Newt Gingrich said yesterday that the American people may have to reexamine freedom of speech to meet the threat of terrorism.  I for one am not willing to make this concession.

Freedom of speech is vital to a free society, and any encroaches on it should be seen as an assault on each citizen of this country.  Redefining what is “free” speech and what is not is a slippery slope and is traditionally the starting point for totalitarian rule. 

I’m of the opposite opinion, that limiting free speech actually enables terrorists.  Putting limits on what is considered illegal speech would force individuals underground, and in today’s age, that means they will still be connected to the world and each other, but away from prying eyes.  Keep them in the open, if someone is blatantly preaching hate, violence or other negative points of view, GOOD, now we can watch until they attempt to commit a crime, arrest them and their colleagues.  Putting pressure on those that speak out will only serve to create new breeds of terrorists by giving them a position to rally support for.

Article (unionleader.com)

Technorati Tags: gingrich, bush, freedom, speech, terrorism

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Well, we won the House and the Senate, and now we wait.  President Bush is cleaning house, Rumsfeld is gone, and there is talk about the future of Karl Rove (aka Satan), and the President has even distanced himself from Cheney.  The one looming question in my mind is if the President is even capable of working with the Democrats.  After all the sly comments about the weakness of the Democrats during  the election, is it even possible for the Democrats to trust and work with the President?  Is this a President that is only able to get things done with like minded individuals?

I’m sure there will be more oversight, and some investigations, probably some trials, maybe an impeachment but will actual good come out of the next 2 years, or will this be a stalled government until 2008?

Only time will really tell, and we can only hope for the best.

Technorati Tags: bush, cheney, rove, rumsfeld, democrat

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This morning was like Christmas for me.  I jumped out of bed and quickly dashed to the TV to see the results from the elections I was to tired to remain awake for.  We took the House, and the Senate will likely be decided over recounts and lawyers.  We are making progress, the American people are voicing their need for change.  I am concerned about some of the problems that were voiced yesterday, strange calls, broken machines, Xerox ballots.  I’m not one for conspiracy theories but it seems these kind of events have been cropping up in every hotly contested race.  Look at the exit polls from Ohio in the 2004 Presidential race, even Zagby came out and said that the election was stolen, as the deviation between exit polls and the actual results were so different.  Lawyers, recounts, oh my.  I’m sure we’ll see a repeat of 2000 Florida, 2004 Ohio with armies of Lawyers battling over hanging chads and miscast ballots.

I only hope we have better lawyers. 

How can the system be fixed, there has to be a way for everyone to vote, and to avoid legal maneuvers following each and every election.  Maybe we just need more honest campaigns.  I for one am going to be glad to not have to listen to smear campaigns for another 2 years.  What ever happened to politicians telling people about what they stand for, instead of all the bad things the other guy did.

Technorati Tags: election, democrat, republican, exit poll

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President Bush announced during his press conference today that Defense Secretary Don RumsFeld will resign his position.  Former CIA director Robert Gates will be tapped to replace RumsFeld.

MSNBC

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What really would be the impact on the country if the Democrats win?  If you take out all the GOP rhetoric and look at what the Democrats are standing for now, I can only see benefit.

The one thing that people need to take note of, is the concept of the greater good.  Let’s look at a couple key issues :

1. “The Democrats will raise taxes” - Yes they will, but this is not something the “typical” American will affect.  They are looking to undo the Bush tax cuts, which make rich people richer.  This was a throwback to “voodoo economics” aka Trickle-Down, it didn’t work under Reagan, it won’t work now.  The government needs this funding to actually pay for social programs, defense, etc.  The concept of cutting taxes and then spending more is insane at best.  If a CEO ran a company like the administration runs the government, he would be ousted immediately (and the company would fold).

2. “The Democrats will let terrorists walk” - This is crazy, you can’t find someone that is weak on terror.  The balance has to be made between security and liberty.  We could be terrorist-free if we lived in a police state, but who really wants that.  Maintaining our identity as Americans is the most important part.  Sacrificing who you are and what you believe in is not an option, then the terrorists would win.

3. Education - Yes, they would finally stop leaving children left behind.  An educated electorate is one of the things the country was founded on.  It is important, and the most vial of need.

4. Minimum Wage - This is needed, we haven’t raised the minimum wage for years (decades?). So if you take into account inflation, then the minimum wage has DROPPED.

5. Bush will be impeached - This has been taken off the table by the Democratic leaders.  This sucks, but is for the greater good.  I believe that if Clinton was impeached by his behavior, then Bush should be sent to the Hage.

6. We’ll Run Screaming from Iraq - Not really, no one could just pull troops out tomorrow.  We can however put pressure on the President to make the decisions that need to be made and have him adjust his policies to get something done.

Here is a link to an article at ABCNEWS with the Democrats take:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Vote2006/story?id=2634098&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

Technorati Tags: bush, iraq, democrats, republicans, election

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I love it. I really do.  Looks like the Republican candidate for Governor in Florida snubbed President Bush by choosing to not appear with him at a campaign rally in Pensacola.  Charlie Crist apparently decided to go to Palm Beach instead. 

A lot of candidates have chosen to distance themselves from President Bush, but WOW.  Not showing up to your own rally of 10,000 people, just to stay away from YOUR PARTIES PRESIDENT, that takes come balls. 

Could there be a more clear sign that even the Republicans are tired of President Bush?

Reuters

Technorati Tags: florida, bush, elections, republican

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Elections are tomorrow and I’m starting to get hope that we can pull off an upset. 

I was just over at pollingreport.com and ITS ALL BLUE!  For the house anyway, so it looks like we’re going to pick up major seats there.

The old faithfull of electoral-vote.com has a projected new senate of 50 Dems 49 Rep, 1 Tie, but then again I lost a 5 dollar bet based on their predictions of Kerry/Bush 2006 “The Fruckus in Columbus”.

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

http://www.pollingreport.com/2006.htm

Technorati Tags: election, bush, democrat, republican

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Republican/Democrat/Independent/Jedi it doesn’t matter everyone needs to voice their opinion tomorrow.  Find your local polling place and PLACE YOUR VOTE.  Everything this country stands for is based on a public that participates in the elections.  If you voted for your favorite American Idol, then there is no reason you should not be voting for your favorite representative.  These are the votes that mean something.  These votes change the face of the American system, these votes save and cost lives, money, and security.  Clay Aiken[sic] cannot invade a country, cannot raise your taxes, cannot defeat the terrorists.  These votes count.

Get your voice heard!

Technorati Tags: republicans, democrats, vote, decision 2006

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Throw the Truthiness Bums Out by Frank Rich, is a must read before tomorrow’s elections.  Mr. Rich sums up nicely the Democratic/Republican back and forth over the last year.  It is not flattering of Mr. Bush, but is indicative of current sentiment.  From the stone-faced attendees during Colbert’s White House Correspondence dinner roast of the President, to Wolf Blitzer and Mrs. Cheney, this article sums up some of the more humerous events.

Throw the Truthiness Bums Out, by Frank Rich - NYT

Radar Contact Reprint of the story

Technorati Tags: rich, truthiness, bush, republican

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Iraq in itself is already divided, with Shite, Sunni, and Kurds holding their own regional power. Is a truly “united and democratic” Iraq even possible? It is time for the US to make some serious, well planned and thought out decisions on what to do in Iraq. For some time now, it has been apparent that the major ethic groups in the country do not, and do not want to get along. The case for partitioning is getting stronger.

It has been over 50 years since the pen of Winston Churchill carved Iraq out of the sand. It is time now to re-examine the power of Churchills pen and determine if our own ink can hold back the tide of violence in Iraq.

Time Article

Technorati Tags: bush, saddam, churchill, divide, iraq

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