Defining Issues

[JailForBush]

So what are the defining issues of Campaign 2004? Terrorism and the war in Iraq certainly rank high on the list, along with the economy. Global warming - or the environment in general - should be at or near the top. Corporate corruption is perhaps the biggest issue of all. We can't fix any major problems until we hold corporate crooks accountable.

But most of the talk one hears about the above issues is rather dull. Candidates just pay the big issues lip service, private citizens exchange the same ideas and observations over and over. So it goes.

I've been working on another set of defining issues. They may not be terribly important by themselves - at least, not on the national or international level - but they play a valuable service in defining Bush's opponents: Do they really care about reform, are they a bunch of idiots, or are many of them corporate operatives?

Here are three of my favorites:

1. Public Education - This issue is very rarely discussed here on DU, and I've seen virtually no posts of any merit. How can anyone take either Republicans or Democrats seriously if they don't give a damn about their own children?

2. The Green Party of Seattle - Al Gore versus Ralph Nader could well be included among the major issues of Campaign 2004. Yet neither side is anxious to discuss the Green Party of Seattle. I say the GPS is corrupt. Its better known members, including Brita Butler-Wall and Sally Soriano, are corporate whores.

One would expect Democrats to pile on and say, "Amen!" Similarly, one would expect Seattle Greens to rally behind Brita, Sally and their cronies.

Yet neither group rises to the challenge. Why is that? Are they actually sleeping in the same bed?

3. Bill Gates - I'm sickened by the mindless support Bill Gates gets on this chatboard. If they feel they can't win a debate focusing on Microsoft's business activities or products, people rally behind Bill Gates' "philanthropy." Never mind the fact that it's as phony as a thirteen-dollar bill.

So here's a question for Bill Gates' fans:

Given the concern about electronic voting machines, would you trust Microsoft to oversee the coming election? Would you feel comfortable knowing that all the voting machines were running on Windows, security flaws and all, and Microsoft executives were charged with tallying the votes?

Education, the Green Party of Seattle and Bill Gates are among the least discussed issues on this forum. That's precisely why they're so useful in determining how serious Democrats and liberals in general are about reform.

[never cry wolf]

1. I appreciate your concerns and agree

but I think with the general public, the uninformed voters, these are non-starters, side issues at best.

As much as I would like policy to determine this election I am afraid that packaging will be the determining force amongst the uninformed masses.

shrubbie was packaged as bringing honor and integrity back to the WH and it worked to a great extent. This is all his core is running on now and we all know it is only fumes. IMHO, we all have to hit hard on the lies and deceptions, conflicts of interest, etc. Tear down his credibility with those that learn their current events from the 9 minutes of nightly news that occurs before the local news, weather and sports.

my 2 cents.

[bryant69]

2. I'm rally not sure why

Democratic Underground would give a crap about the Green Party of Seatle. I mean they are their own party. If they want to employ people of low character, as you are accusing them of, well then that's their choice, isn't it? I'm not saying it's not bad, I'm just not sure what the Democratic party needs to do about it.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[JailForBush]

3. That's Simple.

1. Seattle is a very liberal city and the de facto capital of not just Washington State but the Pacific Northwest. It's of considerable importance.

2. Many Seattleites post here.

3. It isn't necessarily about the Democratic Party "doing" something about the Green Party of Seattle. I found it odd that virtually everyone is so reluctant to even mention it.

The fact is, King County Democrats and the Green Party of Seattle are in bed together. They're also sharing their bed with Republicans.