What was the first political issue you were intensely interested in?

[dmcowen674]

Originally Posted by Jaskalas
The price of being a figure head. Bush went through similar crap.

Bush was blamed for all the country's ills before he even took office?

No he wasn't, that P&N poster is throwing shit out there in the hopes of re-writing history. That's what Republinuts do.

The Country did great under Clinton.

When Bush and his Republinuts came in to power they de-regulated anything that had to do with Corporations and this is what we have now, a Country controlled by the Corporations.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Cuban Missile Crisis

 

[blankslate]

I had moderate interests in the Pro-choice vs Pro-life debate and equal rights for the LGBT population.

After 9/11 and the domestic and foreign policy decisions made in the few years afterwards I became interested in economic issues and how different presidents approach them in their domestic and foreign agendas.

 

[shortylickens]

George Bush's No New Taxes OOPS NEW TAXES!

 

[Matt1970]

Bush was blamed for all the country's ills before he even took office?

He got blamed for squandering away the "surpluses" even though revenues fell below outlays before one economic policy of his was signed into law.

 

[EagleKeeper]

He got blamed for squandering away the "surpluses" even though revenues fell below outlays before one economic policy of his was signed into law.

Of course; Clinton having the .COM bubble popping on his watch and then handing the reins over to Bush also has no bearing

 

[kage69]

Bush was blamed for all the country's ills before he even took office?

Of course! You don't remember all the liberals howling about that damn surplus he was responsible for even before he took office?!? Heh.

Seriously though, I do recall the GOP getting the bird over pre-Cheney\Bush days from Dems, liberals, and others during their term. It was about the Republican reaction en masse during Clinton's 2nd term regarding our focus on Osama bin Laden. This was directly related to our involvement in Somalia at the time.

And they deserved it! Those assholes chose to politically and financially obstruct the CiC regarding AQ when we were already under attack. They ridiculed/chastised anyone not agreeing with them as being suckered by tail wagging. Hunting for consensual blowjobs was more important that addressing attacks that had already claimed American lives. For that group to then defend the ignoring of pleas of warning and actual official warnings that were given to Cheney\Bush pre-9/11, then turn right around and slam Dems for anemic responses in the Clinton days and accuse them of not having the stones for war and of coddling terrorists! Just ..WOW!

I mean, just... holy shit. How can you not feel some indignation over that?

Just saying...




Nanette1985, you are the same age as my mother. You also grew up in a similar setting, although I hope for your sake there wasn't an analogous presence of alcoholism and mental illness. My mother's areas of focus were women's rights and the care of children with disabilities. Her religiousness waxed and waned for a long time, but when she remarried and my family relocated to the Middle East for almost 6 years, her 'inner evangelist' really started to come out. Getting to see this blossom in Qatar and Oman but still hoping home to the States in the summers for a few weeks really lead me to have a keen interest in political science and religions (and the wars that ignite when the two collide at times).
I'd say the separation of church and state was the first issue I got really interested in.

 

[blankslate]

Of course; Clinton having the .COM bubble popping on his watch and then handing the reins over to Bush also has no bearing

It does. But then so does cutting those top level taxes from 39.5% to around 34.5% (iirc) when the U.S. was in Afghanistan then Iraq. Those cuts didn't help that economic situation at all.

Especially when you consider the U.S. habits in regards to taxes in previous wars (declared or otherwise).




=====

 

[IronWing]

At the national and international level it was probably Reagan's dirty wars in Latin America. At one point in the eighties I realized that if the US switched sides in every war we were promoting, we would have come out on the moral high ground. We were propping up the scum of the earth.

 

[monovillage]

The Duck and Cover drills and why we were doing them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0K_LZDXp0I

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_and_cover

 

[Incorruptible]

It does. But then so does cutting those top level taxes from 39.5% to around 34.5% (iirc) when the U.S. was in Afghanistan then Iraq. Those cuts didn't help that economic situation at all.

Especially when you consider the U.S. habits in regards to taxes in previous wars (declared or otherwise).




=====

Cutting taxes is a good thing. There is nothing wrong with people wanting to keep more of their own money. The bush tax cuts increased revenue. The real problem is the endless spending caused by big government.

 

[blankslate]

Cutting taxes is a good thing. There is nothing wrong with people wanting to keep more of their own money. The bush tax cuts increased revenue. The real problem is the endless spending caused by big government.

Not always a good thing. Definitely not during wars that spike up the spending. You just like spouting talking points and it's pointless to look up supporting links to bolster replies made in response to your posts.

but have a nice day.

 

[cubby1223]

Didn't really follow politics until Obama got elected and all the hatred and bile started spewing out all over America. It was fascinating. He was being blamed for the recession before he was even sworn into office.

Chicken and the egg, dude, chicken and the egg. I didn't follow politics until just prior to those elections when the Democratic Party was running candidate after candidate each one vying for the title of who hates "the other side" the most.

Hatred begets more hatred.

Funny, though, I don't recall Obama being blamed for the recession before becoming President. Many argued his policies would prolong the current recession, make it worse. But I think you have a bit of memory troubles there, best try to work those out.

 

[Jaskalas]

No he wasn't, that P&N poster is throwing shit out there in the hopes of re-writing history. That's what Republinuts do.

That's just lovely, did you vote for Bush with that attitude?

I'm sure what I said was completely unjustifiable, no one ever criticized Bush.

 

[cubby1223]

Bush was blamed for all the country's ills before he even took office?

Obama was not blamed for all the country's ills before taking office.

Me thinks you need to question the outlets you receive your opinions from. MSNBC? Daily Kos? Media Matters? Move On? What was it?

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

Vietnam War...I still have my black armband.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

George Bush's No New Taxes OOPS NEW TAXES!

I know the term is a bit antiquated...but it's called compromise. Also, he did technically keep his promise...there were no new taxes...just existing taxes which were increased. In turn, Bush got twice the amount of tax increases in spending cuts which substantially reduced the deficit.

 

[fskimospy]

I know the term is a bit antiquated...but it's called compromise. Also, he did technically keep his promise...there were no new taxes...just existing taxes which were increased. In turn, Bush got twice the amount of tax increases in spending cuts which substantially reduced the deficit.

Let's face it, Bush broke his promise. I don't think that's a bad thing though, I think his actions there were admirable. He wasn't rigidly stuck to something like that absurd Grover Norquist anti-tax pledge and so he was able to notch a significant accomplishment that advanced his values. Had he absolutely refused to raise taxes he probably would have gotten nothing.

GHWB is one of my favorite Republican presidents of the last 40 years. I don't agree with his ideology much but he was a responsible leader that I can respect.

 

[etrigan420]

Iran-Contra.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

Let's face it, Bush broke his promise. I don't think that's a bad thing though, I think his actions there were admirable. He wasn't rigidly stuck to something like that absurd Grover Norquist anti-tax pledge and so he was able to notch a significant accomplishment that advanced his values. Had he absolutely refused to raise taxes he probably would have gotten nothing.

GHWB is one of my favorite Republican presidents of the last 40 years. I don't agree with his ideology much but he was a responsible leader that I can respect.

In current terminology, he just "misspoke". Anyway, I agree that he did the right thing negotiating on something that was near and dear to his heart for the greater good of the country.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Gulf War.

 

[Matt1970]

In current terminology, he just "misspoke". Anyway, I agree that he did the right thing negotiating on something that was near and dear to his heart for the greater good of the country.

Or he didn't tell the" whole truth".

 

[werepossum]

Me

http://www.salon.com/2001/07/17/screensaver/

LOL Even for a tech site that has to be a unique experience.

It does. But then so does cutting those top level taxes from 39.5% to around 34.5% (iirc) when the U.S. was in Afghanistan then Iraq. Those cuts didn't help that economic situation at all.

Especially when you consider the U.S. habits in regards to taxes in previous wars (declared or otherwise).

=====

Two points here. First, now that virtually all our consumer goods are manufactured in other countries, individual tax cuts have a fleeting economic benefit as money is spent and then largely flows out of our economy. Second, every use of military force needs to be paid for as a surtax on everybody. That way it's everybody's war/police action/bluff-that-went-wrong and it also doesn't screw up military procurement.

My own first was Bush I's plan to clear cut 40% of the national forests over a five year period. Hard to imagine a worse plan short of burning them down by seeding with flaming infants dropped from black UN helicopters running on a DDT/sarin gas mixture. That's still the only political issue that ever made me proselytize and write letters to political office holders.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

Or he didn't tell the" whole truth".

It just amazes me that otherwise rational, intelligent people play these word games and actually believe these examples of blatant doublespeak rationalizations. That's damn powerful koolaid they're drinking!

 

[fskimospy]

Two points here. First, now that virtually all our consumer goods are manufactured in other countries, individual tax cuts have a fleeting economic benefit as money is spent and then largely flows out of our economy. Second, every use of military force needs to be paid for as a surtax on everybody. That way it's everybody's war/police action/bluff-that-went-wrong and it also doesn't screw up military procurement.

US current account deficits only amount to about 3% of GDP. It's hard to see how that means spent money largely flows out of our country.