Text 1720, 88 rader
Skriven 2004-09-02 19:39:00 av JOHN MASSEY (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av JOHN HULL
Ärende: SWIFT BOATERS IGNORE BUSH
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JH> JM> Yes the Republicans have a wide tent as they say but that is not
JH> JM> the same as having a broad consensus. This country is more
JH> JM> evenly  divided than at anytime I can remember. 

JH>The GOP today has a much broader concensus than at any time in its
JH>history.  Several of the sharper commentators have even remarked on
JH>that the last couple of days.  It is broad enough in fact, that a lot
JH>of the party officials are worried about losing the hard core right
JH>wing of the party.

Well I just don't see it that way. From the Far Religious Right to the 
Log Cabin Republicans may represent diversity but that doesn't 
necessarily mean a broad consensus. 
  

JH>I think the country, however, has always been this divided.  Its only
JH>been in the last few election cycles that it has come up to the
JH>surface and become obvious,

Always is a long time. I don't think that we had the anti-war, anti-
American sentiment in WWII, at least that not the way the history books 
tell me. 


JH> JH>>I have no problem with the groups presenting their views, but
JH> JH>>the same sort of protections have to be in place as in regular
JH> JH>>campaign groups to prevent outside influences from interfering
JH> JH>>with our elections.

JH> JM> Then change the law to stop money from outside the country or
JH> JM> from  non citizens. To tell Americans that they can not join
JH> JM> together and  spend money they earned to express their political
JH> JM> views is just flat  out wrong, no matter what reason is given.

JH> JM> GWB took an oath to protect the Constitution. Calling for an end
JH> JM> to the 527's is not protecting the Constitution

JH> JM> GWB is on the wrong side of this issue.

JH>This whole 527 thing is the result of McCain-Feingold, some of the
JH>worst legislation that has ever been enacted.

I agree.


JH> As any number of
JH>analysts have pointed out during the commentary this cycle, 527s are
JH>an unintended consequence of that bill.  The Democrats forced it
JH>through as I recall.  Congress blew it big time on this one, and they
JH>will have to fix it,

Yep


JH> and I expect they will if Bush is there to prod
JH>them to do it, but he's stuck with it for the moment.  The problem is
JH>the lack of accountability for where the money comes from and who is
JH>giving it, not the amounts.  I agree that it is a restriction of free 
JH>speech to try to prevent people from spending their money in a
JH>political manner, but it is NOT a violation to require accountability
JH>or to restrict the sources of that money to US citizens.

Well that old libertarian in me doesn't agree with the accountability 
issue. As you know I support the Fair Tax or sometimes called the 
National retail sales tax. As an offshoot of that I believe that how 
much I make is no ones business especially the governments business. But 
I do agree that it should me American money so there must be a way to 
work that out.



JH>That is what Bush is complaining about.  You don't seriously think
JH>he's upset over the Swiftboat ads taking Kerry to task, do you?

Nope

JH>Especially when the Dem groups have been ripping him a new bunghole
JH>at every opportunity.  He's had to make a gesture to appease certain
JH>factions until the election is over and the problems with campaign
JH>money can be corrected.   

Calling for an end to free speech is not the right gesture. IMHO

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