Cause and effect

I was wondering how much all of the disasters have effected you as a rider. Between Iraq becoming a quagmire, Katrina and Rita, Gas prices and now Bush (who I supported all this time) seemingly losing his marbles how are you allocating your disposable income?

It's just amazing the number of things going on right now. Not just the two hurricanes, but the floods in the NE, the crap in Guatamala and the earthquake in Pakistan. I don't think I've ever seen so many disasters worldwide in such a short period of time..ever.

As far as the way that, along with the war in Iraq/Afganistan..etc..I try not to let it get to me and effect how I operate day to day. I don't have a hell of a lot of discretionary income as I'm a full-time student right now on a small fixed income. I try to commute as much as possible on the bike and stay out of my truck except to haul stuff.

As someone who voted for Bush..I'm quite pissed how he's handling his second term. This bit yesterday where the networks showed he had those soldiers in Iraq prepped on what to say to him in a supposed off the cuff televised meeting was a sham. I know that stuff goes on..has for many presidents, but they sure weren't very discrete about it. Come on..I wanna hear what our guys have to say..not what the White House wants them to say. A few bigwig officers were quite pissed saying that's not how soldiers should be taught to act. This administration is having such a miriad of problems from Rove to DeLay to Frist that I've got to believe the Democrats have a good shot at major gains in Congress during the mid-terms next year.

Then there's the Supreme Court. I've got no problem whatsoever with Roberts..he's proved himself and then some that he belongs. But this Miers is too far out there. Why do they keep bringing religion up when were talking about our highest court? The fact she's evangelical makes me sick. That has nothing to do with constitutional law..separation from state and all that. I think she's too much of a loose cannon without any idea what she might do. I think Bush has an agenda with her and it's scares the hell out of not only the Republicans, but some Democrats too. There's got to be a better choice than another Bush crony.

Any way..sorry to ramble. I still wouldn't have voted for Gore, but I'm wondering if I'll ever get to vote for the best candidate instead of the lesser of two evils.

I had many "discussions" with Tish and others over Bush and Hanoi Kerry. There is just no way in H3LL I would vote for that lying Bassturd. I have said from the get go that Bush was just the lesser of two evils. To have your own media mouth pieces (Rush) getting on your case should be sending shock waves to the Bush camp..... I was involved with one or two of those spoonfed dog and pony shows over twenty years. The biggest one I remember was when the Secretary of the AF and DOD had a big show in the hanger. Only the sharpest of the sharp were sent in and the whole series of questions were framed including the applause after the answer...barf. I am glad I do not hold allegiance to any party really. I feel free to vote for the person I believe will help. If I can figure that out early enough, I'll register for that party to vote in the primaries and then switch back to Independent. I sincerely hope Mccain decides to run next election. We need some leadership.

Supreme court? Oh, do you mean the Bush agenda court? If she gets in, stick a fork in us, we are done. I was just amazed that anyone would think she was remotely qualified to do the job. The terrorists must be laughing themselves silly watching us implode.

Also, one of the things that I dislike, is having to vote for the lesser of two evils, I just could NOT vote for Kerry. Where have I heard that?????

I do not vote ticket, I vote for what I think will be best for America and my family.

I apologize for my previous non-answer. Let me try and answer CD’s question.

For me the only affect is the rise in gas prices, and the soon-to-be rise home heating this winter. I was watching the national news yesterday and ‘they’ said the only inflation we have had is in energy (gas, oil, cooling, heating, ect.) But who are ‘they’?

Yes, Iraq is a quagmire, I think/hope there is light at the end of the tunnel, I think the locals over there, might be beginning to figure out that this freedom thing might not be so bad after all.(JMO).

Well,,, with all the earthly activities we have had this year, Tidal-waves/tsunami, Earth-quakes, Africa’s starving, Rains/Floods/ Fires, Katrina/Rita, Land-slides, and of course world disorder,,, Is the end near? Maybe.

As far as disposable income goes, it has decreased because of increased gas prices. Other than that everything is hunky-dory.

SK, it ain't that bad. Stop watching cable news and it'll all be better.

Heck, gas is coming down again. It'll NEVER get below 2 bucks a gallon, I'm sure. Only reason I'm not buying much is I ain't got all that much income to buy with. That's not the government's fault. I ain't Jesse Jackson, don't think the government owes me a living. I'll make more in the future and I'll buy in the future. Just right now, money's a little tight. It's getting better, though!

Al Queda said Katrina was Allah's wrath on the "great satin". Well, now, wonder what their take is on the earthquake in Pakistan? Be ironic as all get out if it actually killed UBL, wouldn't it? What all the firepower of the "great satin" couldn't do, the power of Allah did?
We've had storms before, we've had worse gas "crisis" before. We always get over it. We've also had republican presidents before and the media has always made 'em out to be moronic buffoons. They did it with Regan even though he ended the cold war, brought the economy back from the doldrums by lowering exorbitant taxes and getting government off our backs, and he annihilated inflation after Nixon had tried the leftist way of "wage and price freezes" and Ford came out with his highly innovated program of "whip inflation now" and inflation went DOUBLE DIGIT under Carter! Yet, in the eyes of the left, the main stream media, he was a moron, controlled by Nancy, an idiot lacking any sort of intelligence. He didn't even go to an Ivy league school, after all! NOone can be even halfway intelligent if they aren't an eastern or left coast liberal elitist after all.

Funny part about it, GW went to YALE and when their transcripts were released, GW's GPA was higher than KERRY'S! Only way I know that is Fox News. Never woulda heard it on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, anywhere else!

Bush isn't perfect, but I support the war and I support his presidency right now. I think his legacy will FAR and away outstrip that most intelligent of all liberal elite, the darling of the left, Bill Clinton.

Yep

Yep, I heard the experts saying the other day that we will never see dollar gas again. And most likely never see it under two dollars again.

I heard that Bush had a high GPA.

I have come across some very smart people that could'nt screw in a light bulb.

Goose,

You didn't hear that we caused that quake? The great Satan shook the earth.

I also support the war however, the problem is that it can easily become another Vietnam and I personally would not wish that on any soldier. The pressure to stop the violence must be strong and never falter.

It is far to easy for those that are on the side line to point fingers while young men and women (still do not agree with that) get maimed and killed. Biden pukes out typical liberal rhetoric undermining the troops and the President. We should have more forces like a big thumb on Iraq. You shoot an RPG, you get hosed by a Cobra or a Black Hawk or some 25mm from a Bradley. Snipers should be fully released to act on their own.

Then there is Kerry telling all of us how he would have fixed it all up touting his "experience" in command? Huh?

We're in this war..so as far as I'm concerned we've got to finish the job we should've done on the first Bush's watch. We wouldn't have had the insurgent problem we're dealing with now had we been allowed to do it right in Desert Storm. Have no mercy is my motto right now. If we can lock down the country and have hardly any casualties during the election last Saturday..why can't we do that all the time?

Any way..Bush? High GPA? It was just a little above average GPA at best..though slightly higher than Kerry's..not that that's saying a hell of a lot. I don't think either one of them kicked ass in school. Then again..I don't think GPA means all that much..it's what you do after college that counts.

While trying to find something intelligent to add to this forum this kept jumping up at me and I felt strongly that I needed to share it with you.
Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!” Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!”

So while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?” Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will mislead many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars , do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birthpangs.


Regardless of who we vote into office we will never be satisfied with the outcome..
Do we want to fight them there or do we let them come here and we fight them here ??
I say we finish them off there where they are...


PS.Miers Withdraws High Court Nomination.President Bush has accepted the withdrawal of Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers.

Thank God..what a loose cannon she'd have been. I'm really glad we didn't have to go through all the hearings for this to happen.

I think it was doomed to begin with. He had very little support in his own party let alone the Dems.

Is that a slip there CD? Because the last person I want nominated now is the most far right woman around..Owens. God..I hope he doesn't nominate her next.

errr own that is

Well..we got Alito, or Scalito as they call him. I was hoping for Littig or however they spell his name..he seemed more in line with Roberts as a jurist who believes in precedence in the law. I've never liked Scalia, and Alito seems too much like him. It definitely looks to be a messy confirmation. At least the far-right religious fanatics will love it.

I haven't been, and won't be spending much money on bike parts or any other unnecessary items this year. It has little to do with the disasters however. I have an addition that went way over budget which also increase my heat and tax bills, a daughter going to college next year and a fleet of vehicles that seem to do nothing but break.

I have to admit that home fuel and gas prices have had me spending more money on wood stove installation materials and a Toyota 4x4 project truck instead of my bike and Chevy 4x4 extra cab. But that will change in the summer.

By the way, we have seen regular gas as low as $1.95/gal here in Massachusetts. Of course you have to drive 20 miles out of the way to find them.