Ok, so it's been a few days and the fervor has died down a bit, so I'm going to talk about what I thought of the Democratic National Convention in Boston last week:
Actually, screw the convention (including Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton the most) and let's just focus on John Kerry.
I don't know if you guys heard, but apparently John Kerry was in Vietnam. And apparently 2 years = 4.5 months = 2 tours. I wish someone could explain that to me, too. I mean, maybe Mr. Blake didn't teach Cold War History the best, but I know that a tour in 'Nam was a full year.
Ok, and I'm not going to attack John Kerry's stuttering and getting stuck on a few words, because that happens to everyone... And... Obviously, you don't need to be a good speaker to be president. I am, however going to attack the people who tell me that Kerry was "RIGHT ON" with his speech. Perhaps, if you're already a democrat and already voting for Kerry, it seemed right-on, but I more-or-less found myself saying: "WTF!? Stop attacking Bush for no reason and tell me your politics!"
But I did learn a few things about Kerry. He hates Bush and all of Bush's cabinet and administration. He wants to raise taxes on everyone except the middle class... Which means THE RICH, because poor people don't HAVE money.
Also, he wants to fund terrorism groups... Wait... Ahem... ANTI-terrorism groups! Oh. Those slips, we call FREUDIAN.
Kerry opens with his goal of "make America stronger at home and respected in the world." Well. I'm in favor of those things! I Should vote for Kerry! Right?
And he was BORN in the west wing, Christ. He's just DESTINED to be president then, yeah?
Can I just ask you one thing Mr. Kerry? "Trees as the cathedrals of nature"? What the hell does that mean? I like trees. I like nature. Where the fuck does cathedral fit in there? Maybe I'm just not getting it because my IQ is too high, but is anyone out there going "oh, Mr. Kerry, Sir, you're SOOOO amazing and symbolic with that cathedral talk, you'd be a great president!"
Kerry also wants women to be equal in this country. Ok, well... Last I checked, when I get a divorce from my wife and she gets everything I own (not just 1/2)... I agree, I would like women to be equal (50-50). Ladies (and I know this isn't all of you) but you've had the right to vote for over 80 years. That's... Do a little math... 20+ presidential elections. Also, there ARE more women in this country than men. To my knowledge, most universities have more women than men. (which makes me question why I'm sitting at home on a Saturday night...) So ladies, after 20+ elections, you still aren't equal? With the majority of the population, you still aren't equal? I'm not saying there are no sexually-biased, misogynist situations in this world, but is it really a problem? Also, what is Kerry going to do to fix it more than Bush? How about Nader? I know the green party has "changing the patriarchal society" or however it's worded on their platform.
Kerry also appealed to all the aged, stinky hippies in the country by saying that their work in the 60s ISN'T OVER. Seriously. Ok, I'll buy that, Kerry. But in Vietnam how many buildings on American soil were BLOWN UP. And let's talk civil rights. Which president had a more ethnically diverse cabinet and administration, Clinton or Dubya? I'll give you hint, Mr. Kerry, it's the one who DIDN'T cheat on his wife IN the oval office.
Kerry did however mention 2 votes in his 20 years in the senate, which was nice of him. Ok, granted, senators always have a disadvantage when running for president. Theirs is a legislative position, and as such, they have to make sacrifices and vote for things they don't agree with just to get things they do want passed. I acknowledge that, Mr. Kerry. You have 20 years of voting for all kinds of things you don't agree with... Good luck trying to beat Bush there, Mr. Flip-Flop.
Also, guys, THIS is what the "High Road" looks like:
"I will be a commander in chief who will never mislead us into war. I will have a vice president who will not conduct secret meetings with polluters to rewrite our environmental laws. I will have a secretary of Defense who will listen to the best advice of our military leaders. And I will appoint an Attorney General who actually upholds the Constitution of the United States."
I would really like to know how Kerry plans to fix healthcare without raising taxes. I would like to know how he plans to fund MORE military AND more social programs without raising taxes. I would like to know how he plans to pay down the national debt without raising taxes. I would LOVE to know how Kerry plans to fund social security without raising taxes.
So Bush divided America. I'm not a Bush supporter, but when we catch terrorists searching for WMD in Iraq, that leads me to believe that the weapons, at least, WERE there.
Kerry says Bush DISTORTED intelligence evidence with politics to go to war. Didn't Clinton himself say that he was given the SAME intelligence as Bush? That Saddam DID have WMD and that he WAS a threat.
I wonder how many allies will be willing to jump on the Iraqi bandwagon when Kerry announces that we only need them to "share the burden, reduce the cost to American taxpayers, and reduce the risk to American soldiers." Just a thought.
"I will never hesitate to use force when it is required. Any attack will be met with a swift and certain response. I will never give any nation or international institution a veto over our national security. And I will build a stronger American military."
Don't most democrats want a SMALLER military? That was always my understanding growing up. I would have bet that any Democrat would sacrifice the military budget for education or healthcare. Kerry wants his cake and to build the military, too.
"As President, I will fight a smarter, more effective war on terror. We will deploy every tool in our arsenal: our economic as well as our military might; our principles as well as our firepower."
Kerry, are you shitting me? He just keeps using words like SMARTER and MORE EFFECTIVE than Bush. HOW? If you think that Bush ISN'T using every tool in our arsenal, you're a retard, I'm sorry.
"In these dangerous days there is a right way and a wrong way to be strong. Strength is more than tough words." More than tough words, eh? How about invading Afghanistan? How about Iraq? How about telling some of our fair-weather friends and allies to SHOVE-IT. (I'm not here to argue the allies situation, however I will if given the chance.)
"Yes, Mr. Chirac, Mr. Bush is on the phone, he wants to tell you to shove it."
The few things that Kerry did say, which I respect and agree with are:
"We need to make America once again a beacon in the world. We need to be looked up to and not just feared." Yes, we do.
and "And our energy plan for a stronger America will invest in new technologies and alternative fuels and the cars of the future -- so that no young American in uniform will ever be held hostage to our dependence on oil from the Middle East." Awesome. Great. That's definitely good news.
"You don't value families by kicking kids out of after-school programs and taking cops off our streets, so that Enron can get another tax break." Now, I don't know about Bush's ending after-school programs and taking cops off the street, but Mr. Kerry should know that most of the Enron shit happened under "Clinton's" watch. If, in fact, a president can be blamed for that.
See, he just throws these words out there, and I want to listen and believe him. I want to hate Bush for all kinds of reasons and for every problem in the world, but I can't. Kerry, you can do better than this, or if you can't you don't deserve to be president.
I don't like Bush, but I'll defend him against ignorant attacks and propaganda. Kerry, all you have to do is lead. All you have to do is say why you'll be better, and how. Not just that you WILL be better.
Also, who knew Kerry was so religious. Do most democrats agree with that too, now?
"And all Americans will be able to buy less expensive prescription drugs from countries like Canada." Is that even LEGAL? Is that even constitutional? I suppose we could import drugs from Canada, but they're only cheaper up there because of subsidy... So... Why would the Canadians let us milk off their system as a national policy?
So yes, I'll agree with all of those who say "this was Kerry's best speech". It truly was. It gave me the opportunity to galvanize my position against him. I don't think he'd be a good president. I don't think that John Kerry is the man to defeat Bush. I don't think he will. And I'm going on record saying this.
So these are my predictions:
George W. Bush will win the election this November.
In 2008, the country will be sick of republicans and the contest will be Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama.
Obama will win the election and his re-election.
Ralph Nader will live out the rest of his life quietly and peacefully. Eventually, he'll die and it will be but a blurb on the mainstream news.
