The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Gemini Cricket]

One of the interns in my office went to Nicaragua for 2 weeks. He came back a changed man. He said the experience was eye opening. He says it broadened his mind. He thinks every American should travel to another country in their lifetime. I agree.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

One of the interns in my office went to Nicaragua for 2 weeks. He came back a changed man.

In what way?

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

In what way?

Well, he said felt two things. He said he appreciated certain things about the US that he didn't before. (The area he in was a poverty stricken area where he was helping rebuild housing. He said the water in the area was bad. He said the medical facilities in that area was poor. I don't remember where exactly he was...) But he also got differing perspectives about our country that he said made him think. (He talked to people who liked and disliked America and the casual criticism of the US opened his eyes.)
When he left, Reed seemed kind of out-of-touch with the world. It's hard to explain. I mean, he's really young. Like 21 or something. I think he grew up a little in Nicaragua. A total learning experience. I don't think he knows much about the world outside of his Boston College experience and his home in a small town in Connecticut...
(He also shaved his head and grew a beard. Which I thought was pretty cool.)

[scaeagles]

Interesting, GC.

I had two experiences, one similar to that. I went on a summer missions trip (during HS - summer 1984) to some areas of Mexico that were particularly poverty stricken. Before that I really had no idea what true poverty was. Little to no food, little to no shelter (the purpose of our trip was to haul building materials and construct some homes), no sanitation or plumbing of any kind, and doctors that would come every couple months for a day or two....just beyond the scope of anything you would find in the US.

The other was a two week trip to Europe (summer 1985). During the trip (mostly in Austria) we went to the Austria-Hungary border to a rather unique place called the desert lake. It was a massive lake that was no more than 4 feet deep at any point and dried up every year, refilling during the rainy season. Anyway.....the border ran through the lake. About 50 yards across the border were gaurd towers, about 30 feet high, spaced about 100 yards apart, as far as the eye could see. With my binoculars I could see gaurds in those towers with machine guns, ready to shoot anyone who tried to leave Hungary. Our guide told us that people were shot there and in the surrounding forest on a regular basis.

Scared the hell out of me. Made the whole Soviet Block a reality and shaped much of my view of the world.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

With my binoculars I could see gaurds in those towers with machine guns, ready to shoot anyone who tried to leave Hungary. Our guide told us that people were shot there and in the surrounding forest on a regular basis.

Holy cow! That's some pretty scary stuff.

[scaeagles]

Mr. Snow will fit in just fine. Again, he is not a journalist. He is a pindit who offers opinions. He was a speech writer for Bush Sr.

You want me to take FAIR seriously? That's funny. That would be like me quoting something from the Heritage Foundation to you.

I could go through the opinion talking heads at CNN or MSNBC and give you the left leaning pundits, but that isn't evidence that their news is biased.

Are you seriously suggesting that a Helen Thomas treated Clinton in the same way she treats Bush? Or that Dan Rather treated the Bush family with the same kid gloves he did with the Clintons?

C'mon, MBC. We can each point the finger all day with quotes and/or examples.

[scaeagles]

Well, you don't have to watch Fox, now do you, WB?

A moderate press secretary? A press secretary is supposed to go out an answer questions for the administration. You should pick someone who can articulate your positions willingly and effectively. Snow was a great choice, as he knows the members of the press already and also knows about the inner workings of the Presidency, having worked for Bush Sr.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Well, you don't have to watch Fox, now do you, WB?

During a briefing led by White House spokesman Scott McClellan as President Bush was traveling to New Orleans, Louisiana, the Washington Post's Jim VandeHei asked why the White House televisions always seemed to be tuned to Fox News and if it was possible to have them tuned instead to CNN.

Source

[scaeagles]

First of all, I didn't relate it to the country, I related my non vote for Kerry to my areas of importance. For example, I like the Bush tax policy. Do I think for a second that Kerry adapts that tax policy? Wouldn't happen.

Of course, I happen to think that tax policy is best for the country.

Do I think Kerry would spend less? No. I think (and have said it many times here) that Bush spends too much. Way too much. I don't see Kerry being any different.

Do I know what Kerry would have done? No. Do I have a pretty good idea what he'd have done based on his record and campaign? Yes.

[Gemini Cricket]

I think I may have posted this already, but I was watching the way the British Parliament works (on CSPAN) and thought it was such a cool forum. I would love to see us do that here in the US. The open debate, the immediate response to things. Would be cool to see.