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Originally posted by CaryP:
Good luck to the poor bastard if he wins, he's gonna need it in spades.Cary

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Each person running for office (Pres to town mayor) fills out a form saying how he will vote on specific items.

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I see where you are coming from, but surely you see the difference between what I quoted and reality...

As Kerry said, issues are indeed complicated, regardless of anyone saying that anything is really that simple. It's not. Should we elect a mouthpiece? Should we be represented by someone that merely protects the wants of the people? Or should we be represented by someone that addresses the needs of the people, in ever-shifting sands?

The political process is also about what goes on in the back rooms much more so than on the floors of the houses. Backs are scratched and deals are struck, just like in private business. What occurs openly on the floor may or may not reveal the ultimate purpose and benefits of any voting patterns.

Also, would we not want someone that actually listened to their fellow representatives when issues were being debated? If they are shackled by the wishes of their constituents, and threatened with their job if they waiver from their original stance, then debate would be fruitless, pointless and a complete waste of time.

Instead, give me someone that I trust. Not to always do as I would, but that I trust to do what he or she truly feels to be the right thing. Give me someone intelligent, able to hear other arguments, see other sides, and understand if not agree. Someone big enough to stand and admit they were wrong, able to change their minds and not fear being berated or belittled. Give me someone that has his constituents welfare at heart, but never at the expense of the greater America. I don't want Texas' lot improved at the expense of Wisconsin or Arkansas or whereever. I want everyone's lot improved. Give me someone that is able to persuade, someone that has the ability to reach people, touch people. That sees clearly where we should be, and understands how to get there. The fact is that 'there' is constantly changing, as the world changes, but some constants remain true. Poverty. Illness. Education. Drugs. Crime, etc... etc... These should be the bread and butter issues that would be addressed as top priorities, before we start talking about any other grandiose schemes.

Handcuffs for our politicians? No. ( Although gags have a certain appeal at times! )

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Originally posted by Andy G:
Also, would we not want someone that actually listened to their fellow representatives when issues were being debated? If they are shackled by the wishes of their constituents, and threatened with their job if they waiver from their original stance, then debate would be fruitless, pointless and a complete waste of time.

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Whole series of checks and balances which are maintained by the people - not other elected officials, rules for unexpected items that arise, etc.

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I am happy to see I'm not the only one suffering from utopian fantasies. There are just too many personal benefits associated with political office. Which would be eliminated (as much as possible) in my utopia.

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Instead, give me someone that I trust. Not to always do as I would, but that I trust to do what he or she truly feels to be the right thing. Give me someone intelligent, able to hear other arguments, see other sides, and understand if not agree. Someone big enough to stand and admit they were wrong, able to change their minds and not fear being berated or belittled. Give me someone that has his constituents welfare at heart, but never at the expense of the greater America. I don't want Texas' lot improved at the expense of Wisconsin or Arkansas or whereever. I want everyone's lot improved. Give me someone that is able to persuade, someone that has the ability to reach people, touch people. That sees clearly where we should be, and understands how to get there. The fact is that 'there' is constantly changing, as the world changes, but some constants remain true. Poverty. Illness. Education. Drugs. Crime, etc... etc... These should be the bread and butter issues that would be addressed as top priorities, before we start talking about any other grandiose schemes.

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Originally posted by Backstop:
I just printed his speech - if he gets elected, I'll write him each time he doesn't do what he said. I think it's important to remind politicains of their promises that got them elected.

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Not that I like kerry, but did you do this with bush?

As I remember, he promised no "nation building".

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Originally posted by duhh:
Not that I like kerry, but did you do this with bush?
As I remember, he promised no "nation building".

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I'm shocked - shocked I tell ya - that you would think I'd not be impartial. Hhrrmmph!!

Seriously - no I did not copy President Bush's speech. I didn't even think about using the speech as a reference until a year or so into President Bush's term. But I have written President Bush no less than 5 times in the last two years. And I have applied a corrective action to my error by printing Kerry's speech, and will do the same for President Bush. As soon as both speeches are online, and the Inaugural, I'll burn all three to CD.

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"As president, I will restore trust and credibility to the White House."
- SENATOR JOHN KERRY, in accepting the Democratic nomination for president.

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Q: What have you done to protect and improve Social Security, and what more should be done?
KERRY: Well, we did protect Social Security in the US Senate, and Social Security is safe and sound well into the next two decades or more. With very minor changes, with a strong economy, the next generation will have Social Security. I will never privatize Social Security. I will never try to extend the retirement age for Social Security. And I will not cut any benefits for Social Security.

Source: Democratic 2004 Presidential Primary Debate in Iowa Jan 4, 2004

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Yes, I do understand - saying that politicians don't lie is like saying the Detroit Tigers will win the World Series this year. HAHA!

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Don't be talkin' nasty about the Tigers. I've beat people up for lesser things. (I'm originally from Detroit, you know.)

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I semi-explained it here, though. Basically, it puts the decisions of government back in the hands of the people.

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As I remember, he promised no "nation building".

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"As president, I will restore trust and credibility to the White House."
- SENATOR JOHN KERRY, in accepting the Democratic nomination for president.

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What a pity Mr. Bush did not learn to extend trust beyond his inner circle.

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Hell, if he had integrity, he probably would not have a credibility problem either.

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I will never privatize Social Security. I will never try to extend the retirement age for Social Security. And I will not cut any benefits for Social Security.

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The Boston Globe Archives
June 5, 1987

WASHINGTON -- The Senate Foreign Relations committee yesterday passed by voice vote a $25 million measure to stimulate Chinese markets for US-made technology by training Chinese technicians at US manufacturing plants on equipment the companies hope to sell in China. The measure, sponsored by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), is an attempt to increase the competitiveness of US products abroad, Kerry said.

China is considered one of the world's premier growth markets for a wide variety of products, but particularly for high- technology goods to help in the country's efforts to modernize.

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The Boston Globe Archives
March 13, 1987

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kerry introduced a $25 million "training for trade" bill to bring Chinese technocrats and managers to the United States for training on American high-technology equipment. Kerry said the program would stimulate exports of US technology to China. "It only stands to reason that a Chinese manager trained on US technology will import the technology compatible with the training," Kerry said.

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By Jim Hauser
Talon News
August 31, 2004

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates government corruption, has released declassified documents which they say shows that Democrat presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry accepted improper campaign contributions during his 1996 reelection bid. In exchange, Judicial Watch says Kerry helped arrange meetings between Chinese aerospace executives and U.S. Government officials.

The heavily redacted FBI documents show that Johnny Chung, who plead guilty to two violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act and other charges, funneled approximately $20,000 to the Clinton/Gore '96 reelection campaign and an undisclosed, smaller amount to Sen. John Kerry.

According to Newsweek Magazine, Kerry received $10,000 at the Beverly Hills fundraiser held less than one month before the election. In return, according to Newsweek, Kerry helped Honk Kong businesswoman Liu Chaohying by arraigning a meeting between Chaohying and a senior Securities and Exchange (SEC) official in order to get Chaohying's company listed on the U.S. Stock Exchange.

It was later disclosed that Chaohying was also a lieutenant colonel in the Communist China's Peoples Liberation Army. It was Chaohying who controlled a Honk Kong bank account through which the money was routed.

During the same time period, Kerry traveled to Beijing on a "U.S. trade mission organized and sponsored by a private corporation." Paul Marcus, the head of Boston Capital & Technology, traveled with Kerry on the trip.

Marcus claims on his company's website that his firm was "China Advisor to U.S. Senator's commercial agenda for China."

According to an article published in "Insight on the News" by investigative reporter Charles T. Smith, Marcus is a business partner with the China International Trust and Investment Corp (CITIC).

CITIC is known as a front for the munitions manufacturer Poly Technologies Corp. According to a 1997 report prepared by the Rand Corporation, "Poly Technologies Ltd. was founded in 1984, ostensibly as a subsidiary of CITIC, although it was later exposed to be the primary commercial arm of the PLA [People's Liberation Army] General Staff Department's Equipment Sub-Department."

"Throughout the 1980s, Poly sold hundreds of millions of dollars of largely surplus arms around the world, exporting to customers in Thailand, Burma, Iran, Pakistan and the United States," the Rand report continues. "CITIC does enter into business partnerships with and provide logistical assistance to PLA and defense-industrial companies like Poly."

The reports adds, "Poly Technologies was run by international arms dealer Wang Jun and He Ping, son-in-law of long-time Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. The Rand Corporation noted that 'Wang Jun is both director of CITIC and Chairman of Poly Group, the arms-trading company of the General Staff Department.'"

In 1996, Poly Chairman Wang Jun met with President Bill Clinton inside the White House with convicted Chinagate figure Charlie Trie, who donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the 1996 Clinton/Gore campaign from Red Chinese sources. The Democratic Party later returned much of this donated money.

"While CITIC is reported by U.S. military authorities to be involved in the international sale of illegal arms it also is interested in obtaining advanced U.S. technology," says Smith. "The Boston Capital Website notes that the firm has been involved with the transfer of advanced U.S. space technology to China. Such references are viewed in the arms trade to have missile applications."

"John Kerry frequently has stated that he has had contacts with high-ranking officials of foreign governments," says Smith. "Yet, the Kerry campaign is refusing to answer any questions about the candidate's privately sponsored trade trip to China or his relationship with Marcus.

Smith also notes that the Chinese official Internet news outlet of the People's Daily, official newspaper of the Communist Party of China, recently endorsed the senator from Massachusetts for president of the United States.

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