electoral votes based on a percentage rather than the all-or-nothing approach used by other states with the exception of Maine and Nebraska. That could drop Bush a couple of points and give Kerry a few extra. The measure did not look like it was going to pass in earlier polls last week but since then a judge threw out a challenge and left it up to the colorado voters to decide.
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some FYI notes about the election Republicans (conservatives for those of you who don't follow American elections) increased their majorities in the senate and the house. Democrats (liberals) lost senate seats including their minority leader which has almost never happened in the history of American politics. One of the most interesting exit poll notes was that the issue that really turned many votes for the president were cultural issues. According to CNN, %21 of people exit polled named cultural issues (gay marriage being at the forefront) as their #1 issue, the economy came in second at %20 and the Iraq war came in third at %17. This is significant in that I don't think any of us thought the election would turn in the end on cultural issues. I'm curious if cultural issues are much of an election issue in Europe where things are much more culturally liberal. Or Asia where it seems to be more culturally conservative. thoughts?
For better or worse, we see the president as having some influence over the laws that affect our culture - and so we care about his cultural values. When a candidate seems to have cultural values that conflict with ours, it's a big discouragement to vote for him. Even if a candidate's values align with ours, we'll think poorly of him if he seems unwilling to stand up for them. This was a *big* knock against Kerry in my book. It's one thing if you're running under a platform that is full-on against Gov't intervention (e.g. Libertarian) in cultural issues... But the Dems are as much or more about making laws that affect us culturally as the Republicans, so saying you're gonna stay away from certain hot issues just throws up the bullshit flag. We're electing these people to represent our interests. The interests they represent are as much tradition as anything. If they can't or won't indicate that they'll vote our way, then we won't vote theirs.
"The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things..." -
brianwelsch wrote: I don't know where you got this from Megan The breakfast tv news here in the UK... some American chap was saying it's dropped over the last 4 years in a way which can only be compared to the time Hoover was president. Perhaps it's just another example of overzealous reporting :sigh:
Look at the world about you and trust to your own convictions. - Ansel Adams
Meg's World - Blog Photographywow, really? The unemployment rate for the US is 5.4% right now and the average wage while not going up, certainly hasn't gone down (so people who suggest that all manufacturing jobs have gone to walmart are not correct). The unemployment rate is the same as it was in 1996 when Clinton won his second term in office and all the major media outlets were talking about how 'good' the economy was. I've heard that the news people get about the US in other countries is many times wildly different from the reality here because of the reporter or news organizations personal political beliefs. I guess that's just one glaring example.
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Like the Dems, The Communist News Network clings to hope event in the face of fact. Why would anyone waste time arguing with an accountant about anything? Their sole function is to record what happenned, and any higher aspirations are mere delusions of grandeur. On the ladder of productive contributions they are the little rubber pads at the bottom that keep the thing from sliding out from under you. - Roger Wright