My Barack Wish List

[GPK]

Watching the Inauguration on TV...and saw Walter Mondale!!!! Didn't realize he was still alive. Thought he was about 102 by now.

[sumitas]

they are dancing in kenya . imagine that scene . thankfully michelle o did not dress like erika badu http://www.mimifroufrou.com/scenteds...rykah_Badu.jpg

[philcski]

Originally Posted by ddthetide

Originally Posted by GBBob
Well....I'll open myself up to the daggers. Before the economy tanked and since Irag was always a no brainer...Here was my wish list over the next 4-8 years...in no particular order..

* Ban semi-automatic weapons and no concealed carry disagree, just enforce the gun laws already on the books.
* Ban the Death Penalty disagree, stop all the appeals that drag on for 15-20 years. kill'em, cremate'm and stop wasting the money.
* Full rights for Gays to marry agree
* Simplify the tax code agree
* No offshore drilling disagree, less dependence on foreign oil and better efficiency on what we are using
* Stem Cell research at further levels agree, if it will help people in the future
* Less farm subsidies unless warranted agree, make the adjustments and stop the abuse.
* Revise "No Child Left Behind" to reasonable standards
* Revisit NAFTA agree and make corrections
* NASA...what does it mean?
* Environment, Environment, Environment
i'd like to see big welfare reform. it will never happen under this administration. my fear this administration gives them even more.

This should be fun..
i usually try and keep my mouth shut in here.

I agree with DD across the board.

* I hate guns, but taking away LEGAL guns won't stop the killings. The criminals find ways through black markets to procure their weapons of choice. My mom's neighborhood is now wired with "ShotSpotter" (ain't that pleasant ) which was supposed to slow down the rampant random shootings... it hasn't. These people must either be sent to jail never to return to society or in the case of an actual death, removed (death penalty).

[Honu]

Heres mine.

Dont raise my taxes.
Dont take my tax breaks away.
Dont let our national defense weaken.
Dont take away the freedom of the press , if you dont like what you read or hear dont listen to it or read it.
Dont make union votes known to everyone.
Dont start a civil police , we already have enough police , army , and national guard.
Dont try and make everything and everyone equal.

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by joeydb

Dude when are you running? I'd vote for you in a heartbeat.

Ello Elle

if Obama has proved anything
it is that all you have to do to be present-ident is
run

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Why not?

the mother of invention is necessity

I'm not convinced that stem cell reseach is necessary. It isn't illegal just not funded by the government. I would like to draw the line somewhere

I don't believe the government should be anything more than - (off the top of my head)

national defense
weights and measures
and roads

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by cmfhb411

Disagree with 1, 2, 5, Strongly agree with 4 and 11, although 11 is more politicized than most on the left would like to believe.

I'm stiil against 6, but I get the intention.

I'll comment on 3 again and repeat in different wording.
I need to be convinced gay marriage will never have to be accepted
by any religious congregation who doesn't want it.
Houses of worship have to be absolutely bulletproof from government legislation
and the courts on this issue.
Put that in writing, and I'll actually go to the booth, and vote in favor of gay marriage in my state if it ever comes up.
Not an unreasonable condition to ask of the gay community to accept. Right ?

I think that it's fair for seperation of church and state to work both ways.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by cmfhb411

Disagree with 1, 2, 5, Strongly agree with 4 and 11, although 11 is more politicized than most on the left would like to believe.

I'm stiil against 6, but I get the intention.

I'll comment on 3 again and repeat in different wording.
I need to be convinced gay marriage will never have to be accepted
by any religious congregation who doesn't want it.
Houses of worship have to be absolutely bulletproof from government legislation
and the courts on this issue.
Put that in writing, and I'll actually go to the booth, and vote in favor of gay marriage in my state if it ever comes up.
Not an unreasonable condition to ask of the gay community to accept. Right ?

It already is like that now without the gay marriage and would be the same with gays allowed to get married...

Any church is allowed to refuse to marry anyone... You think a Morman can walk into a Catholic church and get married? Ah dont think so!

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by cmfhb411

That's correct currently.

it would be the same with gay marriage...

Gays are not looking to bust down church doors and rub our homosexuality in the face of the religious people out there.

We are just looking for equality. Its hard for gay couples, especially with children. God forbid something happens to your partner, then you dont know if you will be able to keep your child... or be in the hospital room with your partner if he/she is ill or injured.

We just want security in our relationships and equal rights!

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

You don't think stem cell research is necessary? I think you might want to learn a bit about it, your opinion might change.

The Bush administration was very wrong with their views on stem cell research... IMO

I wonder what kind of advancements there would be right now had they not banned federal funding for it.

Its unreal what stem cells do for the equine industry right now. We see stem cells often being used by vets in our claim notes..

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

it would be the same with gay marriage...

Gays are not looking to bust down church doors and rub our homosexuality in the face of the religious people out there.

We are just looking for equality. Its hard for gay couples, especially with children. God forbid something happens to your partner, then you dont know if you will be able to keep your child... or be in the hospital room with your partner if he/she is ill or injured.

We just want security in our relationships and equal rights!

I agree. There are some renegade gays out there who absolutely want to prove a point. Of course. Just like there are some renegade Christians out there who want to strip all same-sex couples of ALL benefits, period (or God forbid, as we've seen, want to kill them altogether...though I guess that would kind of fix the benefits thing from the top down, right?! ).I have no problem with the premise listed above, because it's exactly how it is right now, and I am of the thinking that this is mostly a very effective scare tactic used by anti-gay folks to keep people in line, even though it's an almost entirely disingenuous argument.

A good way to get a quick feel of why it's so important, or why civil unions being equal down to the very last drop at the federal level is important, is to take a quick look at health insurance.

Do some quick research (not you Lori, since I assume you're somewhat versed on it). Let's say my company offers Domestic Partner benefits (they do). Take a quick look at the amount of money it will cost you to insure you and your opposite-sex spouse vs. what it will cost me to insure myself and my same-sex Domestic Partner. The premium paid out of my paycheck will be the same...but take a quick dive into figuring out how the deductions for him are taxed and how the contributions my employer makes to HIS premiums are taxed.

Insuring a partner isn't such a sweet sounding deal once you get to the nuts and bolts of how much more expensive it is to do, even if my employer offers it.

Hospital visitation, inheritance, etc -- all important. But putting it in purely monetary terms is usually a good way to start, since there is a very heavy emphasis on taxes and spending for lots of conservatives.

Talk about unfair taxation of someone's money.....I just think there's a lot more to it than people realize. You can't exactly draw that tax break up in a legal document with a partner, like you could visitation rights, etc.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GBBob

I think that it's fair for seperation of church and state to work both ways.

excellent idea.

[TheSpyder]

It's nice to discuss these wish lists of things but right now gay ruleings, stem cell research, et all should not even be on the table. If you think the economy is bad now wait 6 months. We're just getting started on a long ride to stablize an world economy that is sinking faster than my Twin Spires account. This is serious stuff and if we do not corrected swiftly and properly we can see the dismantling of life as we know it.

We need the banks to get straightened out, a stimlulous package that greats jobs, weath, and people buying (not on credit)

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by cmfhb411

Disagree with 1, 2, 5, Strongly agree with 4 and 11, although 11 is more politicized than most on the left would like to believe.

I'm stiil against 6, but I get the intention.

I'll comment on 3 again and repeat in different wording.
I need to be convinced gay marriage will never have to be accepted
by any religious congregation who doesn't want it.
Houses of worship have to be absolutely bulletproof from government legislation
and the courts on this issue.
Put that in writing, and I'll actually go to the booth, and vote in favor of gay marriage in my state if it ever comes up.
Not an unreasonable condition to ask of the gay community to accept. Right ?

the issue isn't whether a marriage in a church is allowed-some churches already perform a ceremony for their gay brethren.
the whole thing is affected by the fact that the govt regulates marriage, sells a license, and made it a civil arrangement-not just a religious ceremony. since our constitution supposedly grants equal rights to all citizens, they opened up this kettle of fish. you can't grant civil rights to some, and not others.
if they don't want to call it marriage, fine...it's just semantics anyway. but two consenting adults should be able to have the same legal rights granted that only married couples now enjoy. otherwise, all men(and presumably, women) in this country are not created equal.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

It's nice to discuss these wish lists of things but right now gay ruleings, stem cell research, et all should not even be on the table. If you think the economy is bad now wait 6 months. We're just getting started on a long ride to stablize an world economy that is sinking faster than my Twin Spires account. This is serious stuff and if we do not corrected swiftly and properly we can see the dismantling of life as we know it.

We need the banks to get straightened out, a stimlulous package that greats jobs, weath, and people buying (not on credit)

but surely we can focus on more than one thing at a time? obviously some needs are greater than others, but 'the greatest country in the world' should be able to multi-task....

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

It's nice to discuss these wish lists of things but right now gay ruleings, stem cell research, et all should not even be on the table. If you think the economy is bad now wait 6 months. We're just getting started on a long ride to stablize an world economy that is sinking faster than my Twin Spires account. This is serious stuff and if we do not corrected swiftly and properly we can see the dismantling of life as we know it.

We need the banks to get straightened out, a stimlulous package that greats jobs, weath, and people buying (not on credit)

I agree, in a rare moment of pure unselfishness (enjoy it while it lasts....).

I am optimistic about DOMA being repealed and about civil unions some day, though I think getting rid of DADT as soon as possible should still be a pressing issue, because like them or not, there are still wars, and like them or not, there are still gays who are more than happy to be a part of them.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

I agree, in a rare moment of pure unselfishness (enjoy it while it lasts....).

I am optimistic about DOMA being repealed and about civil unions some day, though I think getting rid of DADT as soon as possible should still be a pressing issue, because like them or not, there are still wars, and like them or not, there are still gays who are more than happy to be a part of them.

i think that has got to be one of the most ridiculous rules ever made. but, they used to ask you if you were gay-at least they quit that part. but if they ever find out you are gay, out you go. over 13k men and women have been discharged because of that idiocy.

[alysheba4]

Originally Posted by joeydb

Dude when are you running? I'd vote for you in a heartbeat.

.... no doubt

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i think that has got to be one of the most ridiculous rules ever made. but, they used to ask you if you were gay-at least they quit that part. but if they ever find out you are gay, out you go. over 13k men and women have been discharged because of that idiocy.

Including Arabic linguists....pretty much the stock answer for illustrating how ridiculous the rule is, these people got kicked out in the middle of two wars where they were needed most.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by alysheba4

.... no doubt

And he'll be head and head with Cynthia Mckinney in the polling, undoubtedly