10/17/2000

The Candidates: Reader Opinions (Part 2)

A steady stream of reader opinions about the presidential candidates continues to flow in. Thank you to all participants who have contributed to this forum, and thank you to those who have further informed themselves by reading their viewpoints. Previously published opinions are here.

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I appreciate the opportunity to make my voice heard in cyberspace. As a middle-aged male, teacher, husband and father, I hope and pray that the American people, in their wisdom, do the right thing and vote for the Party of Lincoln.

Truthfully, the argument goes back to Jefferson and Hamilton and their vision of what America should be about. In our updated election, this year, we must choose to slow down the growth of government, return a small portion of taxes to the people (Jefferson eliminated the only "people" tax there was in 1805, the Whiskey Tax), restore honor to the office of President, and, in some way, slow down the spiral path to destruction, which fifty years of liberalism has led us into.

Congress makes the laws, not the Supreme Court. Local boards control education not the federal government (Nor should unions have a lock-grip on education.) The American people, not special interest groups (no matter how well intended), control this country. We need to return to American rights as established under the Constitution and its Bill of Rights, not special rights for this group or that group. We are equal only because we are equal under the law.

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Reading your column makes me wonder if anyone actually listened to the last debate. Concerning Gore's position on health care, he was very specific that he supports the bipartisan legislation offered by Republican Charles Norwood and Democrat John Dingell that would establish a patients' bill of rights. Even though he was asked twice, G.W. Bush never answered and instead made silly remarks about bills being in this committee or with that sponsor. Does he know how legislation works? If he's elected, he'll have to learn quickly how his own government works.

A question from a 34-year-old single woman with no dependents, regarding how his tax cut would affect her, threw Bush into incoherence. He ended up talking about Medicare and a prescription drug plan. The woman was 34, not 74! He refused to answer Gore's question on whether he supports the Supreme Court's view of Affirmative Action. I know that people don't like Al Gore's style but he is a passionate advocate for what he believes and for the working people of this country. His running mate has been an exemplary Senator from Connecticut.

I'm deeply disturbed by Cheney who has cold war ideas about building up the military and, in a non-binding resolution urging the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, voted against it. That doesn't fill me with confidence for an integrated society. I worry about women's rights and the environment. I don't want to see the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge plundered for oil that will last about a month.

I don't want to see the clean air and clean water legislation turned around so that big industry can take the easy way and start polluting. I want someone who understands the situation in the Middle East and who knows at least the name of the new leader of Yugoslavia.

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I agree with some of the readers who have said they don't like the sound bites and the stiffness of these two candidates. Genuineness is obviously a big issue. But, in the end, the issue is how much taxation and how much government you want. If you feel that the government is too small and your taxes too low, vote for Al Gore. If not, vote for George Bush. If people think that a federal budget of $2 trillion isn't ridiculous, maybe that is a problem. Instead of massive budget increases, maybe we should be looking for alternative ways to deliver many of these federal services. People also have to take a look at tax cuts in general; whenever we cut them, revenues go up. If people don't agree, go look it up in the US Statistical Abstract. The facts don't speak to the anti-tax cut rhetoric.

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I am wholeheartedly in support of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. Al Gore has done nothing to earn the respect or trust of the voters. His plans scare me; his attitude reminds me of a smarmy, arrogant telemarketer. His constant exaggerating is extremely embarrassing and a harbinger of things to come. George W. Bush is honest, has integrity, has never come across as phony. What you see is what you get. I am nowhere near upper middle class, but still understand that his tax cut plan is NOT for the "wealthiest" in our country, but an equitable cut for ALL. Dick Cheney is one of the most intelligent, rational and savvy men I've had the pleasure of listening to. His logic, knowledge steadfastness and honesty are all qualities that this country needs. The unrest, upheavals and major foreign affair occurrences happening all over the world worry me enough to know that we need Dick Cheney to be the one in the White House during the next four years.

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When Cheney replied to Lieberman's question of whether he, Cheney, is better off than he was 8 years ago, Cheney retorted that he was, but with no help from the government. That showed his true colors. As a matter of fact, if he were still in the country his ancestors came from he would probably be a nobody today. Our country and its government is the first reason he is a multimillionaire. To belittle the goose that laid his golden egg is not intelligent. He should be grateful.

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I am voting for the Gore/Lieberman ticket. If Mr. Cheney were running for President I may have considered voting Republican. I think George W's people are purposely keeping Mr. Cheney in the background to avoid overshadowing Mr. Bush. If Bush is elected, he will all but wipe out Mr. Cheney from his administration (a la JFK to LBJ). Unfortunately Mr. Bush is a "talk in circles, and don't be specific" candidate. Daddy Bush persuaded his son to pick Mr. Cheney. Unfortunately, he won't utilize him and his years of expertise. Gore/ Lieberman are a team and I will be proud as a Republican to vote for them. I hope other Republicans do the same.

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I was in California when Gore announced Lieberman for his vice presidency and my friends were calling to alert me that Joe Lieberman was accepting the nomination for Vice Pres. He has my vote.

Little more than a decade ago, several of my neighbors and I were fighting a superfund site in our backyards. People were bathing in benzene and children were drinking lead in their water. One Saturday there was a planned neighborhood march from a nearby elementary school to the top of the hill where the landfill resided. We were going to call the site Lieberman Park, because at that point in time we received little assistance from the Attorney General's office.

On Friday night Attorney Lieberman , upon hearing about the protest march, vowed he would listen to the neighbor's concerns. We made an appointment to visit him in his office with several elderly neighbors; we also took a few children along and a jar of the smelly, dirty water that emanated from the landfill. Attorney Lieberman was most receptive to our concerns, listened to each person's story and how the landfill affected them, and vowed to assist the neighbors.

With his assistance in the Attorney General's Office, he assigned an assistant to the neighbors and along with our attorney and slides the neighbors had acquired over time, was successful in closing the landfill. In fact Attorney Lieberman even appeared in court to appeal on our behalf. Now that's what I call working with the people, for the people. He has concerns for our children and our next generation.

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How brilliant of the Bush - Cheney supporters to cast their vote for two Texas oilmen! We know what direction the country is going under Clinton-Gore. We have been there with the previous 12 years of Republicans running things for the rich who were going to "trickle down" some of the largesse. It never happened and it never will. To turn things back over to these two richman's richmen would be the ultimate in electorate stupidity.

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The choice of Dick Cheney shows George Bush's talent for surrounding himself with capable people. The main requirement of a vice-president is that he or she be able to step into the presidency in a heartbeat. Mr. Cheney can certainly do that with ability and ease. His participation in the VP debate showed him to be the kind of "can do" man who could take over as America's leader in a time of tragedy or crisis and help lead the nation through it.

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I believe we all get tired of all the negative opinions. Voters become so vicious. I believe that the job of President of the United States is too much for any one person - so his choices of appointments would be better exposed prior to election. Mr. Bush and Mr. Gore have failings, as we all do. They have given up their private lives for our country. I believe their accomplishments should be commended no matter who wins or who loses. Campaign reform would allow perhaps many qualified candidates to pursue a political career.

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How could anyone in their right mind vote for Al Gore? Everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie. He claims to have created the Internet. He also claims to have fought in the Vietnam War! (He had a 5 month stint as a member of the rear echelon. He didn't get shot at!) As for Joe Lieberman - he has always voted for what his party wanted-not what his constituents wanted. He was critical of Clinton but did not have the guts to vote for impeachment. Is this someone we want in the White House?

George W. Bush and Dick Cheney have proven that they can do the job.

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After watching the debates, I am convinced more than ever that Mr.Bore is a bag of hot air. I have never heard anyone talk more and say less. I have nominated him for the golden snow shovel of the year award. As a Christian leader, the parts that scare me the most are the things that he says that are perfectly clear. After hearing him clearly speak in defense of Roe Vs. Wade, reading between the the lines gets real scary, especially since I have always had the feeling that Mr. Bore has no backbone. On the other hand, the presidency is an "executive" position, and so is the position of Governer. Both positions require backbone. I believe the choice is easy to make!

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I am appalled that third party candidates were refused participation in the debates. I do hope that there is a lawsuit against the debate comm. Nearly 70% of the people think that their rights are being denied. We should have the right to listen to any nominee who has just 2% of the votes. After the first debate, if they do not reach 15%, then they could be eliminated.

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I see Dick Cheney as a stalwart businessman and diplomat but not necessarily a politician. For that reason alone I picture him as a very good candidate for vice president. We can haggle on, but the decisions have to made on the presidential level. What I've seen so far on the Democratic side is a vice president who has trouble with the facts and a potential replacement who has consistency problems with his political and moral beliefs. A Bush-Cheney (ABC) ticket puts forward a noble and truthful individual for president supported by a vice president who has the diplomatic experience to help to make this team a firm domestic and global force.

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As far as the two major parties go we do not have much of a choice, although I would much rather see Bush in the White House than Gore. Gore is a chronic liar, like his boss. In my opinion that automatically disqualifies him from any public office. He will put on whatever face he thinks his audience wants to see but some of us know him for what he really is.

Both candidates are money grubbers as they will take as much money as they can get from anybody, anywhere, to buy their way into office and then they have the nerve to talk about campaign finance reform. Both Gore and Bush are bought and paid for by special interest groups and will be dancing to whatever tune those groups want to play.

It makes me want to vomit that this is the best we can be offered for candidates. As far as Lieberman is concerned, he has shown us he will go where the money is. He has already proven that by kowtowing to the Hollywood crowd whom he used to criticize but now is taking campaign hush money from. He was very vocal about the Clinton scandal, but when the time came to stand up and be counted he voted "Not Guilty." No, we don't need him next in line for the White House.

My vote is for Pat Buchanan, a man who says what he means and means what he says, an honest man, a patriot who will not bow to special interest money or foreign pressure, a man whose motto is "America First."

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I watched the last debate and felt that Bush was the winner. I like the stance that Bush has on crime. Get tough on the criminal and not on the gun. Don't disarm America for the sake of a chosen few. As for giving away the tax surplus to the wealthy in tax relief, that can be adjusted to leave those people with the a small amount. Watch what Gore does. Not everyone will be eligible for tax relief in his version.

As to Cheney and Jumpin' Joe. Joe is the only thing that is any sort of squeaky clean in the Democratic side of the coin. He hasn't been drawn into the heart of the Clinton corruption, but there are the Gore flubs. He only relate to issues that he feels so liberal about that it is sickening. Can or should Lieberman continue to use his Jewish heritage to try to secure the Democratic win? I can only hope that he won't as it will alienate too many people. What ever happened to separation of Church and state? Lieberman has not been exposed to the world of diplomacy and Cheney has. Cheney has been involved in foreign affairs and knows his stuff.

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Dick Cheney was a very useful person in his FORMER political era. He is, however, much too safe and secure as an older American to be very enthusiastic about becoming Vice President. You may have noticed his reluctance to answer questions with any sort of conviction, his hedging on scheduling issues and his quiet, almost monotone, presentation in the debate and in press interviews. I just don't think he has much to offer if he and Bush are elected. I would certainly think things would change a lot if something happened and he were to assume the Presidency, but that possibility is nothing to run a campaign on.

Bush, on the other hand, wants to be President so bad he can taste it. He is stumbling all over himself, reinventing the wheel where he feels that is necessary and generally acting so sophmorish that I would hesitate to allow him to take charge of anything. He is much too eager and doesn't really know what he would be facing, were he to prevail in the election. He really makes me nervous, despite the calm, reassuring presence of Cheney, who doesn't seem particularly interested. I don't think the Republican ticket is very strong this time around.

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George W Bush left politics out when he selected Dick Cheney as his running mate. Cheney is a topnotch executive with broad government and private sector experience. He is an honest, straightforward businessman who should be considered a man of his own convictions, not inclined to vacillate with the winds of public opinion. He surprised everyone with his debate performance putting Joe Lieberman on the defensive several times with his upfront demeanor and sense of humor.

Cheney will be a very valuable asset in defense matters and in dealing with our foreign alliances. Coupled with Colin Powell they make a valuable contribution to the Bush administration. I see the Republican ticket and the people Bush has lined up being refreshing when compared to what Gore and his Washington insiders are showing. It seems strange Clinton wasn't able to get these men to work in his administration. I wonder why?

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I'm not going to waste my vote on a candidate who doesn't stand up for me. So, I'm going to vote for Harry Browne, the Libertarian Party Candidate. He's the only candidate who wants to downsize government and maximize individual freedoms (i.e.. he want to return the federal government to its constitutional duties and get it out of everything else). He also is in favor of eliminating the federal income tax and dismantling the terrible "War on Drugs" which is really a war on our individual freedoms.

The Libertarian Party is the largest 3rd party in the United States. To give you some data: the Libertarian Party has 170 elected officials in the US. The Reform Party has 7, and the Green Party has 72. There are 1420 Libertarian Party Candidates nationwide, Reform has 151 and the Green Party has 244. The Libertarian Party has 244 candidates for the US House of Representatives this year, the first time a minor party has run enough candidates to theoretically elect a majority in the House since the Socialist Party in the 1920's. In 1999 the Libertarian Party (according to FEC reports) raised $2.7 million, the Reform Party $250,000, and the Green Party $136,285.

So why the "blackout"? I think because the Libertarian Party is philosophy driven, not personality driven, the press doesn't think us "worthy". But ideas are important, and the Libertarian Party is growing steadily - actually exponentially lately. Perhaps in 2004 the LP will get the attention of the press. In the meantime it will keep running candidates and promoting the philosophy that "Less is More when it comes to Government".

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I think Bush's choice of Dick Cheney for VP was an excellent one. He provides the team with experience that Bush might not yet have in some areas. He held his own with senator Joe in their debate. I think he was chosen for the ticket for the experience he can bring to our government and not how many electoral votes or donations he can offer.

I have been a public school teacher in Connecticut for 28 years and I welcome a voucher system. I am proud of the school system I work in and I think a voucher system will show that there are fine public schools for people to choose. Those that can't measure up will need to make improvements in order to survive.

Overlooking Clinton's behavior because the country is in good shape is a sign of far down the wrong road many people in this country have gone. A man who has no morals should not have been allowed to remain in charge of our country. And a vice-president who did not have the backbone to condemn that type of behavior should not be elected president now!

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Whatever happened to the United States? We are suppose to be a country willing to do anything to preserve our unity and right of freedom.

However, and I mean however ... this country should be renamed the Individual States. It seems that almost everyone who responds to anything in politics has put their own individual interests and expectations first. We cannot survive as a country under these circumstances.

Whatever happened to putting the country's best interests first? If we continue down this road we will not have to worry about what we want as individuals because our right of freedom will be taken away from us. Unless we return to a united country we will not succeed.

Therefore, it is in my opinion that George W. Bush and Richard Cheney should be the future leaders of this country. In everything that I have seen they are the candidates who are excited to lead this country in a unified manner. Bush/Cheney are successful leaders and have proven this.

Al Gore has made many, many mistakes in his leadership and continues to do so. We need to be very careful of a person who continually lies and changes to promote himself. Remember the theory that problems in administration start from the top and work their way down the chain of command. Al Gore has been second in command for the most corrupt and lying administration this country has ever seen. Are we willing to say that we are so ignorant as citizens of this country that it is acceptable for Gore to state that "he wasn't aware" and that "he will try harder next time"? I for one am not. As a leader he is responsible for every decision he makes. He is expected to be the best we have to offer. Not a leader hoping to get it right the next time.

Come on America! Let's get it together. Its time to put our individual needs aside and realize that we are responsible for electing our nation's leaders. This is not about us as individuals. This election is about our nation. We only have the right of individuality because of our strength as a nation. That right is not free and can easily be taken away. Start putting the best interest of the country first and make the best educated decision you can make. I know that I have.

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Mr. Cheney is an intelligent, experienced, very well informed Washington D.C. insider. He is also a radical conservative who voted against every piece of social legislation presented in congress. (That is, when he bothered to vote, which he rarely did. He was "traveling" he said, forgetting there is a thing called an absentee ballot.) He voted against school lunch programs; he voted against a bill that wanted to ban certain kinds of bullets that are designed to wreak greater havoc than an ordinary bullet. He voted against any legislation that tried to do something about assault weapons and the spread of firearms. He voted against environmental bills except the one which created a national refuge out of millions of acres in his state, Wyoming.

I have heard him talk about how he and his family "got into the U-Haul and drove back to Wyoming" when he left the Bush (sr.) staff. Mr. Cheney is an extremely wealthy man tied to the power elite in Washington. His annual salary is in the millions of dollars. To present himself as a humble westerner in a U Haul is laughable. He conceives of the government as a kind of corporation, with the leaders as CEOs. Frankly when I watched him during what is called the VP "debate" he reminded me of the kind of ice blue bureaucrats who ran the former Soviet Union, that we used to see on TV.

He and Mr. Bush Jr. keep saying they are "outsiders" yet Mr. Cheney was a member of former President Bush's staff, as Secretary of Defense, and Jr. Bush is the son of a president and grandson of a senator. Both these men move in the most elite circles of power that exist in this country.

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Mr. Cheney is a breath of fresh air. He is not an entertainer -- just a good politician with some solid values. Just as he should be. Along with Mr. Bush, who is no entertainer either. They should go a long way to bringing back a little dignity to the Presidency.

Mr. Gore and Lieberman make me ill with their pandering and two-faced views on issues that are decided if the persons at the core of the issues are holding a check in their hands. It has become a sad time for those who held the Democratic banner. Clinton has lowered the bar to the point that no lie is too big, no abuse is too shameless. It's a very sad time for the once great Democratic Party.

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It's unfortunate but the best team for the formidable task of running this messed-up country isn't even on the ballot in Connecticut. The name of the party is "The Natural Law Party" and the candidate for president is Dr. John Hagelin. He is a nuclear physicist, brilliant and has definite solutions to curing the many ills of this once great nation; using common sense and nature's law. When you have a chance, please go to www.hagelin.org and take a look at the man who should be president.

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Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.