Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (488253)	11/6/2003 1:06:25 PM
From: JakeStraw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

Like YOU really care Kenneth! LOL!!

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (488253)	11/6/2003 1:10:45 PM
From: Bald Eagle	Respond to of 769667

God, you're full of crap, it said NOTHING about RAISING taxes. What a moron you are .. LOL

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (488253)	11/6/2003 1:13:00 PM
From: JakeStraw	Respond to of 769667

Silver Linings Are Few for Dems in Vote By DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent November 5, 2003, 8:38 PM EST WASHINGTON -- A year before the 2004 elections, the news is grim for Democrats, losers of statehouses in Kentucky and Mississippi in off-year balloting, victims of a wave of retirements by Senate Southerners and petitioners in court hoping to block a Texas House redistricting massacre. Yet despite the recent Republican run -- Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory in last month's California recall election included -- President Bush's poll numbers have sagged lately, and surveys consistently reflect concern about an economy that is finally showing signs of a recovery and the aftermath of the war in Iraq. "I don't want to overstate the national impact and say that it locks in 2004, it does not," Republican Party Chairman Ed Gillespie said Wednesday at a news conference held to celebrate Rep. Ernie Fletcher's election as governor of Kentucky and Haley Barbour's gubernatorial win in Mississippi. "It does show some things that matter, positive policies and effective ground game. We anticipate a close contest despite the big wins last night and are prepared for a close contest," he said. With less to cheer about, Gillespie's counterpart, Democratic chairman Terry McAuliffe, skipped the traditional post-election news conference. In an interview, he called the outcome a "mixed bag," and pointed to down-ballot Democratic victories in the New Jersey state legislature, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the Philadelphia mayor's office and a ballot question in New York. As for the import for 2004, McAuliffe said he believes that both he and Gillespie "would agree that you shouldn't extrapolate too much out of yesterday's elections." Despite gains over the past three years for Republicans, including in key swing states, "The electorate splits evenly for a second term for the president," the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press said Wednesday in a report on American attitudes based on more than 4,000 interviews. The organization added that since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, "Republicans have made significant gains both geographically and demographically. Yet the favorable trends for the GOP are imperiled by rising discontent with national conditions and unease with the situation in Iraq." The same survey found that in a race against an unnamed Democratic opponent, Bush would finish in a 42-42 percent tie, with 16 percent undecided. When pitted against the named Democrats challenging him, though, he holds a clear advantage -- from a high of 53 percent against Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut to 49 percent against Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri. Those numbers gauge not only Bush's popularity. They also reflect the still-unformed nature of the Democratic race, the bruising nominating campaign that has yet to give way to the celebration of next summer's nationally televised convention in Boston. The presidential election aside, there are 34 Senate elections next year and 435 House seats on the ballot. Another 11 gubernatorial races also will be settled. Republicans hold a 51-48 majority in the Senate, with one Democratic-leaning independent. The GOP majority in the House is 229-205-1. To gain a majority, Democrats must take seats currently in Republican hands. Yet their task has been complicated -- and the Republican potential for modest gains augmented -- by the departures of Sens. Ernest Hollings in South Carolina; John Edwards in North Carolina, Bob Graham in Florida and Zell Miller in Georgia. Now Democrats must rely on challengers to run races in states where Bush figures to run strongly. Democrats need to gain 12 seats in the House, an uphill fight in view of the state-by-state redistricting in 2001 that made literally hundreds of seats safe for one party or the other. Democrats acknowledge recruiting difficulties earlier in the year, in the wake of demoralizing 2002 losses and the early political fallout from the war in Iraq. But Rep. Bob Matsui of California wrote fellow Democrats recently: "We feel like we are where we need to be in order to be successful. We have recruited good candidates and continue to break records in fund raising." Republicans scoff at that, pointing out that their potentially vulnerable incumbents are piling up large campaign treasuries, and that their challengers are generally outpacing Democratic challengers in fund raising, as well. But even the most optimistic Democrat has trouble envisioning a victory in 2004 unless a Republican-inspired redistricting plan for Texas is overturned in court. "It's a brutal and ugly trade-off: seven GOP politicians win, but 3.6 million minority Texans lose," Rep. Martin Frost, D-Texas, argued recently as Democrats challenged the new district map as unconstitutional. Republicans defend their handiwork, and it likely will be up to the Supreme Court to decide the fate of a plan that -- as Frost said -- could put the Democrats in an even deeper hole. * __ newsday.com

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (488253)	11/6/2003 1:15:37 PM
From: JakeStraw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

Southern outlook cheers the GOP By James W. Brosnan November 6, 2003 WASHINGTON - Republicans Wednesday were proclaiming the South is solid once again while Democrats were left scratching their heads about how they can win below the Mason-Dixon line. Tuesday's victories by Republicans Haley Barbour in Mississippi and Ernie Fletcher in Kentucky left Democrats holding the governor's chairs in only two Southern states, Tennessee and Virginia, with the Louisiana governor's race to be decided Saturday. Next year Democrats face the uphill challenge of defeating an incumbent president while holding onto the seats of retiring Democratic senators in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia and possibly Louisiana. Republicans were careful not to claim a mandate from just two races, but said the GOP victories in Kentucky and Mississippi were a sign that President Bush remains popular in the South. Republicans will hold at least 29 governorships representing 70 percent of the population, noted Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, chairman of the Republican Governors Association. "We are emerging as possibly the dominant party, not just in the South, but throughout the rest of the U.S." "I don't see it as a huge sea change," disagreed Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen. "The Democrats still have issues that are important to people - health care and the environment, and especially jobs and the economy." Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn., said Bush should take a lesson that, like stockholders in a company, voters will throw out an executive who isn't producing jobs and good schools. Ford said that if he runs for the Senate in the future he would run a more positive campaign than Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, a Democrat who focused his campaign ads on attacking Barbour's lobbying career. "It takes a certain kind of candidate. One who's willing to speak to people's aspirations. One who's not afraid to talk about his values, or her values. And one who's willing to confront wrong when they see it, in his own or the opposing party," said Ford. Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn., said he disagreed with retiring Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., that the national party can't compete in the South. Tanner said he and other "Blue Dog" centrist Democrats have shown they can win in the South with a message of "social tolerance and fiscal responsibility." Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton said his party needed to take a time out for four or five days and figure out what it stands for. "The advantage the Republicans have is that they choose four or five guiding principles, jump on that elephant and ride it," said Wharton. The county's Democratic Party chairman, state Rep. Kathryn Bowers, D-Memphis, said the party needs to recruit younger voters and the rising number of Hispanics moving into the South. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., who is favored to hold onto her seat next year, said Democrats need to focus on issues of concern to everyday people. Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Ricky Cole accused the Republicans of using the Confederate flag "to exploit the ancient racial divisions that have so plagued progress in the South." But Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie charged that it was the Democrats who used race as an issue. He displayed a leaflet that he said was put on windshields at Saturday's Jackson State football game. It showed Barbour with a burning cross in the background. Democrats were having to deal with their own "flag" controversy. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said Wednesday he did not mean to condone the use of the Confederate flag when he said he wanted to be a candidate for Southerners who display that flag on their pickup trucks. Dean, one of several Democrats running for president, said he wanted to have a "serious discussion about race" but that he started it "in a clumsy way." Lexie Carter, a member of the Dean steering committee for Memphis, said Dean started a "painful" but needed dialogue about how to "reclaim voters who are clearly voting against their own economic interest while embracing a flag which symbolizes 'racial divide' to a great many people." gomemphis.com

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (488253)	11/6/2003 1:17:40 PM
From: JakeStraw	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769667

Anti-Southern Democrats By Doug Hagin on 11/05/03 This is 2003, we are supposed to be a more tolerant nation. We are supposed to be celebrating our differences and our diversity. We are supposed to be concerned with making sure no one or no group is excluded. Yes we are supposed to be a sensitive people, seeking never to prejudge anyone. So why are certain groups still being attacked and demonized in America? Why is it that Southerners, at least those who choose to honor our Confederate heritage, are a very easy target for those who usually are preaching tolerance? And certainly recent history has shown that while the political left talks the talk of sensitivity and inclusion, they at the same time walk the walk of bigotry. Consider some recent remarks by presidential candidate Howard Dean. Speaking in Iowa, Dean made this statement, “I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks.” Now of course these remarks have caused quite the uproar among Dean’s fellow Democratic candidates. Seemingly upset that Howard Dean would make any remark even remotely positive about Southerners proud of their ancestors, Dean’s opponents for the Democratic nomination were quick to attack his comments. Dick Gephardt accused Dean of courting the votes of those who according to Gephardt “disagree with us on bedrock Democratic values like civil rights.” Hmmm, so those Southerners who dare to pay homage to their brave Confederate ancestors oppose civil rights? How does Dick Gephardt justify making such a blatantly bigoted comment? Aren’t Southerners deserving of the tolerance people like Dick Gephardt are always preaching? Or perhaps Dick Gephardt opposes Southerners having equality? Surely his remarks hint this might be the case. Not content with attacking proud Southerners view on equality Mr. Gephardt went on to question their patriotism as well. “ I don’t want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks” Gephardt said “ I will win the Democratic nomination because I will be the candidate for guys with American flags in their pickup trucks.” Well many Southerners are as proud of their American heritage as their Southern heritage. Many fly both flags proudly. Yet Dick Gephardt ignores these facts and goes on an intolerant rant condemning anyone daring to respect Southern heritage. Not to be outdone presidential hopeful Senator John Kerry attacked not only Southerners but gun owners as well when he accused Dean of “pandering” to the NRA and seeking to make inroads with those who love the Confederate flag. Well yes many Southerners are gun owners and members of the NRA as well. And surely John Kerry is stereotyping both groups and by the standards Liberals like John Kerry claim to live by stereotyping is racist. John Kerry did not stop there, however, he continued his stump for bigotry by making the following statement, "I would rather be the candidate of the NAACP than the NRA," Kerry said in a statement. Really? Surely many would question whether or not the NAACP was anything but a divisive group which profits from creating racial tensions in America. Surely no group has demagogued race for their own gain more than the NAACP. So it is telling of Mr. Kerry’s character that he would rather support a group which exploits race instead of groups which honor and protect the history of Southerners of all races and religions, or a group which defends the constitution. Senator John Edwards, of North Carolina also added his comments to the attacks on Southerners. "Some of the greatest civil rights leaders, white and black, have come from the South," said Edwards. "To assume that southerners who drive trucks would embrace this symbol is offensive." How about assuming anyone displaying the Confederate flag is a racist Mr. Edwards? Isn’t that pretty offensive as well? Then there was Wesley Clarke, who held none of his hatred for ancestors of Confederate soldiers in check. “"The Confederate flag flies in the face of our most deeply held American values - diversity, equality and inclusion." Really Mr. Clarke? Did you not know thousands of Jews fought for the confederacy? Or that tens of thousands of Blacks served in the Confederate armies? How about the Mexican, Cuban, Native-American, Catholic, and Asian Confederates? Guess Wesley Clarke either did not receive a very good education on the War Between the States or chose to ignore the facts. Finally there is Senator Joe Lieberman who did not hesitate to trash Southern heritage with these words; "Governor Dean ought to be more careful about what he says," Lieberman said. "It is irresponsible and reckless to loosely talk about one of the most divisive, hurtful symbols in American history." Like Wesley Clarke, Lieberman obviously is no scholar of history. Democrats are very adept at saying hate is very prevalent in America today. And as these statements show it is the Democrats who are the most guilty of it. americandaily.com

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (488253)	11/6/2003 1:47:42 PM
From: JakeStraw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

Greenspan Hopeful on U.S. Hiring Outlook Thursday November 6, 12:28 pm ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Thursday an improving U.S. economic tempo should soon generate a jobs revival...

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (488253)	11/6/2003 2:03:23 PM
From: JakeStraw	Respond to of 769667

REVIVAL IN SIGHT "The odds, however, do increasingly favor a revival in job creation," Greenspan said, noting that lean inventories in many industries could bring a wave of rebuilding, which will mean a pickup in hiring. Fresh government data on Thursday reinforced a view that the economy was on the upswing. The Labor Department said new claims for unemployment benefits dipped sharply last week to a level not seen since before the economy slipped into recession in March 2001.