We are the bastards the rest of the world thinks we are

[KevinDineen]

This fucking shitty attitude lets people give up. It gives them an out, an excuse, to not take responsibility for anything.

I said "we", and I said "I". I AM taking responsibility. I should have done more. I should be working for Newsweek or Time or Playboy, not a frivolous ski magazine. But I had faith when apparently I shouldn't have. You throw the word liberal around like you know what it means; you use political catch phrases like you think they apply. You eat sound bites and regurgitate them like they are gospel. Rush Limbaugh is a drug addict who, by his own standards, belongs in jail; Michael Savage wouldn't know Hitler if he kissed his mustache. And yet people believe them because it's easy. That is the problem with America. Quit snivelling and accept it? It sounds like you are the one offering an out, an excuse.

Before you tell me what my opinion should be, figure out what yours is. I am not a democrat; I am not a republican. I have voted libertarian in every election, up until this one, that I've been eligible to vote in--a party that is more conservative fiscally and socially than the republicans, without the religious baggage. Keep the government out of my home. Keep our troops home unless they're really needed. Don't let big business control our military. Mind your business and I'll mind mine. That's what I believe and what I vote for, every election but this one, where I simply voted to topple a tyrannt.

The democratic party is completely incompetent. How does a war hero get painted as weak by a brat who silver-spooned his way out of the war? This country needs a new party--not a third party; a new SECOND party.

[mr_gyptian]

I am ashamed of my country. Being American downright sucks and I am ashamed to be American

Here comes the draft folks. Oh yeah I still haven't sent in my draft card. Civil disobedience motherfuckers.

Hey, talk to your liberal congressman about the draft. They're the ones with their names on the legislation.

[Game Over]

I can't believe what happened, I thought the young voters were gonna swing it, but the numbers are the same for the last election.

I've already listened to the decline like 5 times, it rings so true today


And so we go, on with our lives
We know the truth, but prefer lies
Lies are simple, simple is bliss
Why go against tradition when we can
Admit defeat, live in decline
Be the victim of our own design
The status quo, built on suspect
Why would anyone stick out their neck?

fellow members of the club, we got ours
I'd like to introduce you to our host.
He's got his, and I've got mine.
Meet the Decline.

ring ture, yes it does...oh so true.
FUCKING GREAT CALL MAN!!

[1080Rider]

What did you do to better the world 1080???

Well, I put a guy in jail today for beating his wife, but I'm prolly just a fascist so that doesn't count right?

Since I have to prove myself to some guy on the intraweb I'll tell you that I voted libertarian. My candidate didn't win, big surprise. I also voted against a measure that would put only the two top vote getters from a primary on the ballot. The idiots across the state (mostly seattle that is predominantly democrat) voted this little gem into law. I've already researched which groups are going to litigate this law and will prolly donate some time to this cause. Did any of this better the world? I hope I can gain the approval of a guy on the intraweb... [crossing fingers]

[house]

i dont think we're bastards. ski on...

[Trackhead]

[IMG]
http://www.pawprince.com/pawprince/photos/PS_WebGlry/images/01_0005.jpg[/IMG]

[365wp]

Sick!

[dipstik]

Kerry was pretty popular in colleges across America. That is, except, of course, the Electoral College.


Anyway, quit your whining. Your guy lost. Get over it. The world isn't going to end. Bush is hardly the "fascist leader" you think he is. Take a fucking look at history: Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, Franco, Mussolini.... and we're all still here. Bush doesn't even come close to comparing to them.

You think America is so bad?? Go live in a third world country for a year. 24,000 people die of starvation every day - thats every day - 8 million a year, 3/4 of them children, and you think the world is coming to an end because the guy in power doesn't give a shit how many miles per gallon the new Ford Explorer gets??? Please. You live in a paradise.

Also, considering how much you think Bush is going to ruin the world, you didn't exactly come up with a good challenger. The only thing Kerry had going for him was that he wasn't Bush. That ain't gonna win an election, and that kind of a guy sure as hell isn't going to do better in office.

As for this "most Americans are ignorant and stupid" shit....take a look at yourselves. You're in the minority. Your guy got less votes. So is it possible, maybe, just maybe, that you are the ignorant assholes? Do you really think that you're smarter than 50% of Americans? That your vote is worth more than everyone elses because you think you know better? People are entitled to their opinion, thats why we have elections. Calling someone else ignorant because they don't like the same guy you do is childish. So dry your pathetic self-important tears, and shut the fuck up already.

edit: directed at everyone bitching, not just KD.

[The AD]

I also voted against a measure that would put only the two top vote getters from a primary on the ballot. The idiots across the state (mostly seattle that is predominantly democrat) voted this little gem into law.

I voted against it, too, and don't blame Seattle for this. The initiative was sponsored by the Washington State Grange, and something tells me they don't have a big presence in Seattle.

I can't find any numbers, but I have a feeling this thing was supported across the state and was more or less independent of party affiliation.

[jibij]

DO IT!!

[bad_roo]

take a look at yourselves. You're in the minority. Your guy got less votes. So is it possible, maybe, just maybe, that you are the ignorant assholes?

How quickly they forget.

[EPSkis]

3,000,000 isn't such a hard number to forget.

[The AD]

Also, considering how much you think Bush is going to ruin the world, you didn't exactly come up with a good challenger. The only thing Kerry had going for him was that he wasn't Bush. That ain't gonna win an election, and that kind of a guy sure as hell isn't going to do better in office.

That's your opinion, and yes, evidently the opinion of many in the U.S. That doesn't mean some of us didn't think Kerry was a good candidate. Not everyone voted Kerry thinking "anyone but Bush," you know. I watched the debates, followed the issues, and I believe Kerry was intelligent, articulate and addressed the issues important to me.

[PaSucks]

So you guys were relying on a group of people who think a "civic duty" is the duty to attach wings sticker and spoilers to every honda civic in the united states to win this election. I guess hind sight is 20/20, but that doesn't seem like a good strategy at any point.

So, what did your generation do when you where my age? Rip holes in your jeans and pour bleach all over them? Or are you even older then that?

The youth demographic did turn out to vote, but contrary belief, they were just as split as the rest of the country, and that is why the youth vote didn't help Kerry out.



Heh. Check this out. New map of the United States.

[doofdoof]

Bush has made it very clear regarding his "moral" views and he seems to forget or doesn't care about that famous ruling our founding fathers created called seperation of church and state.

This is truly scary.

A religious fanatic with the biggest army in the world, believing he is doing Gawd's will, fighting a crusade against the muslim hoards.

Oh and he will likely bankrupt the US in order to fund this idealogy.

[Knockneed Man]

And at the end of the day... Opinions are like assholes, and Bush is still in office.

I think this thread (and especially the vote) has proved were not all "like minded" people after all... I think we knew that already.

The country is going to hell, and not as many people care as they should; so they'll deserve what they (we) get in the end.

Looks like I'll just have live with it, and ski my little nuts off for the next four years.

My stoke sapping ends here...

[FLEX]

My tears are for you, too, my friend. My tears are for America. This is not sour grapes; I don't route for politicians as if they were a sports team. I honestly fear for the future. The war with Iran will be our most costly yet. That's not a typo.

I agree, but I'm not American.

China just signed a 70 billion dollar oil deal with Iran .....so China might not like the US starting a war with Iran........but I geuss it comes down to this: If Isreal want the USA to attack Iran , then the USA will most likely attack Iran.

There has been a world wide American holocaustgoing on since the 40's and unfortunately I think there's a good chance of it coming home soon.....

[DougW]

Well you can but do it for the right reasons. We do have different values than the States and we seem to be more different every year. Stats bear that out. The States has the power to do things that effect the world in a big way both in for the positive and negative. That's a big responsibility and a lot of power. I'm not sure if America takes that responsibility seriously.

Canada doesn't have that power. When asked Canada to go to Iraq I'm sure the gov't wanted to say " You've got to be crazy man that's a stupid thing to do" but we couldn't as we live next to as elephant. The gov't had to hide behind the UN. Yes we went to the first Gulf war and Afghanistan as those were good ideas. There were those in Canada who said we should go just to keep up good relations . Not because it was the right or smart thing to do because the Americas would be nicer to us on trade issues. It sometime sucks being a nonpowerful country.

We want to decriminalize weed, the gov't and the people, but no we get hassled form the States about it. We can't comment about shit in the States but your gov't feels fine about sticking their nose in.

Anyway, "you" voted Bush in, so you and the rest of the World will have to live with that for the next 4 years. Democracy isn't a great system but nothing has been invented that's better yet.

[DougW]

Heh. Check this out. New map of the United States.

I like it. But it would be United Provinces and States of Canada. It would kinda like the French won the French and Indian Wars plus the west coast.

I've read that people in the NE feel more at home in Canada than in the South. I'm not sure about that.

[yentna snow]

Contrary to popular belief, it hasn't been my experience that the rest of the world thinks we are bastards. Travelling and living abroad, it seemed that the majority of people were willing to ask first and accuse later. No one, upon finding out that I was American, ranted to me about how stupid Americans were. Instead, they had the good graces to ask how I felt about the war in Iraq, about 9/11, about Bush, etc., I was not ashamed to be an American; we have an amazing country and an amazing standard of living for which we should be grateful. I do disagree with a lot of things America does, but people abroad know we don't all fit in the same mold. NEITHER DO THEY. Freedom to choose is priceless...

Yes, we're stuck with Bush for another four years, but the numbers show that Americans are split. No one in their right mind will think that all Americans blindly follow where Bush goes. As for me, I voted for Kerry, and am deeply disappointed, but no amount of complaining will change things now; four years from now we have another chance to change things. Until then we have opportunities to make a difference locally. Best wishes to us all.

[AKBckntry]

Well, I must disagree with the comment that only the Democratic states have something to lose.

Alaska has plenty to lose in the event of an attack:
The oil industry: refineries in Prudhoe Bay, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the shipping center in Valdez.
Military bases: Elmendorf AFB and Fort Richardson (Army) in Anchorage, Eielson AFB and Fort Wainwright (Army) in Fairbanks, as well as Coast Guard stations in southcentral.
Timber industry.
Anchorage International Airport, a major hub for international shipping.

Most of the Alaskan wilderness is owned and controlled by the federal government.

I am sure that both sides of the argument are misinformed to an extent, but the overwhelming number of complaints I hear about President Bush are either unfounded, exaggerated, or just works of fallacy.

It doesn't matter that many Democrats, including Kerry, believed the threat of Iraq's dictator and the danger of his WMD. It doesn't matter that President Clinton linked Osama bin Laden to the embassy bombings in Africa and subsequently launched Cruise missiles at suspected terrorist holdings.

Voting for neither Kerry nor Bush was my choice. I didn't vote for Nader either.

This election has made me grow to hate Presidential politics, and most politics in general.

[1080Rider]

I voted against it, too, and don't blame Seattle for this. The initiative was sponsored by the Washington State Grange, and something tells me they don't have a big presence in Seattle.

I can't find any numbers, but I have a feeling this thing was supported across the state and was more or less independent of party affiliation.

Good point. I'll retract my seattle dig. It also passed by a large margin so I assume that it cut across political lines. I just can't beleive that people even knew what they were voting for. This is one of the dumbest laws I've EVER seen.

Note: To clarify. I was not, in my earlier post, saying that young voters should not have a voice. I was trying to point out that the younger voters aren't as focused as other populations. If the democrats relied, even a little bit, on a large turnout of young voters to win the white house then they made a huge mistake. That is the point I was trying to make.

[Svengali]

Akbcktry, relax dude and dont buy into the fear!
as important as you see this stuff they are as you say in idaho;Small Potato's
besides, look outside Man! it's STARTED

[seldon]

The thing that saddens me the most is how pathetically disenfranchised I feel. If "americans" can be (from my perspective) so stupid, so shortsighted, so pathetic in their basic hatred and intolerance, so xenophobic, how am I related to this group of people? i feel like I'm living in a different world... I just cannot comprehend how anyone could actually believe that Bush would be a better choice for the future of America. Depressing shit.

[AltaPowderDaze]

Sick!

i might be wrong, but that looks like heart of darkness---right between superior and monte cristo. that is a sick line to ski.

i only read a few of these horrible threads but this one had stoke. thanks.