POLITICS: Bush Asks Blacks to Go Republican

You ask how on earth I got into a "welfare" tangent from your assertion Kerry just hands out money to minorites, but Bush doesn't?

Let's see (assuming welfare means the same thing in my time zone as yours), maybe because (as I pointed out) Bush DOES just hand out money to minorites to the tune of a $2.1 billion dollar reversal of the WELFARE REFORM ACT. Specifically to giveaway food stamps to "immigrants" that happen to be more conservative, religious and pro-life. Yet you talk about Kerry buying votes?

You're actually mad about Kerry's proposed $10 billion dollar education reform specifically earmarking 10% ($1 billion) to target African Americans (which are 13% of the population by the way), but not mad about Bush's handout twice that size only going to immigrants?

A little conservative rhetoric refresher for you... You like "teaching people how to fish" and getting them off handouts. Education good. Bush's food stamps bad.

I see Bush trying to keep people on the dole right now by your very own arguments, and not Kerry.

Though an interesting read here would say conservatism promotes being poor and liberalism historically gets more people off the dole:

Myth: Welfare Increases Poverty (Fact: Historical and International Analyses Shows More Welfare Equals Less Poverty)

And I wasn't calling you stupid Seth. I forgot all about you about 100 words into that rant if you couldn't tell (sorry). I was just calling anyone that still thinks Bush is a welfare reformer daft. And from the ensuing arguments from Majic that got mad thinking I said conservatives and Bush were in lock step agreement, I see that many conservatives agree... Bush is no welfare reformer. Very happy to agree with you on that point Majic.

And I support welfare too Seth. Smart welfare. Happy to agree with you there as well. Though I'm extra unclear now how you could support Bush's approach to welfare giveaways as being either smart or conservative (if indeed you do).

Just to clarify, before all the strawmen started getting tossed around in the flames, my objection was to the notion that Bush somehow enjoys the blissful admiration of those on the right. That's utterly inconsistent with my observations and simply doesn't ring true.

To the extent you can agree with me that the right is not homogeneous in its opinions, and may disagree with Bush on many issues, we will agree.

Speaking to the more general scourge of polarized political rhetoric, which is both as tired and old as the hills, I submit that those wishing to honestly discuss topics need not resort to unnecessary distortion, oversimplification or labeling.

Yes, that includes me, and I don't mind being called on it, as long as we can keep such corrections brief and stay on topic.

Originally posted by RANT

Originally posted by FlyersFan
Dems give black voters the fish. Republicans teach them to fish. That's the difference.

Sorry??? (googling)

I'm finding all sorts of articles about Bush fishing, but none of the pictures have black people in them.

Did you mean Republicans teach black people to golf? Cause if Bush taught Tiger Woods he's pretty good then.

It's not hard to find black people near Bush, Secretary of State, Colin Powell and National Security Advisor, Condoleeza Rice. In fact the top 3 most powerful blacks in this country are republicans if you throw in Clarence Thomas. Blacks need to wake up, what do the democrats offer them, of course what do the dems offer anyone?
I kill me.

Condi and powell were hand pick for a purpose. By bush to make his cabinet look female firendly and black friendly.

By the way research in Condi achievments during Reagan and Bush senior she does love oil and she even have a tanker (oil) in her name.

[edit on 25-7-2004 by marg6043]

That link being a Dave Chappelle skit.

Bush Asks Blacks to go Republican

And Bush Threatens to Target Pot Smokers in the same week.

Okay, maybe that link will be revealed on The Daily Show instead.

I hate all this racial black/white/Hispanic/Asian/etc. talk... we're all Americans, we're all U.S. Citizens, and we're all human. Shouldn't we all want what's best for ourselves and the country? How is one's skin color supposed to affect this?


I think that the average American -- regardless of skin color -- wants the following out of life and their country:

-Liberty (freedom of speech, the press, assembly, etc.)
-Security (from both regular criminals, terrorists, and acts of war in the U.S.)
-Economy (whether liberal or conservative, both sides want everyone that can work to have a job, and be able to pay bills and [when necessary] support a family)
-Education (everyone, from high school dropouts to PhDs, can keep learning to adapt to changing times)
-Environment (we have to balance manufacturing with environmental safety, but we can't give up one for the other)

I'd add relations with other countries as an issue, because I think that most U.S. citizens want the U.S. to be friends with every country possible, but as Lincoln (I think it was him?) once said, "You can please all of the people some of the time, or some of the people all of the time, but you'll never please all of the people all of the time." I think the U.S. should be friends with every country we can, but without sacrificing sovereignty and security while doing it!

That being said, I think the issue is mute from a racial point of view. The average person, regardless of color, wants the same things out of life; and the average politican, regardless of who they are or which party they're from, wants everyone's votes.

Finally, I think that what Bush said in his speech at the Urban League applies to everyone! Certain politicians assume they have certain types of peoples' votes. No matter who you are, you should ask yourself, "Did this guy earn my vote? Or does he just assume he's already got it?"


P.S. -- The way this debate has gone also has me asking the question: Since liberals are socialist and conservatives are capitalist, but both want all of the things I listed above (but have different approaches to reaching those goals), is a debate even possible between the two sides? The two philosophies are totally divergent from each other, and no one on one side will ever be able to convince anyone on the other side that their side is the "right" one.

I guess that's why we go to the voting booths! LOL