Presidential Election Tomorrow...

[Dr_Woland]

hi Killian

from which part of the world are your non-US perspectives, if it's not a secret?

Dr W.

[Ronald_Barbour]

Dear Dr. Woland:

Your comments concerning G.W. Bush were spoken like one who is a regular viewer of Rosie O'Donnell or Larry King Live --- that "Bush is a pro-gun, pro-death, fascist!"

Firstly, Bush supports the U.S. Constitution. In this constitution, the first ten amendments are known as the "Bill of Rights" -- they were designed by the Founding Fathers to be a check on the government and a guarantee of basic civil rights for the citizens. The Second Amendment gives the people the right to keep and bear arms. Therefore, for an American president to be AGAINST the Second Amendment, or any other article in the constitution would make him fair game for impeachment, since he takes an oath to support and defend the constitution. I do believe that Gore is also on the same page as Bush on this issue, at least offically.

Secondly, Can it be stated that Bush is pro-death? I suppose your reference is to the fact that he is governor of a state (Texas) which mandates execution for 1st Degree Murder. Well, that's the law in Texas! Personally, I think that life in prison without possibility of parole is a far worse punishment than death, however, the people of Texas think differently and have legislated the death penalty into law. Tell me: Will you be unhappy when those racists are executed for dragging to death that poor black guy behind their pickup truck?

In regards for being "pro-death" I think that you would be on more firm ground on this issue with Gore. After all he is "pro-choice" which in reality is pro-death, since abortion kills innocent babies whose only "crime" is that they are inconvenient for mom. In ancient Rome, the father had the authority for the life or death of his children. In contemporary America, the woman decides life or death of the unborn child, regardless what dad thinks.

Thirdly, Can it be said that Bush is a fascist? Of course, you can say anything, but the reality is that Bush is 180 degrees away from fascism. Fascism -- if I remember correctly -- is that system of government whereby the State indirectly controls all aspect of life in a country. For example, in Nazi Germany the government did not seize industry and business (except from the Jews) as was the case in Soviet Russia, however, the Nazis did heavily regulate industry and move into directions that they chose. Does Bush propose that the American Government involve itself even more into industry in this country? Quite the contrary, he stands for deregulation of industry and would cut back or reduce government spending on social programs like Social Security, a part of which would be placed under private control. Bush would also attempt to move the government out of the "education business" and encourage private schools. Surely if Bush were really a fascist, wouldn't he want all schools to be government ones? After all, didn't Hitler's brainwashing of the youth of Germany began in elementary school?

Actually you would be closer to the mark to contend that Gore is a fascist. Does he not support the plans that the Democrats have for a government that involves itself in all aspects of American life? "Womb to the Tomb" coverage for the average America -- if you are lucky enough to be born....

[Dr_Woland]

>> spoken like one who is a regular viewer of Rosie O'Donnell or Larry King Live <<

I do not watch TV, or have a TV. My views on Bush are based on his record.


>> The Second Amendment gives the people the right to keep and bear arms.<<

And if you knew your own Constitution a little BETTER, you'd realise that this right is given for one specific set of circumstances only. And I also happen to know that the NRA briefs its members to wheel-out this half-truth on occasions where it finds dissenting views. There's nothing like an appeal to patriotism to justify walking-around like Charles Bronson, I guess.


>> Secondly, Can it be stated that Bush is pro-death? <<

At 149 and counting, he seems to be doing pretty well as Death's Agent On Earth.

>> Will you be unhappy when those racists are executed for dragging to death that poor black guy behind their pickup truck? <<

I would prefer them to serve out their entire life in jail - the longer they live, the better.

>> . After all he is "pro-choice" which in reality is pro-death <<

Thanks for the cut-paste from the Bush official campaign materials. I note from it that you are (a) anti-choice, and therefore a hypocrite when you claim to defend liberties, and (b) unable to answer for your killer-hero's record on the death penalty - a topic you find sufficiently uncomfortable that you choose to change it.

>> In ancient Rome, the father had the authority for the life or death of his children. In contemporary America, the woman decides life or death of the unborn child, regardless what dad thinks. <<

a) I don't see the relevance of Ancient Rome
b) I note your implicit chauvinism in believing that it is perfectly ok for one parent to have authority for the life or death of children - provided that parent is the father?

Regarding your comments about fascism, I don't believe that the Nazi Party of the Third Reich is especially well remember today for its atrocities in the field of factory regulations. I would describe your line of argument here as deliberately smokescreening the real issues. It IS notorious for its discrimination and systematic attrition of ethnic and social minorities whom it chose to stigmatise for the failures of national economy - a policy in which George W Bush believes. It furthermore attempted to stoke-up public hysteria about the danger of attack from unspecified enemies, and proposed "attack as the best form of defence" - a policy ALSO favoured by George W Bush.

Your remarks about the nationalising of schools are clever, but irrelevant. Bush is an extreme right-winger, and its his policies on race discrimination, the equality offered to minorities of all kinds, and foreign policy (if indeed he has a foreign policy other than "nuke the russkies") that show him for the fascist the rest of the world sees him to be.

Minorities have no place in Bush's America. He believes in One American People.

Ein Reich. Ein Volk.

You can use any kind of deceptions you care to, Ron, but the rest of the world sees this dumbass redneck for what he is, and quakes in fear that a guy who came-out with the quotations I provided, has his finger on the four-minute button.

Dr W.

[Ronald_Barbour]

Dear Dr. Woland:

After reading your response on G.W. Bush I'm thinking of the Second Coming of Adolf Hitler! I even jumped up and looked out my window here in beautiful Orlando, Florida USA and looked for the Brownshirts! I didn't see a single one (Unless you count the UPS guy who did wear a brown uniform). Then I looked across the street and my neighbor's "Old Glory" American flag was still proudly waving in the gentle sunny Florida breeze! Yep, I can state that the swastika flag is not flying in the Grand&Glorious State of Florida -- except perhaps at the various Democratic Party headquarters where --even as I type these words -- Gore political hacks are trying to steal the election from Bush (grin).

Bush is ahead by approximately 600 votes at last notice...

Anyhow, I get the impression that you are a young leftist intellectual, educated perhaps in an elite British public school, who has done a bit of world travels, somewhat of a snob, quite proud of his knowledge and eager to display it. Also an idealist...

I think that you think that anyone who holds a conservative viewpoint is (1) Stupid (2) Racist (3) Reactionary (4) Fascist. This is not the case with American conservatives who largely run business in this country, control the Congress, publish volumes of prose and nonfiction every year, own TV/newspaper/radio outlets, largely staff the military, and so forth...

So my young friend -- may an old soldier give you some advice -- never under estimate your opponent, as he can be as smart, cunning and ruthless as you can be.

Sincerely,

Ronbo274@aol.com

[Dr_Woland]

>> After reading your response on G.W. Bush I'm thinking of the Second Coming of Adolf Hitler! <<

So am I, and I am not joking in the least when I say that :-( After today's addition of the ex-pat votes, President W. seems more likely than ever this evening.

>> Anyhow, I get the impression that you are a young leftist intellectual, educated perhaps in an elite British public school, who has done a bit of world travels, somewhat of a snob, quite proud of his knowledge and eager to display it. Also an idealist... <<

I agree, it's hard to discuss Gov. Bush's record objectively since it is so full of holes. A diversion onto my personal failings is more tempting for you. Unlike yourself, I don't shy from controversial questioning, so despite it being an attempt to smokescreen Bush from the charges against him, I answer your charges lest you suggest I refused to?

At 41 I hardly pass muster for "young". I dunno about intellectual - I have a Univ Degree (London) and I teach a couple of course units at a vocational college in Moscow, although that's just for fun. A snob? I wouldn't say so myself. I don't agree that I am "eager to display knowledge", as I have nothing to gain from doing so - I'd agree I am eager to share it, however. I have not travelled the world much, but circumstance has caused me to travel the ex-USSR world extensively. I went to a State school in Britain and am proud of having done so - a private school would not have been within my parent's means in any case. An idealist? Certainly.

"What's wrong with high achievement and high ideals?" - George Bush (senior).

>> I think that you think that anyone who holds a conservative viewpoint is (1) Stupid (2) Racist (3) Reactionary (4) Fascist. <<

Not in the slightest. I would have been delighted to see Colin Powell endorsed as a Republican Presidential candidate, and he is none of the above. However, because of the large number of Republicans who ARE racists, that never happened. You also mistake my political leanings... in my own country, I greatly admire Kenneth Clark and Michael Heseltine, although both of these men will be kept from office by the mental midgets who make up the rank and file of the Party they still adhere to. I don't automatically attribute these tendencies to all conservatives, but I think that George W Bush *does* happen to embody more than one of them.

Frankly, I believe the Republican Party is controlled by an elite who ARE racists, fascists, and reactionaries, and the only candidate (from a field much wider than their narrow views) that would satisfy them into putting up the money for an election campaign is someone who mirrors their own reactionary views. That doesn't mean I believe all Republicans are that way - but it does mean I believe that the Party will never field any other kind of candidate than this.

>> publish volumes of prose and nonfiction every year <<

Goering wrote poetry, Hitler loved Wagnerian opera.

>> largely staff the military <<

Why am I not surprised? It explains why your military keep bombing the wrong targets, anyhow :-(

Let me tell you this, Ron, and it is a true story. A few years ago, for long and complicated reasons, I was assigned to work as a guide (I was covering for someone's illness, I quit guiding years ago) with an American High School Band visiting London on a concert tour. It so happened that the Band Director was an old College pal of Admiral Crowe, who was then the (highly-respected) US Ambassador in London, and the Admiral invited this group to a private Reception at the Ambassadorial Residence. (Which is, btw, the stupendous mansion left by the Woolworth's heiress to the USA, on condition it be the Ambassador's Residence). I was asked to accompany the group there (and I knew where it was - the location is officially secret, but I grew-up less than half a mile away). It was a warm evening, and the Reception Line stretched out into the gardens as we waited out turn to shake hands with the Ambassador. I was briefed to prevent the tail-enders from wandering off into the (extensive) grounds. The tail-enders were parents of the Cadets, and they began to interrogate me about my views on various matters connected with the USA. Then they asked me outright - who I wanted to see win the Presidential elections. Trying to pick a tactful answer, I replied that it was a great pity that General Powell would not be standing. "We don't need no f**ckin' n*gg*rs like him in the US Army" they replied.

I spent over 7 years (1984-1991) working for a US Company based in Boston MA, and my views of Republicans were formed from meeting them extensively.

Dr W.

[Ronald_Barbour]

Dear Dr. Woland:

Thanks for the brief resume. I can see that we have a few things in common: I am mostly educated in the public school system (although I am a graduate of a very liberal arts college - Rollins. I did my last college year there and graduated with a B.A. in History, minor in Political Science), I have been a teacher of social studies and political science at various secondary schools for several years in Central Florida during the late 1980s, I confess to being an idealist (although I suspect that my idealism is the polar opposite from your idealism), and I share an above average interest with you in regards to the Polar Bear --Russia.

In regards to Colin Powell -- he may well have been selected as the Republican presidential candidate -- in fact, he was approached last year by the Power Brokers in the GOP --However, and this is well documented, Powell rejected the offer citing "Family Concerns". This was never explained, but informal chat has it that his wife has afraid of the lack of privacy that a First Lady would have. Hence there is nothing racist about the Powell non-selection on the part of the Republican Party. In fact, the GOP was willing even to look the other way on Powell's pro-abortion stand and centrist position on social issues. Speaking of Powell -- it appears that he may accept the position of Secretary of State in a Bush Administration.

Actually G.W. Bush was not my first choice for PUSA -- I wanted Rush Limbaugh! However, Mr. Limbaugh has refused to accept the high honor of GOP presidential candidate, as he was worried about getting elected and having his pay check reduced to $250,000 a year!

In reference to the GOP (Grand Old Party, or God's Own Party as the good ole boys say), I would submit that the party came into being in 1856 in response to the pro-slavery Democratic Party which dominated Southern politics prior to the U.S. Civil War. When war broke out after the election of Lincoln it was the GOP Congress and President that saw the conflict thru to victory. It was the GOP that freed the slaves. It was the GOP that gave the former slaves the right to vote. It was the GOP who created the Freedman's Bureau which attempted to educate and find work for the former slaves. It was to the GOP that the first black Congressmen belonged in the period of 1865 to 1875.

I would submit, in contrast, that the Democratic Party was the Party of Slavery and of Jim Crow! In fact, Senator Albert Gore, Senior, the late father of our Grand and Glorious V.P. was all for segregation and voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which, by the way, would not have passed the Senate without strong support from the Republican Party). Finally, did you know that the U.S. Senate has one former member of the KKK? Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia....

In regards to the contemporary Republican Party being controlled by, in your words, "racists, fascists, and reactionaries", I would once again submit that you are talking about the wrong political party, as it is the Democrats who stand for "Affirmative Action" (Racial quotas for employment, education, etc.). Clearly this is a racist position that violates the provision for equality under the law. Also, I think it is fascist for the Democratic Party to attempt to control all aspects of American life, especially education and business. Finally, REACTIONARY? I would say reactionary is a synonym for the Democratic Party -- I suppose the game plan for the Democrats is to crush all opposition to them, regulate and tax industry and business out of existence, and finally to return America to the era of "Gone With The Wind" with the Democratic ELITE living in the Big House and all us slaves crawling on all fours in front of their "betters".

Of course, I don't believe in a "vast Left wing conspirary", as you and Hillary Clinton do in regards to the Right, I do, however, believe in the evil side of human nature to take a bad idea to its conclusion, as was the case with Stalin and Communism.

Sincerely,

Ronbo274@aol.com

[Ronald_Barbour]

On this date in 1942, the Russians began the offensive that was to lead to the destruction of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad, and the beginning of the end of Hitler's mad dream of world conquest!!!

I would like to say thanks to any Russian veterans of World War II - you guys tore the guts out of the Nazi war machine!

Very Sincerely, Ronbo