World-wide Vote for the next US President?

[MacD]

Given that the USA is the only "Super-Power" left in the world at present, should everybody be able to vote for the US President? Well that's the question behind this website www.betavote.com which allows you to "vote" for Kerry or Bush.

At present the world and NZ is looking pretty "Democratic" and Kerry is leading Bush by about 2:1 for the USA. I wonder if that says anything about your typical computer user?

[riffer]

In my opinion neither are worthy of the job.

[Paul in NZ]

Anyone that wants that job ought to be automatically excluded, prevented from breeding and all living relatives should be tracked down and neutered as well...

Paul N

(thinks about Hillary Clinton and extends this to their partners families as well)

[Hitcher]

In my opinion neither are worthy of the job.

I agree with your opinion.

I am staggered that the "world's greatest democracy" is prepared to tolerate such a corrupt electoral system; and why the only two political parties in that country, from the potential pool of talent available, can only find these two dickhead losers to compete against each other.

It will be interesting to see whether George W has to rely on brother Jeb to get him elected this time round!

[MikeL]

I watched last night's television documentary on the events of 9/11. There were many striking images, but for me the most unforgettable was not the plane hitting the building, or the air force pilot choked with emotion at the thought of shooting down innocent civilians, but the look on Bush's face as he stood at the front of that classroom and tried to come to terms with what he had just been told. In the circumstances some indecisiveness might have been expected, but his blank incomprehension and utter bewilderment spoke volumes.

[MacD]

In my opinion neither are worthy of the job.

It seems quite a few Americans agree with you given that the voter turnout has only been about 50% for the past 8 or so Presidential elections.

[jazbug5]

Just recieved this in an email and couldn't resist posting it here...

THE LIE CLOCK**
*
A man died and went to heaven. As he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind him. He asked,*"What are all those clocks?"*

St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie Clocks. Everyone on Earth has a*Lie Clock.*Every time you lie the hands on your clock will move."*

"Oh," said the man, "whose clock is that?" "That's Mother Teresa's.*The hands have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie." Incredible," said the man. "And whose clock is that one?" St. Peter responded, "That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved*twice, telling us that Abe told only two lies in his entire life."*

"Where's Bush's clock?" asked the man.*

"Bush's clock is in Jesus' office. He's using it as a ceiling fan."

[jrandom]

Merkins electing an intelligent president?



Anyway, what would we do without someone to generate quotes like the recent one about gynaecologists "practicing their love"?

[BurnCycle]

Living in the states and experience this first hand is overwhelming. It’s not the better man gets voted in, it’s the one with the most money that was able to dig up the most skeletons on the competition and make them stick.

The two party thing is also a joke. Die hard Republicans and Democrats are so closed minded it’s a wonder bi-partisan is anything but a dream. There is the Independent party, one day it would be nice to see some of this party have some power/money/honesty and not anything that exposure would ruin. I swear more money is spent running smear campaigns during election time than highlighting accomplishment and what it means to the American people.

I have been living in the US for ~25 years as a NZ citizen which means I can’t vote… Something I wish I could do.

[moko]

Maybe a bit off-topic but I`ve just read a book called Rogue State by William Blum.A good read for anyone under any illussions that America is the land of the free or supporter of anything like democracy or freedom of speech anywhere in the world.I`ve read all the Michael Moore type books but this on still had me frigging angry at what was told.Apparently America is virtually blackmailing Vietnam into repaying debts owed by South Vietnam before the war,if they dont the U.S. will block all aid e.t.c. from the World Bank,IMF e.t.c.Meanwhile guess how much they`ve paid in compensation for destroying that country,yep,nothing.
I`d have a lot more respect for Kerry if he`d stop trying to paper over his anti-war activities in the past,says it all about the U.S. that telling people what really went on in Vietnam is seen as little less than treason,no-one`s saying what he said was wrong,they just seem to think he was wrong to say it.
Not only did Bush`s reaction when he was told about 9/11 say a lot but so did the t.v. footage that for spome reason you never see these days of a couple of hours later,bloke was shitting himself,seems a lot braver sending other people off to fight his spiteful family fueds for him.Blair`s worse,he dosnt even have the excuse of being slightly retarded.

[badlieutenant]

I oftern wonder if the whole "america, greatest power on earth" thing is really not so. More and more america faces oppisition from other governments and continues to do whatever, the UN is a failed pawn for the U.S and as such barely has any power. If I was going to make a guess at who would be the greatest powers in the next 100 years it wouldnt be america. My money is on china and/or india. Resourses are going to get more and more scarce, both these countries have material resourses but probably more importantly thier wealth in sheer manpower is massive.
On a side note I think aussie is gona get screwed with its relationship with america. Didnt they hope to get a free trade agreement from america after vietnam??? now thier looking at random attacks from xtremist cells from within thier nearest neighbours. And a limited free trade agreement. Isnt that a oxymoron??
And wasnt william wallace (braveheart) a terrorist ?
After watching beslan last week Im so glad I havnt got any kids. What kind of world are we gona leave them.??

[SPman]

.... If I was going to make a guess at who would be the greatest powers in the next 100 years it wouldnt be america. My money is on china and/or india. Resourses are going to get more and more scarce, both these countries have material resourses but probably more importantly thier wealth in sheer manpower is massive. ...
O

My guess is China will be the next superpower. And watch the world run for cover when they walk into Taiwan in the next 10 years!

In my opinion neither are worthy of the job.

I am!

Oh.......

[Skyryder]

I watched last night's television documentary on the events of 9/11. There were many striking images, but for me the most unforgettable was not the plane hitting the building, or the air force pilot choked with emotion at the thought of shooting down innocent civilians, but the look on Bush's face as he stood at the front of that classroom and tried to come to terms with what he had just been told. In the circumstances some indecisiveness might have been expected, but his blank incomprehension and utter bewilderment spoke volumes.

Did not see the doc. but there are some stunning scenes in Mike Moore's Farenheit 9/11 that deals with this very thing when GB was at the school. Bush just looks bewildered. Moore makes him look a bit of a fool. It is interesting that when GB was first informed of this he said something to the effect "what sort of 'folks' (the trrorists) do this? The key word was folks and in American meaning folks have a warm fuzzy conotation like the folks next door. This clip was not in Moores doc and I have never seen it repeated on TV again. Guess the spin doctors have seen that it has been cut up.

Skyryder

[Ghost Lemur]

SP - We don't have to worry when that time comes. The NZ Government has NEVER recognized Taiwan. Screw having a free trade agreement with the US, costs more than it's worth.

A free trade deal with China on the other hand is well worth all effort.

Add to this having close ties with India and the Middle East and NZ is well placed on the world stage to avoid any US/Aus fallout.

Not a huge fan of Politics, I am thankful (irrespective of other policy, etc) that we had a leader who was willing to not bend to the US/Aus pressure. I have a feeling any of the last 5 national leaders would have just been another Blair/Howard and had their noses stuck up Bush's fanny.

[MikeL]

It is interesting that when GB was first informed of this he said something to the effect "what sort of 'folks' (the trrorists) do this? The key word was folks and in American meaning folks have a warm fuzzy conotation like the folks next door. This clip was not in Moores doc and I have never seen it repeated on TV again. Guess the spin doctors have seen that it has been cut up.

Skyryder

It was included in the BBC doco (the first time I had seen it since the original broadcast). It must have been an embarrassment to Bush's supporters, because it clearly indicates that the man is a total f*ckwit.