What do you think of our current President?

[renrich]

Right on Bill and Matt!

[syscom3]

The lying and personal character and reputation destruction frenzy (left and right) are examples of 1st Amendment 'Rights' which are way beyond what I believe the Founding Fathers had in mind.

The founding fathers knew exactly what they were doing. "lying and personal character and reputation destruction" has been a time honored sport for 220 years.

[mkloby]

Originally Posted by syscom3

The founding fathers knew exactly what they were doing. "lying and personal character and reputation destruction" has been a time honored sport for 220 years.

I agree with you statement, but bear in mind not all speech is protected. The 1st Ammendment is not an acceptable defense for the commission of libel/slander - they are not forms of protected speech.

Dan Rather is an excellent example of this. That man is a criminal in my opinion. He put forth those false documents regarding Bush's service record without verifying their veracity. He was led not by journalistic fact finding, but motivated by Bush Hating. He paid dearly for his terrible "journalism."

This is the sort of crap that needs to be addressed, and definitely not what was in mind when the 1st Ammendment was written.

[Njaco]

I don't think much about today is what our Forefathers thought any of their hard work at creating a government would become.

The only way to stop or punish a "career" politician is TAKE AWAY THE JOB! Vote them out. But that will never happen as long as only about 30 to 40% of the population votes. And when you think about it thats not a majority but a minority running this country.

Thats why immigration is such a hot topic. Vast resource of Democrat votes to be mined.

Mr. Novak who wrote the article that got Scooter in trouble even stated himself that his story was NOT based solely on his conversations with Scooter. I strongly believe you shouldn't perjure yourself especially before Congress but was the punishment fair? The cost to him was probably more than Tawana Brawley or Al Sharpton got for lying and wasting emergency resources. They were just out on a Bush witch hunt and caught Scooter. Of course only after Ol' Dan caught his finger on a fish hook.

[Graeme]

Originally Posted by Njaco

The only way to stop or punish a "career" politician is TAKE AWAY THE JOB! Vote them out. But that will never happen as long as only about 30 to 40% of the population votes. And when you think about it thats not a majority but a minority running this country.

This is something I will never understand. In this country when you turn 18 you must register to vote. Failure to vote in Local or Federal elections is an offence and results in heavy fines. This does not stop an individual from attending a polling centre, being marked off the roll, and walking straight out again. But in a sense, they have 'voted'. However, statistics show that the majority put a tick somewhere.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by Njaco

The only way to stop or punish a "career" politician is TAKE AWAY THE JOB! Vote them out. But that will never happen as long as only about 30 to 40% of the population votes. And when you think about it thats not a majority but a minority running this country.

Term limits!!! But that will only happen if a grass roots drive forces politicians to accept term limits. Boy I'd love to see Teddy Kennedy at the unemployment line!

[Njaco]

and Byrd and so on and so on. I AGREE!

[Njaco]

sorry for the double post - but what Graeme said ain't too bad. Would get these armchair citizens off their ass and at least make an effort.

I would add one more - free advertisements. I think Britain does this. Its absolutely ridiculus that it costs billions for a campaign. Do away with the campaign money and you won't be beholden to the PACs and others who contributed. The money is sickening!

[mkloby]

Originally Posted by Njaco

sorry for the double post - but what Graeme said ain't too bad. Would get these armchair citizens off their ass and at least make an effort.

I would add one more - free advertisements. I think Britain does this. Its absolutely ridiculus that it costs billions for a campaign. Do away with the campaign money and you won't be beholden to the PACs and others who contributed. The money is sickening!

I can't say that I believe mandatory voting is a good thing. Saying "nothing" is part of your freedom of political speech. It should stay that way.

I have been saying for years that campaign finance overhaul is the most needed reform in the US. Mit Romney touched upon this w/ McCain and talked about campaign finance restrictions being an imfringement on 1st Ammendment rights. Sad fact is that most politicians will oppose any real legislation restricting campaign financing because it is not in THEIR best interests - they may lose their next election, and at the very least face more stiff opposition.

Notice the common theme here - career politicians pursuing their own interests, not the interests of the populace....

[Jugulator]

Yep, and that's what scares me.

[ToughOmbre]

Originally Posted by Graeme

This is something I will never understand. In this country when you turn 18 you must register to vote. Failure to vote in Local or Federal elections is an offence and results in heavy fines. This does not stop an individual from attending a polling centre, being marked off the roll, and walking straight out again. But in a sense, they have 'voted'. However, statistics show that the majority put a tick somewhere.

Can't force people to vote in a free society. And hate to say it, but there are lots of clueless zombies floating around who shouldn't vote.

[drgondog]

Originally Posted by syscom3

The founding fathers knew exactly what they were doing. "lying and personal character and reputation destruction" has been a time honored sport for 220 years.

Syscom - interesting comment but simply untrue.

When you crossed 'over the line', pistols at 20 paces was an acceptable form of redress - so THERE~WERE CONSEQUENCES. You may not have studied that custom when you passed your citizenship tests.

It has only been for last 150 years that a lying SOB could skate w/o personal responsibility that could terminate his ability to pass on his gene pool.

Back 'in the day' you had to choose your words carefully or risk a pistol ball between the eyes - or wimp out.

Bring those days back, please!

[syscom3]

Originally Posted by drgondog

Syscom - interesting comment but simply untrue.

When you crossed 'over the line', pistols at 20 paces was an acceptable form of redress - so THERE~WERE CONSEQUENCES. You may not have studied that custom when you passed your citizenship tests.

It has only been for last 150 years that a lying SOB could skate w/o personal responsibility that could terminate his ability to pass on his gene pool.

Back 'in the day' you had to choose your words carefully or risk a pistol ball between the eyes - or wimp out.

Bring those days back, please!

Incorrect.

Not everyone had suicidal tendencies to to go out for a duel.

A few did, the vast majority didnt.

Personally attacking your political opponant has been fair sport for all types of Americans for 220 years.

[renrich]

Compulsory voting is a terrible idea. Limiting the voter pool would be much better. Bring back the poll task and other qualifiers.

[pbfoot]

Originally Posted by renrich

Compulsory voting is a terrible idea. Limiting the voter pool would be much better. Bring back the poll task and other qualifiers.

And what qualifies you to vote over some else.