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Presidential DebatesPosted at 09/30/2004 10:04:55 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Just to see what the outcome will be in a short time comming....What do you think about the Presidential elections in November???? we won't hold it against you...what do you think?????



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/01/2004 05:58:27 By Terrence W. Grant
These two guys could do a stage show NULL & VOID
I dont like either but i guess i'll have to go with Bush...I've always followed Bush.... Bush also makes a great Baked Beans...better yet I wish his running mate would be Arlan Spector (Sen from Penna)then the ticket would read BUSH & SPECTOR.......HA HA this is the year for Ross Perot where is the little guy?




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/01/2004 11:29:57 By JANET EATON
i WANT THE SMARTEST PERSON SITTING AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY I LIVE IN AND MY CHILDREN ARE GROWING IN. BY FAR, IN MY OPINION, JOHN KERRY IS THE SMARTER OF THE TWO.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/01/2004 03:55:51 By Don H. '57
Smarter is not necessarily the criteria. Kerry is going to do everthing better, without specifics. He's a typical tax and spend Democrat. How does one think he's going to finance all the things he claims he's going to do. In some moments of weakness I'd like to see him win to see him fail. If he thinks he going to get the Germans and French to commit troops to the war.... As George Patton once said " I'd rather have a German division in front of me instead of a French division behind me". Kerry flows with the wind, parrots what Bush says and comes across as a typical politican. If elected, he'll probably take a poll before changing his socks just like Clinton. Although Kerry won't be as indiscreet as Billy Boy.
Kerry wants to double the Special Forces. The boots on the ground have been quoted as saying that would be the end of the Special Forces. What would be differnt in Iraq-negotiate with those bastards? How is Kerry going to increase combattroops by two division without a draft? That about 50,000 soldiers. And, that just another couple of billion dollars+++++++.
What does he think would be the outcome if he held bilateral talks with North Korea. Would the Chinese and Japan supports us. Probably Japan, but China would no doubt say "You got it big boy.Go for it!"
Where's John McCain? Has anybody seen my old friend John? He'd straighten this mess out.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/01/2004 04:49:00 By Terrence W. Grant
Don H....I think you started something right here on the Stags web site...DRAFT JOHN MCCAIN...I'd vote for him in a heart beat and I think I will write in his name...both these other guys are putz's..I'm going to try to find him on the web and at least show him I support him.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/01/2004 04:55:24 By Don H. '57
Hoooahhh!



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/01/2004 04:58:34 By Don H. '57
mccain.senate.gov




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/01/2004 05:05:56 By Terrence W. Grant
Just sent him an e mail at that site..glad you found it also...send him a request as an independent...cant get on the ballot but write in



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/01/2004 05:24:22 By Don H. '57
I predict ( for whatever it's worth), John McCain will be the next Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense during George W.'s next term.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/01/2004 06:16:02 By Terrence W. Grant
defense...i dont think he would be S of State



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/05/2004 09:50:23 By Larry Silver
How does someone who does not show up for his military medical exam become commander in chief? Not by his qualifications, but CONTACTS.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/05/2004 12:14:12 By David
Norman Swartzkoff (hope spelling is correct)is a better canidate for sec. of defense.=



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/05/2004 03:10:05 By Don H. '57
good candiadte, but some may find him too much like Rumsfeld. His press conferences would be something to behold.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/05/2004 03:11:43 By Don H. '57
Georeg W. was elected, not appointed ( I think).



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/05/2004 05:20:26 By Tim Yero
You should not mix Brotherhood with Religion or Politics - but as the door is now open; there is really no real choice between the two people and that is the mistake we always pay for in some way - by thinking this guy is "smarter" or better looking or spent some time in the service or whatever...
The real choice is the platform of the party the person represents. I was ignorant at one time in my life (o.k., maybe more than once) but I once was an "uneducated" voter. I listened and was bambuzzalled because of who the best b.s.sr was.

I then got to "see the world" in Nam and from this day forward, I bought off on the stronger of the 2 parties. I a m for defense of our country, not giving in to b.s. I am for a strong economy based on free competition, not socialized medicine, and I am for putting those to work who can work with no free rides out of my own and your pocket for those who sham through life thinking having 4-5 illegitamate kids will set you free.

I respect both of the candidates but put my trust in the doctrines they represent rather than their own personalities. I dislike double talk, I dislike the appearance of rising above others for your own benefit without any substance and I think we will be in huge trouble should Kerry win.

This is no time for whining, complaining, promises that won't ever become reality (Because they are not possible in this practicle world).
For you, Mr. Silver, Kerry spent 4 months in a war that everyone was supposed to be in for 12 months. He was shot in an accident by one of his on guys and returned to the US to join Jane Fonda in her protest group which should have offended you as well as us - those who she protested against - just guys like you and me putting our asses on the line...

John Kerry is a traitor in my eyes. He speaks against what will protect you and you family from here on in (And he cannot do it with words).
Unless he buys off on the Curan or whatever they call it, the terrorist societies will bask in the glory of him as President.

We need a continuously forceful President which Bush is. This is what it takes. Kerry on the other hand would have not initiated anything at all tio protect our country except adding money to his pockets by adding another 4 million government agencies to deal with it.

911 is just the beginning according to all I read about the Religious fighters. They are fighting Politics with Religion - a very dangerous doctrine and will stop at nothing to make things happen here that you would never dream of.

I believe the Republican Party oplatform has proven to be the stronger of the two and is needed in this volatile and vulnerable time.
I believe the media is democratic because the people in the media are non-workers and live off the plight of others - doing nothing for themselves - like the democrats. So some say doing for others is a good thing and I agree to a point - but not at the unchallenged nor justified expense of those who produce...

There are no stronger supporters of Israel than the Republicans as Israel thrives and is supported during these terms. So why is it the jewish fellowship (and media owners) seem to support the other side? Quite dangerous times in need of a powerful and undaunted objective..
Freedom vs Religious fanaticism - a very hard battle to win on either side...
Just ask those before us, like Richard the LionHearted.. are we doomed as well???
Hang on to your hat and spend the money you were saving in advance for your kids or grandkids... if Kerry wins, they may not be around to spend it.

Bush all the way -
Love, Tim




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/05/2004 06:46:43 By Carlos Villalta
Amen,brother Tim.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/05/2004 06:48:30 By Terrence W. Grant
All my life i've been a fan of BUSH !!!!!



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/05/2004 07:43:47 By Don H. '57
Go Tim!



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/05/2004 07:59:44 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Tim, I agree with you in most part ...I know Politics and Religion are tough subjects to put out for discussion, but like I said before we all have our own opinions and it should not be held against us, as individuals in this country ,we have that right , which is a lot better than other places....I personally fear the Democratic Party.and what they pretend to sell us as the right way....If I may and again this is my outlook....Democrat Presidents: Kennedy,Johnson,Carter and Clinton.......my view, Kennedy well liked ... But ,let the Cubans down during the Bay Of Pigs...( less Cubans comming to our shores in later years)....Johnson put in a tough position after Kennedy's death ... put us in more harms way during Viet Nam......Carter , the peanut farmer that acted as such a great savior with the Minorities and world peace ..and was such a great white hope for minorities...Who's family made its money exploitnig the south and its SLAVE population in this country , Had our citizens Kidnaped and Held in Iran at the embassy for a years while removing the Shah , who was our Ally...and allowed the Mariel Boatlift that brought over 125,000 Cubans to our shores , not all bad ..at least 25,000 thousand sick ,crazy or degenerates, that made the rest of us who came previosly and worked hard to establish a chance in the American dream be looked upon as bad people, after so much hard work by our parents( not a good guy ,Gave away the Panama Canal zone and allowed Norriega to murder General Torrijos and become a hero ...Now in Jail for Drug running......Clinton Boy this is a tough one an denegrater of women ..a liar and a cheat....and someone that allowed the bombing in New York to go past without any major hoopla..... Do we really want JK???? should we allow him to put down those friends and family that served this country in Viet Nam,back in the 60's and allow him now to change the wording ans act like he was a HERO....noway.....I agree with you Tim he is a traitor not a Hero....Shame on you .....



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/05/2004 08:11:01 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Shame on Kerry.......



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/05/2004 09:53:12 By john scopetta 68
The greatest tragedy inflicted on our generation was the Vietnam war!!! Fifty-thousand young members of our generation lost their lives and three hundred thousand others were Injured or wounded in one way or another. The greatest accomplishment of our generation is the contribution to American war policy by those that lost their lives. I for one was totally against the war in Iraq, because I am simply opposed to war without a clear understanding off who the enemy is and what we are fighting them for.
This is the same problem that I had with the Vietnam war back in the sixties, yet I probably would have gone over to fight if I was called to do so. I had a high number in the lottery and consider myself very lucky. Knowing me, as gun ho as I am, I probably would not have survived in one piece for long. I was against the Iraq invasion for the same reason I was not conformable with our reasoning for going in.
Yes, we were attacked and three thousand people were killed in NY, and DC. but we lost Americans in the Oklahoma City bombing and we dint attack the domestic terrorist that we know are here among us in this country. These are fanatics fighting a gorilla war. Sound familiar?? We have to be very diligent in our policies and we need the rest of the world to help us. But must important we need to clearly identify who we are going after and why and then proceed to kick their ass. We have made great progress towards achieving this goal in the years after Sept. 11 who is best suited to continue this drive??? You decide. VOTE!!!




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/06/2004 10:05:10 By Larry Silver
Dear Tim Yero,
Gaston opened this link to have brothers express their opinions about the election, not to personally attack someone for their opinion. In my mind you have broken the golden rule and my offense is with you.
Larry Silver




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/06/2004 10:17:00 By Don H. '57
It's difficult to compare the Oklahoma tragedy to 9/11 as to the response by the USA. The Patriot Act was implemented to help curb these situations, but the ACLU and others are crying fowl. Some just don't get it. These are some of the most difficult times for us and some lattitude has to be granted. If the current political environment existed when FDR was president during WW II he probably would've been impeached. Same crap, why didn't he do something about the attack by Japan, etc., etc. 800 men were lost off the coast of England due to German submarines during a training exercise, again, etc., etc.
The need to rally together has not been more evident. Let be Americans first and politcal pondits second. It's too bad that the politicans can get their act together and presenta consolidated front.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/06/2004 06:49:23 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Larry ,you are right I openned this thread to ,just to seek out our opinions and have some fun ,while doing it .....lets just do that and not be upset about others feelings ...we are humans and sometimes we let ourselves get too serious ... this is for fun ....... lets not allow ourselves to be critical or insultive of the way we believe ....we have this right to express, but not offend ..." WE ARE A BAND OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO LOVE AND CARE FOR EACH OTHER"...My purpose was to bring us together in conversation ,not to start a war between us .....love you guys .......00-000



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/06/2004 07:35:16 By Don H. '57
Gaston,
You're absolutely correct. If we can't laugh at Sen. John Edwards.............




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/06/2004 08:46:17 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Don , I think he was President of Cresent or Tekes...... Boy are we in trouble...



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/06/2004 10:36:45 By Larry Silver
Great comment Gaston, except you should have addressed it to Mr. Yero, not me.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/06/2004 11:16:28 By john scopetta 68
Tim Yero! You sound very angry and I believe you have a right to your feelings but not to direct them at Larry he also has a right to speak his mind. The problem in this country is that we are being deviled by the negative campaigning on the part of both parties and their followers and that only makes us half as strong as when we are united. We are governed by partisan politics and self interest on both sides and frankly every day the Democrats sound more like Republicans and the Republicans more like democrats, and at the end the bureaucrats rule the country anyway.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 07:36:21 By Terrence W. Grant
OK guys slack up and review my comment on 10/5 and think about it and smile and move on.

Signed

Terrence '56
Senior Stag contributor to this site




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 10:17:05 By Ivan Lopez
Were is the SGT AT ARMS .... Calling Brother
Billy Bear please take care of the boys they
are misbehaving. You are our only hope OBE ONE
please help now. All in fun Boy's but let's take care of each other now before we leave. Be well.... Ivan PEACE LOVE




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 10:38:32 By Tim Yero
I apologize for the uninitentional meanings some of you must have assumed. In no way should anyone assume offensiveness in me as I am nothing more or less than a passionate American and value all that it stands for, including freedom to voice your individual views and, in some cases, views of others.

The only reason Larry was mentioned, he was the target due to his initialling comments, which I think needed a response and did not mean to offend by doing so. In responding, perhaps I may have been a bit rambling and overzealous but I warned in the first line - don't mix politics with brotherhood as for ages it has split many.

This in no way changes my views and I respect everyone, including Mr. Silver, in the civil discussions we may have. I think using instances of actual occurences is an educated manner of expressing such views which I did.
Facts speak louder than any words, hopes or dreams; opinions are a dollar a dozen.

I am no war monger although I was a participant as were others. I believe strong leadership is required during such times, not protesters.
If you want to protest intelligently (and have those who agree with you follow you), go over to Iraq and protest with the terrorist because they will be the only ones on your side.

Love,
Tim




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 11:01:57 By Larry Silver
Do me a favor Mr. Yero leave me out of your ramblings.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 01:24:41 By john scopetta 68
Larry, come on now cut the crap, Tim apologized for including you in his comments shake hands and be Brothers.

Tim, I admire what you did, and I respect your opinion. That you Brother.....John Scopetta




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 01:44:22 By Herb Stebbins (68)
Larry, I can see where this is going.
Maybe we should start working out together.
On second thought that might be a bad idea.
I still have flash backs of that night at the "Castaways" LOL




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 02:14:00 By Terrence W. Grant
Larry my man....younger brother of Dick and my frat brother...chill ...your starting to sound like a lawyer...

Herb speaking of Castaways do you remember the bar (Castaways) on the beach that the bartender did pranks and jokes and he had a toy monkey that came down the bar and turned in front of you and did #1 right on you...I couldnt stop laughing




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 02:47:46 By Herb Stebbins (68)
Terry, I remember the bar but the monkey was gone when I was there.
You might remember the bartender at the Camino Real in Guatemala City. He had a huge Spider Monkey. The monkey was tame and had quite the liking for the spirits.
One evening we were in the bar with the whole crew and the monkey was totally sh.. faced.
We got up to dance and the monkey ate 2 large orders of spicy calamari. It took about a minute to go right through him.
You would of thought someone screamed FIRE!




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 03:30:42 By Tim Yero
Dear all Brothers;
Lead, Follow, or get out of the way is a favorite saying I have believed in for some time,but not always... not until I was thrust from being a nice, comical, highly sensitive musician and comedian into representing everyones biggest fears, for me and others, a reality.

Imagine yourself wisked into the army at 19 years old, straight out of your Brotherhood, out of whatever you were involved with at the time... thrust into what some call a thoughtless conflict where those, (like yourself), are placed in harms way (With real bullets being shot in both directions - by you and by "them".)

It doesn't matter whether you liked "camping out" or not, whether you were a Stag or not... but the reality was that you were there... as I was.

Imagine only this as your sacrifice. The year lost in fear of your own life, never to return to those you once knew and loved. A simple BarBeQue sandwich at Bills or a movie, or driving down the highway - it all seems so far away..
but, you made it through, you lived and returned... as I did.

Now imagine from that point on having to listen to those around you slandering your cause. Agreeing or not personally, down playing your your own opinion, saying things like you and your time was not only wrong, and wasted on nothing, but "should" have never been. ("Should" have, "could" have is not reality).

Now think of what you may think by such non-supportive attitudes of those who are fortunate enough to lie back and justify themself and everyone elses' existance by criticism, hind-sight evaluations, propaganda beliefs of inferences as opposed to facts or just plain common sense...
then imagine one day you just said "I will use all of this to my advantage".

A lesson I've learned, (forced to by none of my own choices), is you may end up in a situation where there are those you have to walk behind as a follower and those you will walk in front of as a leader. In some cases, that person that is behind or in front of you is the same one.

Walking behind someone requires their trust in you and your trust in them. Trust that you will watch their back, and your trust in them that they will not walk into a pile of sh..t while they lead;

Walking in front of someone requires your trust in those behind you and their trust in you to lead them without harm. Your trust in them is required to protect your leadership in the same way, certainly not to shoot you in the back along the way.

Those whom I can both walk behind as well as walk in front of with confidence, are those I truly trust and call Brothers. I would like to think that most if not all my Stag Brothers would be in this group...

One thing I know for sure, John Kerry would not be one.

Tough times don't last; tough people do.

Love, Tim




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 04:08:44 By Terrence W. Grant
Herb...did the monkey take a dump while you were dancing with her (the monkey that is)..dont be ashamed I've been with worst..i never spent time in GC butwas in MGA, TGU, SAL SJO TCM in Central America



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 04:14:47 By Herb Stebbins (68)
Yes Terry, she did. I have that kind of effect on women. They just loose it, when in my arms.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 04:35:40 By Larry Silver
Negative comments about bush's lack of qualifications were directed at bush and did not in anyway reflect my admiration and respect for the service of the viet nam veterans.
Traitors in my mind are people who are against our country, not just against the present administration.That is why we have elections every four years. General statements of Bias and prejudice against groups fails to see the individual. Strong opinions are fine as long as we don't attack them personally for their opinions. Personal attacks naturally cause responses. What's the old saying we can agree to disagree.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 04:45:53 By timy213
I played in a summer rock band inside the Castaways, with a member of another Gables Club -Ray Mendel (I forgot the name of his club but they all hung with TABS until we picked from the best fruit..) anyway....

One night we were off and went in to see the dancing girls on the tables and get down to some serious (if not youthful) drinking. We had a quantity contest (an often occurence) - I can't tell you who won as I don't remember; not due to my age but because of my personal quantity. I can tell you I had 6 Tangeray Gin and Tonics - I can also say these were the last Gin and Tonics I ever drank.

I don't know what is with the monkey story but
I am truly glad to read that the tradition of taking over restaurant's and bar venues continued after '65. We used to go into the Gables at Miracle Mile for free food by staging heart attacks in the restaurant after we ate.
My stomach still aches from the pain of the laughter afterwards. Marc Leopold, David Michaelson and Dale Cutlip (and even Gonzo at times) were quite a show during these times - rolling on the floor in a fully packed restaurant with the other guys yelling and screaming to cause the commotion as everyone else casually walked out without paying - ha, ha.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/07/2004 09:53:47 By john scopetta 68
Tim, my heart goes out to that nineteen year old kid that went through basic training and was cast in to the jungle to fight a war that was deemed to be a police action. We lived with the fear of going, you lived with the reality of being there. I think any Stag brother would be proud to stand firm in front or in back at any time and anywhere under the most difficult situations.
I'm a father and I'm a friend but I'm your brother until the end and they will never put a finger on you. (Kid Rock) believe it or not.

This guy walks in a bar with a monkey on his shoulder, the monkey jumps on the bar and starts eating all the olives and then he goes for the peanuts and the pretzels, then a hard boiled egg. The bartender reprimands the man, "Hey your monkey is eating all the food" the man responds "I will cover whatever he eats." Since it was amusing the bartender allowed the monkey to jump around.

The monkey leaps on to the pool table and grabs one of the balls and swallows it. At that point the bartender had had enough and tells the man to "get the monkey and leave" which the man does.

A week later the man returns with the monkey on his shoulder and allows him to jump on the bar the monkey runs over to the olives grabs one sticks it in his butt and then eats the olive, he grabs a peanut and does the same thing the bartender says to the man "hay that is gross"! What the hell is he doing? The man responds, "after the ball he ate he measures everything before he eats it. Good night....John




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 05:28:53 By Ivan Lopez
Commodore: I'm not happy with you with the lack of respect on our Panamanian Bothers calling their airport TCM when we all know it as PTY yes indeed it was called TOCUMEN but the code was PTY. I'm demanding of you an apology. If you do not comply I will be forced to bring back Mr. Noriega aka (pineaple face)He will deal with you.
Thank god for a sense of humor.....now lets move to better and bigger stories xxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooooo Love and peace,Ivan

How about those Braves... Got your message Capt. Herb ...Come to DCA or IAD or BWI We will come for you. But don't fly into TCM??? lol lol




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 07:23:35 By Terrence W. Grant
Ivan...I dont cave that easy...I strongly remember it was TCM in 59 of course that was 45 years ago...remember son I go back many moons..please do a little more research and confirm such and if I'm wrong the first drink on me at the Tippatoppa



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 07:51:02 By David
HELLO EVERYONE, IT IS FRIDAY WE SHOULD BE HAPPY. SINCE YOU ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT DEBATES, WHAT ABOUT THE RACE FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR. I KNOW CARLOS ALVAREZ AND THOUGH I LIVE IN BROWARD I WOULD PLACE MY TRUST IN HIM. WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE ON THIS MATTER. I WORK IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

POLITICS IS A ROUGH SUBJECT TO DISCUSS EVEN AMONG THE BEST OF FRIENDS, SO GUYS EASE UP.

REMEMBER WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS SAID, HERE TODAY AND GONE THE NEXT.

I PERSONALLY FEEL BUSH IS THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB. CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG BUT WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME A NEW PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED DURING ANY TYPE OF WAR. I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE WITH STICK WITH BUSH. I ALSO BELIEVE BUSH SHOULD HAVE DEALT WITH THE ONES WHO MIGHT HAVE PROVIDED HIM WITH WRONG INFORMANTION REF. THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN IRAQ.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE FELT DIFFERENT ABOUT THE SITUATION. WE ARE STUCK IN IRAQ WITH HIM OR KERRY, NOW WHAT DO WE DO?

I DO BELIEVE THOUGH THAT BUSH WILL CHANGE HIS TOP ADMINISTRATORS IF HE GETS RE-ELECTED FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. DOES ANYONE AGREE OR DISAGREE?

EVERYDAY I COME TO WORK I DO SEVERAL THINGS IN THE OFFICE, READ MEMOS, POLICE REPORTS, HERALD AND ONE IS TO READ THE STAGS MESSAGE LINE. I DO BELIEVE YOU GUYS AND GIRLS ARE CLOSER NOW THEN EVER. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. WHOEVER STARTED THIS WEB HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.

IN POLICE WORK WE ARE VERY CLOSE EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT NOT KNOW THE OFFICERS. I WISH WE HAD A MESSAGE LINE LIKE THIS SITE AND I THINK I WILL WRITE A MEMO TO THE DIRECTOR STATING SO. THIS IS A WAY TO MEET NEW OFFICERS AND IN RETURN STATE YOUR OPINION ON MANY TOPICS. IT COULD EVEN BE CALLED THERAPY.

STAGS IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION AND WILL ALWAYS WILL BE. HOWEVER, THE TRADITION WILL BE LOST AS WE NEAR THE END OF OUR YEARS IN AGE. I WISH IT WOULD COME BACK IN THE SCHOOLS AND KEEP THIS TRADITION GOING. I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN A MEMBER BACK IN MY YEARS. THE FRIENDSHIP IS SOMETHING YOU WILL ALWAYS CHERRISH.

GUYS LIKE GASTON, HERB, JIM, LARRY, JOHN, TERRY WHO ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE WEB IS WORTH ALL THE GOLD. I MIGHT HAVE MISSED SOMEONE SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE NAMES GETTING OLDER.

YOU ARE THE GUYS WHO KEEP THIS CLUB AND ITS TRADITION STRONG AND SOLID.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.

BY THE WAY THIS WILL BE TWO WEEKENDS IN A ROW WITH NO HUURICANE TO WORRY ABOUT.

DAVID




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 10:00:00 By Terrence W. Grant
Thanks David...yes Don & I agree that Bush will change a few things ie John McCain for defense, and a new homeland guy, Colin will probably bow out as well...hell Rudy G might get a spot in the cabinet.

The reason I'm on the site so often is that I like the abuse I receive from these characters...I fight with attorneys all day long and getting on this machine and doing my schick keeps me sharp..




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 11:22:44 By David
TERRY

I HEAR YOU LIVE IN PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA. I WILL BE YOUR NEIGHBOR SOON. I HAVE PROPERTY IN BURNT STORE ISLES, PUNTA GORDA.

WE WILL HAVE TO GET TOGETHER WHEN THE WIFE AND I COME ON UP NEXT TIME. LOOKING DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

I THINK THAT RUDY WOULD GET THE HOMELAND SECUITY JOB IF OFFERRED.

TAKE CARE FOR NOW.

DAVID




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 01:27:26 By Terrence W. Grant
Burndt Store Big $$$...I dont live in Port Toilet but near it....I live one mile east of I 75 exit 170..would love to get together and share some stories...right now I'm all boarded up...yea Rudy for homeland



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 04:14:50 By Tim Yero
I think Rudy J. may be enjoying his time in the limelight and may not want to go into such a high pressure scenario as Homeland Security... plus he is a re-covering cancer patient.
Tom is doing a good job and setting many good precedents anyway.

Maybe something a little easier like Secretary of State to replace Powell later on, Secetary of Defense (A lot of Demo's would like to see a replacement; Rudy would do well, and make many enemies trying to straighten that out!)... but I really think he'd really do well and enjoy the easiest position.. like VP??? It would be a good move and I say why not; it would better plac him in the next spot for the next Republican candidate for Pres. ? I'd vote for hm, wouldn't you?
Maybe, maybe not.

On with the debates; I've got plenty of popcorn to throw at the TV at these 2 'master-debaters' and can't wait for all the laughter at both of their b.s.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 04:38:46 By Manny Garcia 68
Hey Gaston:

See what you've started!!! METETE LA LENGUA IN EL CULO.

As for politics and the upcoming election, I think I'll finally will listen to a wise old man, whom I thought was full of crap when I was 16 as I then thought he didn't know a thing about anything;I knew it all. Later, when I was 21 I congratulated him for having learned so much in the short period of five years. Now that I am almost 56, I hang on every word that comes out of his mouth and take them to the bank. Recently he told me " IF YOU LIVE IN THE US, AND WORK FOR A PAYCHECK, YOU'RE CRAZY TO VOTE REPUBLICAN" I thought about this for acouple of seconds, SHAZAM!!! I live in the US and I am a working stiff.

Now for a lighter side:
This guy is been dating 3 women, and can't make up his mind as to which one to marry so he decides to put them through a test. He put 2 $50 dollar bills in a sealed envelope and asked them to go to the back and make a deposit for $50 and bring the receipt back to him.
The first one saw the 2 bills deposited the $50 and kept the other $50.

The second saw that there were 2 $50s, so she made a deposit for $100 and brought him the receipt.

The third one saw the 2 bills, deposited the $50 and bought scratch lotto tickets with the other $50, wan $100 and offered to share har winnings with him.

Which one do you guys think he picked?




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 04:46:37 By Herb Stebbins (68)
The good looking one!



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 04:50:12 By Manny Garcia 68
Hey Guys:

Choose you answer carefully to my last post, as it has a direct correlation to the upcoming elections.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 05:00:57 By Manny Garcia 68
Herb:

Wrong!!!!




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 07:35:59 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Manny , I find your remark ....Offensive , but comming from you ,I can understand it..I'm being funny.....Democrat not Republican , with all do respect read about this country's History and you will find the right answers ,,,,just one ,so that I won't be a bother...check history D vs R and what they did for our parents and us .....on less you were on the leftside....Trust me one thing I do have knowledge about is our country's History(Cuba and USA).....Love you buddy



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 08:12:19 By Manny Garcia 68
Gaston:

You did not pick which woman the guy chose to marry.

As for history, I know when people start getting up in years, (like you)you start to read, and inquiring minds start to wonder, therein lies the danger. Had the administration been republican during the Bay Of Pigs, we'd all be marching to a different tune. Today there are issues that require a left view and others that require a right view, that is why I think Clinton will go down in history as one of the greatest leaders this country's ever seen. Just think, he discovered ways of using a Cuban cigar, that no Cuban ever thought of, the best we could do was dip it in brandy and then smoke it.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 08:38:21 By Terrence W. Grant
Manny....please Clinton didn't invent that..in fact that was around in the 50's on film and lit(Stag smokers) and our friend Herb (back me HS) will tell you it was around in the 60's..sangria with vodka, cuban strolling guitars, steak stuffed with cheese, followed by of all things Irish coffee and two cigars one at restaurant ( a cuban place on NW 7th well before Douglas Road very romantic anyone remember the name) the other at Rivera Inn on US 1 unlit.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 09:49:46 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Manny,How choosing a wife has anything to do with the right choice of presidents is beyond me;;So I'm I to believe that your saying Republicans are a better choice.....No Republican president since the 60's contributed to making this Country a haven , for the so called Immigration problems that have reached our shores in the past 40 years ... everytime we do elect a Democrat we bring down a new country and bring in more people to our shores...Kennedy , kept our parents from having a chance to go back, Carter filled our State with what ever you want to discribe them as (Marielitos)and Clinton was no better...Whats next????????????



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/08/2004 10:41:39 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Hey, guys "I HAVE A PLAN" to bad I can't tell you about until you elect me........



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 01:09:56 By john scopetta 68
Manny

The answer to your question is the honest one that deposited all the money in the bank, correct???
the reasoning is that you would want an honest wife that is good in bed and looks like Heather Looklear, correct???
The use of a Cuban cigar developed by Billy boy from Arkansas that always told the truth brings up an interesting political issue, If Monica develops cancer down there from Bills cigar, will she sue him or the federal government since it happened while both she and him were employed by the taxpayers???
Did anybody like my monkey story it also has political connotations see if you can figure them out? Manny
Gaston my friend, please don't take offense this is not personal, but think about the following. We came from Cuba because our parents did not want for us to grow up in a communist society. This country took us in and we are the largest minority that hopes to someday return to a Democratic Cuba. All the others come here to escape poverty, oppression, or to get a fresh start and prosper. We have no one to blame but ourselves for loosing Cuba to a Communist leader.
Besides I know you came here to chase those beautiful American girls, No???




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 08:03:33 By Terrence W. Grant
I see where Alpha 66 Andres Sargen died yesterday...who is taking his place of leadership?Are they still training off the Trail...JS believe me pal the Cuban women are right at the top...especially with nalgas firmas....



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 10:39:18 By Larry Silver
John,
The cuban cigar question does raise some interesting legal questions. Actually there has been suits against the cuban government and assets held in the U.s. are subject to legal process to collect, so the first question would be the viable claim against cuban gov't for cigar that caused injury. Next you would have to look at the product liability aspect and determine whether or not there was a defense via misuse of the product or changed from time of sale. Next collecting under Federal worker's compensation would be likely since fault is not an issue, but there would be a quesxtion of whether or not it was within the scope of the employment, Lastly and probably the most viable claim and collectable one would be against Bill under intentional tort, which would open him up not only to compensable damages but punitive and the homestead asset protection laws that are debtor strong in Florida are not the same in New York. Actually under Florida Law Monica under the impact rule would have a claim without cancer simply for the emotional distress.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 10:59:05 By Larry Silver
Manny,
I think the answer to your question depends on what the man is looking for in a wife which is unknown from the info. given, so any answer would only be a reflection of what person who answers would want. I.E. question is used to find out someone elses opinion not that of the man looking for wife.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 11:05:48 By Manny Garcia 68
Larry:

You neglected to address the issue of returning the cigar to the humedor after its improper use. I would tend to think that this opens up several other legal issues concerning contamination and pollution. Please enlighten us.

Jackie:

As for the monkey story, do the political conotations come in before or after the monkey swallowed the Q ball?

The asnwer to the question of which woman the guy picked; he picked the one with the biggest tits!!!




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 11:18:51 By Larry Silver
Manny,
Given the alleged injury only went as far as Monica, the issues of contamination and pollution would not apply under the zone of risk theory since third parties are not involved. Unless your are saying that you somehow got ahold of that cigar and now have a cough?
I figured Monica had it in humidor,saved the cigar along with the dress and that she was planning on selling it on e-bay in the distant future to pay for her retirement.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 11:41:09 By Manny Garcia 68
Larry:

I did not have access to the presidential humidor, but I understand that Arafat visited the White House soon after the cigar episode and president Clinton offered him a cigar, Arafat thanked him and took a cigar, he then took a whiff as often cigar lovers do, he then quickly told Clinton;"this cigar smells like S__T. Calmly Clinton told him "turn it to the other side". Now that you know the full story, is there any legal issues, that need to be addressed?




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 11:45:49 By Larry Silver
Manny,
No I think that about covers it unless you want to get into the possible claim for misrepresentation in offering a used cigar as if it were new, but ultimately there are no damages, so I say no mas




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 12:02:52 By Terrence W. Grant
OK guys that banner is more like it...thats what this site is for...Larry very quick responses...sounds like you know your case law and perhaps have been to court on these issues.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 01:31:33 By john scopetta 68
Larry excellent response you really know your law. According to the militant sector of the Cuban community in Miami, that will vote for Bush. He got the cigars from the Cuban embassy in Washington, DC. So they were probably the real thing, The poor guy is paying for it now he must be going throw some serious pain, but hay if I was married to Hilary, Monica would be a 10.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 02:02:33 By Larry Silver
THE PERKS OF BEING OVER 50
1) Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
2) In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
3) No one expects you to run -- anywhere.
4) People call at 9 PM and ask, "Did I wake you?"
5) People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
6) There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
7) Things you buy now won't wear out.
8) You can eat dinner at 4 P.M.
9) You can live without sex but not without your glasses.
10) You enjoy hearing about other peoples operations.
11) You get into heated arguments about pension plans.
12) You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
13) You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.
14) You sing along with elevator music.
15) Your eyes won't get much worse.
16) Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
17) Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.
18) Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.
19) Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 04:06:03 By Terrence W. Grant
John S. You made reference to Clinton's taste 4 years ago ( pre Russi) I was dating a flight attendent who lives in Little Rock...Slick Willie was chasing her all over LIT and Hot Springs.. She was 42years old and 42 up top..brother Bill liked the big ones



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 05:58:31 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
John, I don't take any of this personal or offensive.....I'm just having fun with it...but I belive ,I have the knowledge to respond to some things. Facts are important when one opens there mouth and shouldnt't .. if they are on a fishing expedition...(did I say Fishing ????) My next door neighbor in Miramar, was the daughter of the Ambassador of the USA in Cuba ,I was 7 years old at the time and after seeing her and her sisters ,you are right I fell in love with American girls and I was very happy my parents brought me to the USA .....I love this Country.... but what ever is said on this site I do it in fun not anger.... Life is too short to hold grudges ...when it comes to Stags ..this is my 2nd family....



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 07:03:15 By Manny Garcia 68
Hey Guys:

We beat the cigar issue to death, so let's change the topic here and let's hear your opinions on proposition 3; Tort Refurm. I talk to Drs all day long everyday, and they want this to pass; what are your thoughts?




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 07:51:20 By Ricky Arnaiz 1971
Guys, All I can say is that Gaston speaks better

Inglish than President Bush.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 07:52:55 By Ricky Arnaiz 1971
Gaston, did you mean English?



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/09/2004 08:31:37 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Rick , glad to see youth involved...English ?????



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/10/2004 09:44:12 By BOB AJHAR
DEAR BROTHERS,
I THINK GEORGE W. BUSH DESERVES ANOTHER TERM.WE MUST STAND BEHIND HIM.
BOB AJHAR




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/10/2004 05:10:32 By Tim Yero
I am very happy to see the mood has changed.
I just printed out Larry's list of "over 50" and showed it to my fiancee. Larry, Best list we've seen in ages - you ought to sell it to Letterman!

I work in the Health Care system these days and can say the amendment is the Lawyers vs the Doctors. The average Dr (PA Group usually because no single dr can afford the risks on his own) spends 200K+ per year on Insurance coverage.
The premiums are not only due to the risks but to the excessive amounts paid out by law suits.

I don't think we should stop law suites or put a "cap" on some of them - I do think we should cut Lawyers fees in the an effort to bring costs down and limit the risks to an affordable level.

From what I understand, the Lawyers get up to 50% of the awards and I think that is outrageous, it causes greed and increases the potential for frivolous suites.

It has also caused many Dr's to want to get out of their businesses (especially upscale guys like super-surgeons... limiting the quality and quantity of health care.

The proposition has no effect on the "quality" of healthcare...as the ads would lead you to believe.
The Lawyers have funded the advertising much more than the Dr's (To protect their fees). I think this has casaused many mis-stated ads...

The ads for the proposition, if you vote no, will protect the legal interest and drive healthcare even further into the ground. These are the ones on tv you have seen more of.

Voting YES will effect healthcare more positive as the Dr's will not be as threatened and will treat people in a better and more thourough way.
Ofcourse, this is all simply stated and invloves other stuff but the bottom-line (to me at least) is we need good Dr's that practice good medicine.
YES would insure this much better.

'no' would increase the potential of making medicine a less attractive profession (therein lesser quality care by less qualified individuals)and would make the healthcare system unaffordable even more so than it already is. I really have nothing against either Dr's or Lawyers - we need both, but I feel the Lawyers should not win this one.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/11/2004 09:26:10 By Larry Silver
Thanks Tim, that list was provided to me from Chip Presbrey,
I am not going to say I am on the lawyers side over the doctors because I believe that is really a red heiring, it really should be the lawyers and doctors against the insurance companies. I have several friends who are doctors and the good ones deserve every break they can get,however, the bad ones need to be controlled, and generally the market place tends to have a stronger effect than a bureacratic understaffed medical board, and the same goes for the legal communities ethics boards. The personal injury field which includes medical malpractice developed the contingency fee with the attorney advancing costs(which is approved and has specific limits by the Supreme Court, and they are not 50%)because most people who have been involved in an accident can not afford to pay a lawyer and hourly fee plus court and discovery costs. The insurance companies have attorneys who get paid by the hour and all costs are advanced by them, so unless you are rich , you generally rather have the attorney do hundreds of hours of work and advance thousands of dollars of cost and then get a percentage rather than it being out of your pocket. The cases generally are not slam dunk can be lost, and coverage can be less than expected, and facts may not be so great. The cost of insurance for Doctors for instance is way out of line , but, even the people in Florida who represent them have stated in interviews with the Daily Miami Review(local legal paper) that it is not the lawsuits that have caused the rates to go skyhigh). The insurance companies years ago got the public to believe that if we had pip insurance (no fault) for auto that rates would drop significantly, that lasted about a year or so, then, the insurance companies had their new law andthe rates rose and we all know what we pay for auto insurance. Caps on pain and suffering is easy for someone to endorse until a family member is seriously hurt by someoneelse's negligence, then you see in real time the effects. There are runaway jurys but, again the real statistics show that most jurys(and keep in mind most cases that are legitimate get settled) do not over award and there are plenty of defense verdicts.Anyway, so much to the debate, that is just some of my thoughts.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/11/2004 10:01:51 By Larry Silver
I don't think the amendment that would remove a doctor from practice for 3 judgments is right. That is an issue that should be addressed with disclosure to patients and the medical board determining whether they are fit to safely practice. There are too many exceptions to situations to make a general law to the detriment of the doctors, I believe in that case there is a better balance to be found.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/11/2004 11:15:31 By Tim Yero
Larry, (You sound like an Attorney yourself.. are you?)

It is nice to know the issues are being looked at by people like you who understand the consequences of each side.

I guess there may always be better answers to lots of things; not as easy as they should be sometimes.

RE: Chip P. was a year behind me and I remember he enjoyed playing music (As many of us did in those days). Do you know what he is doing now and where he is?

In those days (Beatles invasion era) Stags had some members in little rock bands, including Bill Swain who played in my group and Randy Hall who sometimes played (We were known as The "Potions".) Next to club activities, the rock band experience was the most fun of my life.

I don't recall ever seeing or hearing Chip play. If you keep in touch with Chip please say hi from me.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/11/2004 01:46:50 By Larry Silver
Thanks Tim, yes I am a lawyer,
Chip is doing very well, my dear friend and brother, he lives in California and has a great band along with other activities. Lead guitar and singer.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/12/2004 05:36:26 By Janet Eaton
wow! my smartest comment seemed to get alot of play. again, i will say, that i want the smartest person to be my president and i think john kerry is much smarter than george bush. further, i strongly believe in the right of choice for women, stem cell research and scalia and thomas are certainly not my favorite supreme court justices. so, my ideology aligns much closer to kerry and that is why i am voting for him.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/12/2004 05:40:50 By Janet Eaton
Wow! seems my comment about the "smartest" man to be president elicited some strong answers. Again, I will state that I believe this country needs the smartest of the two candidates to be its commander. I believe that kerry is much smarter than bush. Further, I strongly believe in the right of choice for women, stem cell research, and scalia and thomas are certainly not my favorite justices. Simply stated, my ideologies allign closer to kerry and that is why i work in his campaign and will be voting for him.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/12/2004 07:56:27 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Janet , double clicking not allowed, it only counts as one vote......you know I love you dearly , but why Kerry????? I'am undecided ,,,sell me on why????



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/13/2004 11:13:23 By Janet Eaton
Gaston, i love you too. why kerry? well, if you believe that a woman should have the right, and not the government, to decide whether to carry a child you should vote for kerry. if you believe that stem cell research is necessary to find the cures to diabetes, spinal cord injuries, alzheimers, you should vote for kerry. if you believe that the patriot act as it is enforced today by ashcroft is too broad and removes constitutional rights afforded to us by our forefathers, you should vote for kerry. if you believe that a president is responsible for developing a plan for peace BEFORE he begins a war, you should vote for kerry. if you believe that justices scalia and thomas, two of the most conservative supreme court justices of all times, are the model from which future supreme court justices should be chosen, then i guess you vote for bush. these are only a very few of the examples of why i am voting for kerry and why i believe that he would make a better president. there are many more. x0 janet



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/13/2004 12:03:51 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Janet thanks, Stem Cell Reaserch ,I'am all for it..Having members of my family that are and were affected by diabetis and Alzheimer....Being a good Catholic I won't comment on the abortion subject, but you are right ..women should make the decision, but I do believe that all cases are different and they should be handled for the right reason.... War , nobody likes war , I don't..but I'm not sure if he would have done any better at the time. now we all, including myself knowing whats going on , would have thought differently......



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/13/2004 11:54:26 By john scopetta 68
Dear Janet and Gaston:

If you like a president that does what he says and says what he means you should vote for Bush. If the war in Iraq was launched on false intelligence and any great American war hero such as Colin Powell could have been misguided you should vote for Bush. If you like a guy you can drink a few beers with and does not make you feel like he is talking to you because he has to, you should vote for Bush. If you think big government is bad and inefficient then vote for Bush. If you pronounce many words incorrectly and your wife is visibly smarter than you will ever be, vote for Bush. If you don't believe the deficit is a problem for the time being, vote for Bush.
Reality is there will not be government sponsored health plan in our lifetime, the tax brakes or increases on the rich or the poor are mostly meaningless they do nothing, the economy is usually guided by the Federal reserve, and world events. The Clinton years were great because he caught the boom following the 90 recession and the dot com phenomenon which was a false economy and abnormal market growth. 25% per year come on!!
Feel safer now compared to when we were kids??? The cold war was much more scary at any moment a button could be pushed and the world as we knew it would be extinguished and we would all be burned alive. Well, I don't feel scared when I get on an airplane If I see someone running towards the front I am going to tackle his ass in mid Isle and is going to take much more than a box cutter to keep me from braking his neck. The odd of anything happening to any single individual in this country are 300 million to one, you have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting killed by terrorist. And if you win the lottery you don't have to worry about the economy or any of those other issues.
Vote your pocket book everyone else will, if you feel you will prosper under a Bush administration, than you know what to do. The rest you can buy health care, tax brakes they are meant to get votes. If you are going to be making more money with a Kerry administration go for him. I am voting for Kerry. Love you guys... John




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/14/2004 10:37:06 By Larry Silver
It seems to me that the trickle down theory of economics that Bush administration has believed in and promoted by eliminating the inheritance tax, dividend and cap.gain tax lowered, tax rate lowered, which all has helped the richer class far more than the middle class has not stimulated the economy, which is the basic reason for the changes. The wealthy employment class has a choice to create jobs for u.s. citizens as a result of the additional money in their pocket, but, most have shareholders to report to and therefore the botttomline would be profit, therefore extra money to spend goes to the lowest dollar cost vs return, i.e. global economy. In order to protect the middle class i.e. working class the gov't has to balance competitive world economy with protection and creation of u.s. jobs. The reality of our present day situation is that real estate inflation has given people the illusion that they are richer. Many are financing their childrens education by borrowing against the increased equity in a low interest enviornment.Beyond real estate there is little to be excited about, everything is going up, health insurance, food,auto, etc. and the profit margins of business are going down. I believe Clinton had a plan that brought the deficit in check and that helped to make the u.s. economy sound, ironically, the Republicans are spending far more than the economy can justify now or in future, so we will be paying the price for a long time. Will the Democrats do better on the economy I hope so, that is one of many reasons I am for Kerry. Iraq was rushed into by sending troops too early, and therefore either keeping them on hold or claiming the inspections were not working and go in and take out the iraq military.Remember Turkey that was one of the last minute changes that caused us not to trap the iraq military and now you are fighting a guerrela war. I believe we had saddam contained and with time and cooperation we would have accomplished our goals without a full blown war.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/14/2004 11:53:28 By Janet Eaton
I'm impressed! Coral Gables High produced some smart people!!!!! Articulate, knowledgable in world affairs and current events, interested, analytical and most importantly very handsome men!!!!!



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/14/2004 11:53:59 By Janet Eaton
O.K. Gaston. thats three of us supporting kerry and telling you why.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/14/2004 01:33:59 By Terrence W. Grant
Thank you Janet for acknowledging me lol



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/14/2004 02:29:50 By Don H. '57
Looks like me and terry are the only "Bush" people around here. Voting for Kerry is taking a chance that his plan for everthing has substance. His track record precedes his rhetoric. How does he change overnight. People don't change, they adapt, and he is a master at it. His spending plans don't add up. Removing the tax breaks for those making more than $200,000 is misleading. His break actually start at $148,000. This no doubt this will impact the indivual entreprener, small business person who claims income as personal.Those people are getting their brains beat out already with taxes.I've been there. How will I make more money under Kerry? John, maybe you can help me understand that one.
For Kerry to present himself as a fiscal conservative is absolutely a joke, unless that was his twin in the senate for the last 20 years.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/14/2004 05:21:37 By BOB AJHAR
DON,
I VOTE FOR BUSH.
BOB




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/14/2004 05:41:06 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Janet , I know that its three of you and I love to see the diversity of our group, But I 'am still not sold on the Idea of Kerry...TOO MANY PLANS> and I still don't know what he is really saying.....How can you have a plan for everything?????????what is it ???????? I may be wrong, but most of us have incomes of $200,000.00 or more ....I employ Migrants, that Kerry and his ways will only cause me to have them loose their jobs , Explain to me , how I'm going to tell these hard working individuals that I no longer can take care of them and their families....If I loose they loose......I employ the lowest income level on the charts one step above , a burial plot at the cemetery....He will do nothing for them ...Talk is cheap and promises never come to life....what do I do??????I pay out of pocket for their needs , health, food, clothing , finance their homes ,assisted with school supplies and proper clothing...I could go on for ever on what I do for them ... Clinton never did...Bush , made me some money and Kerry will take it away.....I'm open minded , tell me what I should do.?????



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/14/2004 06:24:47 By Janet Eaton
gaston you don't sound open minded to me. you are a bush man. vote and be proud of your vote. it will be a close election, as our site indicates. i'm hoping for kerry. if bush wins, i'll continue to live my life just like i did the last four years. xo



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/14/2004 06:33:32 By Don H. '57
I recently heard a very learned person say that to the average citizen it doesn't really matter who wins the presidency. Think about it.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/14/2004 06:48:55 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Janet, I'am opened minded ...But I'm concerned.... Whats my choice??????I don't like Bush or Kerry......One says he did ,,,and the other said not,,,flip flop on both sides...I love my workers ,,,,they are good , hardworking and honest.....most of them have worked for me since 1980.....I can't turn my back on them,,,,,Its like family,



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/15/2004 09:48:40 By john scopetta 68
Janet thank you for your kind words, coming from you it means a lot, but Larry is the smart one I will settle for the second tittle.
Don, you are correct, when we vote for a democratic ticket we vote for the party and their policies so although Kerry is now portraying himself as mostly right of the middle those left wing extremist are lingering out there licking their chops. When it comes to small business owners the need Tax Relief the ITC, for example was a great motivator of small business. My customers are mostly individuals that earn less that $35.000 dollars per year and they are struggling. They don't have health insurance they can't feed their families they are in debt up to their ears and their credit is limited if not bad they compete with big business i.e. large trucking companies and they are very concerned about the future of their children. They have not benefited from the low mortgage rates other than to have the equity in their homes wiped out by consolidators that are using it to pay off their credit cards. They need money, tax brakes, education, training and better paying jobs. We as a country consume 70% of the production of the word don't let anyone tell you that we cannot be more selective and demanding of the other countries that produce very inexpensive products and export to the US. at huge margins.
The Republicans have missed this group of people and the small businessmen that account for sixty percent of the jobs that are created in this country. When interest rates go down fiscal credit tightens up and banks are closely regulated by the feds. They make sure that when demands for loans increase because of low interest rates that credit criteria for the use of that money becomes more stringent. Thus the little people don't see the benefit of the lower rates. Don't be blinded by the statistical mumbo jumbo you get from these candidates look around at our neighbors to the South our trading and partying partners, if you listen to Herb and Terry. Brazil has communist president at this time, so does Venezuela. Guatemala, Panama, Mexico, Ecuador, half of Colombia, Peru and even Panama have left wing leathers. Lucky for us there is no soviet union to turn to but there is China and Fidel, and they speak often.
The strength of our country has always been the ability of the middle class to have a good job they can be proud of, feed and educate their children so they can achieve more than their parents did. Well, the lower middle class it struggling and the jobs are few and the money to borrow is gone and this can be blamed to a large degree on outsourcing and world competition.
For example...Nike makes a pair o shoes in the US for twenty-five dollars. It moves them to Mexico to make it for fifteen. then to China for five. What happened??? Yes, They have a cheaper more completive product but Americans lost their jobs. Now if our government gives Nike a tax credit to build a a new automated plant and build the shoes here, then that worker would have a job and pay taxes and spend money on goods and so on. got to run, or I may have to move to China...Love you guys....John




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/15/2004 10:08:27 By Terrence W. Grant
John...if you move to China don't marry a Chinese girl...I did and it cost $$$$$$$ to get out



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/15/2004 02:24:00 By Larry Silver
intelligent, handsome , finacially secure ... to meet a beautiful, intelligent, smart, witty ...
Terry you are placing your ad in the wrong chat room




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/15/2004 02:38:46 By Terrence W. Grant
Larry: Good to hear from you...awhile back I was looking for a cook who liked to fish and could bait her own hook...i dont know how the ad wound up in presidential debates..i guess some thought it had a little Clinton flavor...of course I met my Russi thru an ad...she was looking for Mr. Wonderful hell I had to answer the ad lol



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/15/2004 02:49:29 By Larry Silver
Terry it is Good to have your humor, it makes me remember what is important, to laugh in spite of the twists and turns of the currents------apparently Russi used the right bait----



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/15/2004 03:32:53 By Terrence W. Grant
when and if i ever see you again I will tell you the story of "The Little Head"..you ought to get your ass fishing...you cant be any worst than me



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/15/2004 05:36:59 By Manny Garcia 68
Hey Guys:
I am speechless and extemelly impressed, everybody brings up great valid points, so like janet says, vote your mind (heart).
I am voting democrat this time because I want to send a message to the younger ah's I've been working with in corporate America for all of my life that the baby bumers are going to be running the show for the next couple of decades. Using this election as a warning shot, call me shallow, but we've been very passive as generation, and if we don't make a stance we're in for a very tough retirement.
I like what Kerry said on the last debate, lower Medicaid age to 55, let's also lower the age to 55, instead of 59 1/2 until I can get my hands on my retirement $$$$.
Well there's my 2c's




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/16/2004 02:18:41 By little d
The only valid reason to vote for Kerry is to keep Hillary from pimping rooms in the White House
again in '08.

Hope you all survived the 'caines. Please try not to screw up this election too. (Floridians only)




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/17/2004 09:23:32 By john scopetta 68
Dean, our Brazilian connection, you are alive!!! I was thinking about you today wondering how you were. Is good to see politics and the caines have brought you back. Welcome we missed you.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/18/2004 11:47:08 By Janet Eaton
John, you have the time and desire to set the record straight on this thread. thanks. for those of you concerned about your "workers" and the benefits they are so terribly missing, i.e. health benefits, low minimum wage earnings, heavy tax burdens, federal funding cuts to vital programs they need, i.e. head start, legal aid, etc., then you should vote for kerry who has publically stated that he supports the raise in minimum wages (bush does not), the funding of the vital programs needed by low income families(bush cut the funding), and supports providing health care to all americans (bush does not). Further, when you throw in the need for stem cell research which bush does not support with the right of every woman to decide whether to carry a child, not the government, your vote should be for kerry. I'm pleased to see my cuban american friends voting for kerry. In the past the republican party has garnered many of your votes.
remember to vote. don't let the day go by without voting.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/18/2004 02:51:46 By Don H. '57
Janet, et al-I suggest you go to factcheck.org and verify some of the claims being made by both candidates. Both of them are telling half-truths which is so typical of politicians-ALL!!!Let's get this bs over with and vote. Better yet let's go fishing.
You can take this to the bank. If Kerry is elected taxes are going up if he hold true to his liberal past, more bureaucracy, etc., etc. and doubt there will be much change from what is going on now. How does one think Kerry is going to create 10,000,000 jobs ( I think that the number) in four years. How can he do that? The president has little influence on the economy although many are blamed or take credit for it. I think we are in a situation to elect the one that will do less harm. All these people saying "what the government is going to do for me" are kidding themselves. The differnce is marginal.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/19/2004 01:55:23 By Larry Silver
They say a vote in Florida is worth a lot more than almost any State, so we all need to vote regardless of our candidate for President. My mother waited in line for 2 hours in the Gables yesterday, and the lines in Aventura today are still 2 hour wait, so that is great because people are getting out to vote.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/19/2004 11:38:04 By john scopetta 68
Janet there is a very large Cuban American percentage that are members of the democratic party and have been for years the only reason the Republicans get the vote on a national level s because they traditionally have taken a tougher stance with Fidel. Even that is rapidly changing because many of the older traditional Cuban leaders that want a change in Cuba and accountability on the part of Castro's people for their actions against its people and stand against any reconciliation with the younger branch of the current Cuban Government. Roberto Suarez has been deeply involved in the normalization process in Cuba and has traveled to the Island on numerous occasions with delegations of American business people that want to start doing business on the Island. The days of, you are either a republican or a communist are gone forever. The mayor of Hialeah is a Democrat and so Little Pinelas the out going mayor. Lesley Panting is a high ranking leather in the party.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/20/2004 11:10:21 By Janet Eaton
John, thanks for the information regarding the strong democratic standing among the cuban american population. i was not aware of that. You have made me a smarter person! I waited in line for two hours to vote on Monday. The lines were extremely long. That is a good sign that voting will be strong in numbers this year.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/20/2004 12:20:57 By Don H. '57
John, I'm not very much up to speed on the relations with Cuba.Maybe you can fill me in.No doubt there are some type of sanctions. I find it interesting that people express it as sanctions against Castro, but bottom line aren't the sanctions against the Cuban people other than perhaps military goods. What type of things are restricted? What is the thinking of the "business" men or opprotunists that are traveling to Cuba as you described? It seems like a very poor country at this time and the greatest opprotunity in the short run would be tourism, cheap labor and the money spent by reuniting families if realtions were normalized.
Do you tthink that the vast property holdings lost by many would ever be returned to their rightful owners? I had a very good friend whose family owned a big cattle ranch, drove their old Buick sedan to the dock, loaded the eight kids on a boat and never looked back.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/20/2004 05:02:21 By little d
Kerry would have been a Chink.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/20/2004 05:47:55 By Manny Garcia 68
Jackie:
I can't wait for your answer to D.H. about on the question of property return.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SUAREZ IS GOING TO THE ISLAND TO OPEN UP BUSINESS TRADE OVER THERE.





Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/20/2004 07:16:45 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Manny, I agree with you on suarez , apparently he forgot what his parents went thru.....But then again , different strokes for different folks.......



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/21/2004 03:43:39 By Herb Stebbins (68)
Gaston and John, are you in favor of the normalization process in Cuba while Castro or any other communist leader is in charge of the Cuban government?



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/21/2004 06:37:47 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
Herb, NOT ME.....not after what this SOB did to my DAD....out of the question....



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/22/2004 00:20:42 By john scopetta 68
Gaston Roberto's father is the founder of and retired Editor in chief of El Herald In Spanish. He is a strong supporter of the freedom of the press in Cuba in fact he hosted numerous Golf tournament to raise money for freedom of the press movement in Cuba and to publish opposition newspapers. His father was like you guys very upset that he was involved with the movement to normalize relations with the Cuban government.
He invited his father to travel with him to Cuba a while back and now his father has changed his position on normalizing relations with the Island in anticipation of the departure of a 77 year old Castro.
There is a very strong military in Cuba that is not going to allow the Cuban-American groups based in Miami to take over the governing job in Cuba. We will have a situation were the Cuban people. Do not close your mind to what a brother has to say and you will see that he makes a very good case.
As far as returning properties to the Cuban American that were taken from them, that will depend on the type of government the fallow the Castro regime. Many Cuban Americans took loses against their income taxes in the US, It would intol a long and tedious process and I really do not see that happening any time soon. It would mean recapturing those loses and that could become very expensive. You would also have to analyze the potential value of the Cuban properties which would most likely be in a bad state of deterioration




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/22/2004 07:22:55 By Gaston Ruiz (1968)
John, , everyone makes their own choice and I respect his ,but I don't have to agree with what he is doing and I 'm sure that there is many that do , but lots more than don't....



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/22/2004 02:18:13 By Don H. '57
John, How could they take losses on their income tax for properties forfieted due to Castro? Did they clam the income in prior years? Sounds lke a very complicated issue.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/22/2004 03:36:48 By John Scopetta
Gus, I certainly agree with you but there is a lot to be said for someone that is working at trying to make a difference even if you don't agree with what they are attempting to do. The fact that he is willing to get involved in a difficult situation should be commended and I would not agree that there are more people that want to continue with the embargo. Including the US government. I will tell you how I know privately.



Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/22/2004 03:40:59 By jack lamb
i have enjoyed reading all of the banter
back and forth. some is logical and some is
emotional. that's the great part of being
in this country which allows such without
fear of retaliation or repression.

i would like to suggest some of you go to a
recent political cartoon in the Miami Herald
on Thursday, of this week. It shows the
electronic ballot listing the FEAR OF THE
KNOWN (R) and the FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN (D)





Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/22/2004 03:49:52 By jack lamb
actually, i am continuing my previous thoughts.

that picture pretty much sums up what our
country is faced with for the future. neither
of these two guys really look like the answer
that we need but again remember they are both
POLITICIANS. this is what they do, tell you
what you want to hear and talk out of both
sides of their mouth whenever possible and not
get caught.

i am actually fearful for the next ten days
in terms of security in our country as to
what may happen especially since the opposition
was successful in altering the elections in
Spain with random acts of violence just prior
to the election

as they used to end an old televison show,
"EVERYBODY BE REAL CAREFUL OUT THERE, THE
STREETS CAN BE DANGEROUS".

i hope i am wrong but the issue concerns me.





Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/22/2004 05:39:03 By Manny Garcia 68
Jackie;
I would have to agree with you, if the effort was being undertaken in a humanitarian way for the betterment of people on the island that have sufferd for years due to the embargo. However; when the innitiative is being undertaken with business in mind ($$$$$)to be first off the palne when the 78 year old dictator is no longer in power, that my friend STINCKS.




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/22/2004 06:22:13 By Roberto Suarez
To clear the air... my intention in going to Cuba in the past was the following:

To work towards the normalization of relations between the United States of America and the Republic of Cuba, to promote a new US policy towards Cuba, particularly in the area of travel, humanitarian trade and remittance and to work towards the reconciliation of the Cuban people.

By giving up listening like a good Cuban (that I'm always right & that I know everything) ...I was able to meet family that I never seen or heard of in 43 years. Some of you might have met one of my cousins at the first Stags party...that came to visit me in Miami (it was her first day in Miami)...

I respect everyone's opinion and their choice that they make in regards to Cuba & other commitments in life...

My experience is that if you take all our beliefs away we are all the same ....

I have made some choices based on my beliefs that i have the right to travel anywhere that I choose and create new realities through powerful and straight conversations and being real with people that agree and disagree with me...the important thing is to listen with an open & quiet mind...

I know that Cubans in both side of the ocean want the same thing ... freedom (no constraint from the past), fun, peace, ease & a few mojitos... and a new space where everyone's dream can be fulfilled without hate & controls...

In Cuba everything is negotiable except their sovereign rights...and many things are possible now that you might not be aware...I've told leaders in both US Congress and Cuba ...to let go!!!

I belief that through conversation and dialogue we will create this new reality...not through confrontation and force...but the first step is to take on that each one of us is responsible for what shows up in our life ...good or bad...

I've taken on that responsibility and have taken the steps to create a new reality in Cuba...

Peace & Balance,

Roberto





Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/22/2004 06:26:55 By Roberto Suarez
Forget...and create a new reality in Miami...

Un abarzo,

Roberto




Re: Presidential DebatesPosted at 10/22/2004 06:30:37 By Roberto Suarez
Check this out.....from the conservative side...

Cheers,

robertico

ps: I voted today!!!!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Below please find an article on Bush & Kerry...writen by a conservative newspaper...


Why We Cannot Endorse President Bush For Re-Election

Published: Oct 19, 2004

W e find ourselves in a position unimaginable four years ago when we strongly endorsed for president a fiscal conservative and ``moderate man of mainstream convictions'' who promised to wield military muscle only as a last resort and to resist the lure of ``nation building.''
We find ourselves deeply conflicted today about the presidential race, skeptical of the promises and positions of Sen. John Kerry and disappointed by the performance of President George W. Bush.



As stewards of the Tribune's editorial voice, we find it unimaginable to not be lending our voice to the chorus of conservative-leaning newspapers endorsing the president's re- election. We had fully expected to stand with Bush, whom we endorsed in 2000 because his politics generally reflected ours: a strong military, fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility and small government. We knew him to be a popular governor of Texas who fought for lower taxes, less government and a pro-business constitution.

But we are unable to endorse President Bush for re- election because of his mishandling of the war in Iraq, his record deficit spending, his assault on open government and his failed promise to be a ``uniter not a divider'' within the United States and the world.

Neither can we endorse Sen. Kerry, whose undistinguished Senate record stands at odds with our conservative principles and whose positions on the Iraq war - the central issue in this campaign - have been difficult to distinguish or differentiate.

It is an achingly difficult decision to not endorse a candidate in the presidential contest, and we do not reach this decision lightly.

The Tribune has endorsed a Republican for president ever since Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952, with one exception. We did not endorse in the 1964 presidential race because, as we said at the time, ``it is our feeling that unless a newspaper can recommend a candidate with complete conviction that he be the better choice for the office, it should make no endorsement.''

Like the country, this editorial board finds itself deeply divided about the president's prosecution of the war and his indifference to federal spending.


Bush Overstated The Evidence

Although Bush came to office having lost the popular vote, the nation rallied behind him after the terrorist strikes of 9/11. He transcended the political divide and became everyone's president the moment he picked up that bullhorn on the ashes of ground zero and promised the terrorists that they would hear from us. Aside from a few dancing extremists, the world stood with us.

Bush told us to wait, and we confidently stood with him. With surety and resolve, he struck Afghanistan and the hillside holes of al-Qaida extremists. For taking out the Taliban and bringing about national elections in Afghanistan this month, the president deserves much credit. While we still haven't caught Osama bin Laden, the ace of spades, our troops have successfully caught and imprisoned many other al-Qaida leaders.

But before securing Afghanistan, Bush grew convinced that Iraq posed an imminent threat to America and so directed soldiers and supplies there.

His administration terrified us into believing that we had to quickly wage war with Baghdad to ensure our safety. Vice President Dick Cheney said he had ``irrefutable evidence'' that Saddam had reconstituted his nuclear program. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice wrongly asserted that aluminum tubes found in Iraq could be used only for nuclear weapons. And the president himself said he couldn't wait for a smoking gun in the form of a ``mushroom cloud.''

Again, this editorial board stood solidly with the president in his resolve to take the fight to the terrorists where they live, forever changing American foreign policy with our first-ever ``pre-emptive'' war.

Once we got to Baghdad, however, we found out that the president was wrong and that the reasons for launching the war were either exaggerated or inaccurate. There were no stockpiles of WMD and no link between Saddam and the terrorists that struck on 9/11.

As it turns out, the neoconservatives in the Bush administration were bamboozled by dubious sources named Curveball and Chalabi, whose integrity and access to real- time information was repeatedly questioned by our own intelligence services.


No Dissension Allowed

But groupthink took hold among the neocons, while those with contrary points of view, like Secretary of State Colin Powell, were sidelined until after key decisions were made. It was almost as though someone who asked tough questions was seen as siding with the terrorists.

When Gen. Eric Shinseki, then Army chief of staff, said that hundreds of thousands of troops would be needed to secure a postwar Iraq, his argument was dismissed and the general summarily pushed aside.

But after Baghdad fell, we saw how insufficient troop numbers led to the looting of hospitals, businesses and schools - everything but the Oil Ministry, which our forces secured.

At the time, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said with great hubris that the uprising was ``untidy'' but not unexpected. And the president himself challenged the enemy to ``bring it on.''

Now we learn from Ambassador Paul Bremer, former presidential envoy to Iraq, that ``we never had enough troops on the ground'' to stop the insurgency. Baath party loyalists went underground only to launch a guerrilla campaign that makes Iraq less safe today than immediately after Baghdad fell.

The insurgents have taken back cities like Fallujah, which we mistakenly ceded to them last April. And they continue to undo the reconstruction of schools, roads, clinics and the electrical grid built by our troops and an array of mostly American contractors. Most problematic, they keep blowing up rebuilt oil pipelines whose revenues were supposed to pay for the reconstruction.

In one of his too-rare press conferences, the president stood strong in promising that Iraq would be sovereign by June 30, even though no one could identify who would get the keys to the country. Bush's resolve in meeting the deadline for the creation of an interim government was commendable.

Still, despite deliberate steps to rebuild Iraq, we find ourselves today in an open-ended war that has taken the lives of 1,081 American servicemen and women, and wounded or maimed 7,862 more. Financially, the war has cost us $126 billion - money that could have been better spent securing the homeland - and is a major reason for the largest federal deficit in history.


More Fear Ahead

What bothers us is that the president says that even knowing what he knows now, he still would have invaded Iraq because Saddam had the ``intent'' to make nuclear weapons and was a ruthless dictator who killed his own people. If this nation-building succeeds, the president says, we will have built a friend in the Middle East.

Because of the invasion, one other renegade country - Libya - decided to disarm its nuclear program, a real success for the president.

Still, we are troubled by Bush's talk about a broad ``forward strategy of freedom'' to ``transform'' the Middle East. We believe it unwise to use our military to impose democracy on Arab countries, which would rather determine their own future. We fear this model of forced democracy will only fuel recruiting campaigns for terrorism.

And how about Iran and North Korea, who have considerably more advanced nuclear capabilities than Iraq ever had? Are we going to brashly send our overstretched military to war ther