In other words - you talk to average American Voter, if he's honest is he voting on the issues or on something else? Bryant Poll #3

When you look at a candidate, how important is it to you that he or she have the right position on the issues of the day. I will note, parenthetically, that there is certainly a case to be made that character is more important than positions on the issues - the President may never or only infrequently face certain issues, but his character will determine his actions during his Presidency, every day. Bryant This is Poll #2

Over the next 10 years lets say. I ask because it seems like we are already close to and in some cases may have passed the place where we can have a rational discussion between parties - the framework in which such a rational conversation could happen have been eroded away, and in some cases, eliminated. Do you expect this trend to continue? Oh, and for the record, this is because Conservatives/Republicans like Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, et al, have carefully blurred the lines...

First of all clarification of terms; Defeatist in this context are those who postulate that the United States of America is over and that there's no saving it. While I am aware that there are lots of participants from other nations, this board largely concerns itself with US politics and policies. Just bitching about or complaining about the United States is not defeatism. A one word post saying "I think America sucks" isn't defeatism either. Or not necessarily; it could well be just blowin...

First of all I did not intend to label protesters criminals, and I think you would realize that if you could look past your tunnel vision of the one and only way this weapon will be used. Good use of bold there, by the way. So should cops be armed? Should we even try to fight crime at all? I mean we pay money for these cops and people still commit crimes - maybe we are just pissing our money away. I mean the whole police system, it's just a front for people to smash protesters and r...

I mean clearly his religious views on George Bush have moved this forum the way few statements have. And just as clearly the hint of criticism of Hugo Chavez brings forths cries reminicent of "Blasphemer" and "Heretic." Perhaps we should declare Chavez our patron saint, and be done with it? Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

Specifically other Americans (or citizens of the United States) (and my apologies to DUers from outside the United States). Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

And I suspect others will do worse, for getting the Path to 9/11 knocked off the air. The inevitable result of an attempt to get rid of this movie is that the story is now about our attempts to get rid of it and not about what a piece of crap it is. Instead of wondering "Why is ABC presenting a biased and non-factual version of history" people will wonder "Why does the left feel like they have to eliminate this film?" Not a very desirable result in my mind. But perhaps I am looking at th...

On a practical level I mean. Would it be good for the party? Or could it back fire? Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

What is the opinion of the people on this board? Also I don't mean to minimize the problems with the current system; but I"m asking about what is possible, not about what we already have. Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

Or is that important? It seems like the bulk of the Torture debate is taken up by the morality of torture, not it's effectiveness. Which is a shame, because one of the things that makes Torture so immoral is that it's ineffective at information gathering. TOrture is very good at getting people to tell you what you want to hear. If you want a suspect to confess and don't care if he's actually guilty or not, Torture works. On the other hand in information gathering, that very desire to tell...

On a scale of 1 to 9 (because I have to leave room for my patented "I like to vote!" option). Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

I don't care what your position is on Israel or the Middle East (meaning Hezbollah and Palestine and the connection those groups have to the rest); how belligerently do you defend that position? Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

I think she's a good senator, and I think she might very well make a very good president. That said, it's hard to think of a more divisive candidate we could put up. She will energize the Republican base and guarentee an extra ugly election. That'd be fine if I thought that she was going to get into office and really fight for reform; but she's largely with the Bush administration on his screwing up of the middle east, she's a moderate on almost everything. And I can't believe she doesn't ...

Just out of curiousity. What percentage of the ideas, opinions, theories, notions, and what not that you like to share with people require you to use profanity in order to express them. Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

I've read a couple of posts that seemed to indicate this, but I might have misread them. What are your thoughts? Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

I mean would they really consider posting a similar hit piece on Buddhism or Islam or Christianity? The MIHOP/LIHOP faithful are entitled to their beliefs, and deserve the same sort of forbearance that any group of believers should have. I don't intend to cancel my subscription to Salon, but they have gone down a peg or two in my book. Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

Just out of curiousty. A companion to earlier Polls about the Wealthy - (Link) and the Poor - (Link) Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

I know this seems like a hard hearted way to pose this question, but did it this way to balance my other post (Link) One more to go. Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

You can define wealthy as you see fit. Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

Actually this is a two fold question - Should Churches pay Taxes and Should Donations to Churchs count as Charitable Donations. To put my cards on the table, I'm in favor of Churches not paying taxes and I'm in favor of Donations to Churches being counted as Charitable Donations. I'm not dogmatic about it, but those are my opinions. One thing I will also point out right at the top. While ending tax-exempt status will obviously hurt such enterprises as the 700 club or hierarchical churches ...

some form of Government Censure? Something like losing their tax-exempt status, perhaps? I mean that obviously not on the table in the short term, but if you could get this passed, would you want those churches to face some sort of consequence for teaching Homosexuality as a sin? Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

Obviously this is, in part, a response to the Hayden Confirmation, but I don't want to get bogged down on why he was a bad guy or why he was a bad guy but still should have been confirmed. Rather, consider this, given the record of the Bush Administration, should Democrats ever trust their nominees? Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

This is a favorite technique of ideologues. There are only two options. We can invade Iraq, or we can do nothing and let Iraq blow us up. And then when anybody questions whether or not we should invade Iraq, you simply assert that that mens they favor doing nothing and letting Iraq blow us up. There are only two options. We can embark on President Bush's plan to Phase out Social Security, or we can let Social Security go bankrupt. "So you Democrats favor ignoring the problem and le...

I find the whole Leopold story a little "inside baseball." I mean in the grand scheme of things, unless Rove is completely exonerated or Fitzgerald disavows the story, we will eventually know the truth or falsehood of this story. I will say Leopold's attitude in defending his story does seem to be very much "my way or the highway." I kind of think the facts will bear him out, but you can't expect blind loyalty. Do you think he will be exonerated by the facts? Bryant Check it out --> ...

I dont' know how many of you are aware of Ann Coulter's latest column. In it she calls Liberals "Dangerous Psychotics," suggests beating up a student at Yale State (who formally spoke for the Taliban), and ends with these lines. "The violence and threats of imprisonment have started. Now the only question is whether conservatives will choose victory." Linke to the article --> (Link) Many of you mind find this a bit crazy or even disturbing. If you confront your liberal friends with these...

Which of these events is more important than Stephen's Colbert's report - I will try to list a number of events in importance from most important to least important (obviously this will be subjective, and I'm choosing to largely focus on American history, for familiarities sake). So vote for the one that is just above it on this list (and we'll assume that you see all of the ones above it as equally important. Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

Just out of curiosity. Bryant Check it out --> (Link)

I was about to ask this question in another post, but it got shut down, so I'll ask it here. The post suggested we should be more sensitive about the subject of Rape, which I think is a good idea. On the other hand the reason we are talking about Rape involves the case at Duke (unless I missed something). I personally find the victim's story more likely to be accurate than the lacross team's story, but the evidence does not seem clear cut to me. I could see how someone would decide that the ...

But you right i am a sick bastard who should be ashamed himself, and I'm one step away from child raping incest. It was observant of you to notice that and courageous of you to point it out. Frankly DU needs more people like you, people who aren't afraid to suggest that people are potential child molesters. DU is a little too prim and prissy and "genteel." So it's a breath of fresh air to see someone like you willing to go all out in pursuit of your beliefs. I salute you stanwyck! Bryant ...