Will the President Unite the Country?

[Joesitz (RIP)]

With the country divided down the middle can President Bush actually unite the Nation? Think about:

Warmongers vs. Peaceniks.
Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq and N.Korea
Social Security to be on an individual basis - not as we know it.
Medicare - Getting the government out of this and individuals pay for it as a private insuance company.
Health Plans - cutting down benefits
Catastrophic illnesses - Medicare and any other government agency not to cover them. The right to sue a medical professional is outlawed even if it can be proven that the professionall was at fault.
TAXES -Cuts in social services will help the wealthy to get their tax refunds.

The differences go on and on. the question remains:

CAN BUSH UNITE THE COUNTRY IN HIS SECOND TERM???

Joe

 

[Antilles]

I don't think he can, but I don't think Kerry could either. There are a lot of polarized views, and a lot of wounds that need to be healed. Bush may have won a decisive victory, but he still had just over half of the popular vote. That means half of the country didn't want him in office. I think it will take longer than four years to fix the problems you listed, and some of them may never be fixed. I do hope I'm wrong, though.

 

[Piel]

Well, this same question was asked four years ago and it seems the country is even more divided now. I just don't see Bush making that much of a change. He is up to his a** in the war, and now without the worry of running for re-election I see his agenda as stacking the Supreme Court farther to the right and preparing the way for Arnold and Jeb to run. I think it is safe to say that we don't have to worry about the third generation of Jenna or Barbara running, LOL . Jeb's son is another matter entirely though.

 

[bronxgirl]

NO

 

[gracefulswan]

like piel said... no he will not unite the country b/c he certainly did not even come close to it in his first 4 years in office. heck, we are even more polarized. even though he may serve a full 8 years as president, he'll hardly be remembered as memorable or beloved by the people/world ever. :sheesh:

 

[BronzeisGolden]

Will he unite the country? I'd have to say no. The Republicans now have control of the Congress and the White House...I don't think unification or "healing" is going to be the highpoints on their agenda. I'd love it if I were wrong, but it doesn't seem like a very realistic hope.

 

[Ptichka]

NO

Joe, I would also add to your list, unfortunately, Religious vs. secular. I hate that it's so, because an ultra religious Christian and a secular Jew could certainly have the same view on, say, taxes. However, the issue of "faith" and "values" overshadows this. 20% of voters placed "values" above domestic or foreign policies in deciding whom to vote for. This is scary. I can debate anyone about tax policy or talks with N. Korea, but I cannot discuss anything with anyone who says, "I'm voting for Bush because he's the godly choice." I also feel that there is the same disconnect from the other side -- many traditionalist voters don't understand how we can be so rational and ignore the "values". Of course, to me "values" in governement mean something entirely different, say working to make all people equal before the law, evening the educational field, etc.

As someone joked yesterday: Bush announces, "I want to unite the country. To this end, I am appointing John Ashcroft to the Supreme Court of the United States".

 

[Dee4707]

I think it is safe to say that we don't have to worry about the third generation of Jenna or Barbara running, LOL .

Piel, what a ghastly thought!!! It is so very hard for me to think 2 college graduates conducting themselves the way they did.

Joe, in answer to your question, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dee

 

[MOONPIE48]

Bush did not win a "decisive" victory. There was a lot of voter intimidation in places like Ohio and New Mexico - no one- not even Kerry who promised "every vote will be counted" did anything about it. How's that for setting a record? Kerry broke a campaign promise without even being elected! I was harassed at my voting place (had my peacenik buttons on) and i'm in NY - but in a very conservative part of Brooklyn and always seem to run into someone who doesn't want me to vote. Complaints have led no where. BIG SURPRISE.
I am a woman of faith, i believe that God is an influence and a constant source of comfort and guidance in my life. BUT not everyone feels the same way, and my God tells me to respect all his/her children even when we differ. The government doesn't have the right to impose it's religious views on the people.
What frightens me most is the Supreme Court. I have a personal believe that life does begin at conception. However, THAT'S MY DECISION, i can't make the decisions for how other women should lead their lives. I've spent many a cold morning outside clinics as a "legal observer" and at other times as an escort. I will do so again, although it causes me personal pain, should the need arise.
If you take away a woman's reproductive rights you take away her economic power.
I believe Chaney and Ashcroft are Evil - i don't toss that word around freely.
They are murderers, they are sending men and women to die and killing countless Iraqi's so they can make money via oil and Halliburton.
My husband was injured in the 9/11 attacks. We thought the physical wounds had healed but at the age of almost 50 he now as asthma. This is a direct result of breathing the air in downtown NY after we were told it was safe. When did the government become the enemy of it's people. Bush and his minions don't really have a clue as to what most Americans have to go through just to get by month to month and they don't care, they are completly self serving. This country will now be completely taken over by Corporate interest. Maybe we all should have voted for Nader.
Unite the country - no way - i just pray that he doesn't get us all killed.

I wish you all peace and comfort.
moonpie

 

[Aloft04]

Yeah....he's "a uniter not a divider".* :sheesh:


[*dripping with sarcasm.]

 

[Piel]

Regarding every vote being counted. In Southern WV that is highly Democratic the polls did not open until 8:30 instead of 6am because the poll workers didn'tshow up until then. Lots of voters had to leave and go to work without voting. They announced that they would keep the polls open later so that those who had to leave in the morning could come back to vote. THEN some lawyers for the Republiucan party filed to prevent the the polls from staying open saying that state law dictates that the polls must close by 7pm (what about the law that says when they should open???).

 

[eliza88]

NOPE. Nah uh. NO WAY.

(I am too disgusted with the election results to comment any further)

eliza88

 

[SingAlto]

Hell, no. I, too, am disgusted with the results of this election. Americans must look like a society of idiots to the rest of the world. What happened to the country I was once so proud of?

 

[gracefulswan]

unfortunately it's nonexistant.. we should have been born in a different era... as evidently this one is stauchly pro-bush and very conservative (which equals stingy, tightwad, close-minded, ignorance, antiquated thinking, blind faith, etc..)... :sheesh:

 

[heyang]

In all honesty, I don't think Bush will bring the US or the World back together. Based upon his words, he sees his win as a mandate to change things to fit his agenda. Unfortunately, I don't believe his viewpoint includes those of people who think differently then him - he doesn't have a respect for the opinions of others.

Overall, the country will get over this as long as the checks and balance remain in place. The President can push for his opinions, but it is up to the House of Representatives to actually pass the laws. Also, the judges are supposed to be able to suspend personal opinion when it opposes the fundamentals of the Constitution.

I believe the Supreme Court, but I question the House of Representatives.

Hoepfully, we'll have better choices in 4 years.

 

[purplecat]

In one word...no. Frankly, no one could unite America (including Kerry), but Bush will divide America even further. I shiver at the thought of the next four years. They will be very contentious for sure.

 

[shine]

What's the point?

This is the answer to everything! http://yglesias.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/unknown.jpg

 

[Ladskater]

With the country divided down the middle can President Bush actually unite the Nation? Think about:

Warmongers vs. Peaceniks.
Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq and N.Korea
Social Security to be on an individual basis - not as we know it.
Medicare - Getting the government out of this and individuals pay for it as a private insuance company.
Health Plans - cutting down benefits
Catastrophic illnesses - Medicare and any other government agency not to cover them. The right to sue a medical professional is outlawed even if it can be proven that the professionall was at fault.
TAXES -Cuts in social services will help the wealthy to get their tax refunds.

The differences go on and on. the question remains:

CAN BUSH UNITE THE COUNTRY IN HIS SECOND TERM???

Joe

On another note: Can our new Prime Minister Paul Martin and President Bush restore better relations between Canada and the US? Or will things be worse? That's what Canadians are wondering.

 

[StillBlueLake]

Not. Bloody. Likely.

It's going to be a long long road for the Democratic side.

 

[PrincessLeppard]

Did you *see* his first press conference? I held out a glimmer of hope for about 36 hours that he would realize he had no freakin' mandate (generally, a mandate assumes upwards of 55% of the country voting for you...), and I then I watched that. "We'll be happy to work with those who share our views." ie, the rest of you can go rot. Lovely.

Laura, looking at moving back to Europe