Time for a fun topic (Politics!)
Posted 14 weeks 6 days ago bywell, I have to ask, what got you into politcs in the first place? What was that final nail on the head that made you say "Well, you got my attention, fear my thoughts" !
For me
It was around in 2003 March 18 (my 13th Birthday or the day we started the Iraq war, amazingly enough)
I followed politics a little bit during the 2000 elections. Just a little though. George W. Bush won. I was rooting for Al Gore, but I figured, well, I'm sure he won't be that bad. 2000 roled through and not much happened. 9/11 hit, and some time later we have the war on terrorism. Many nations where willing to help America out at the time, but I feel we messed up a bit. I still thought George would pull through. I may disagree with the man, but he is president for a reason. Time whent on and my B-day came up. Weeks before I started focussing on the whole WMD thing going on.
I recall seeing Dick on the news in my school before. He talked about Iraq possibly having WMD's and the most vivid thing I recall seeing that will forever stand out in my mined was a huge mushroom cloud looming over new york city!
For a moment, I was very scared. For a moment, Bush and Dick had me. They convinced me for a brief moment that Iraq had a WMD. Days later I recall them talking about possible war between America and Iraq. What broke their grasp on me was how quick they decided that war may be the only option. I kept watching the news. I really didn't like the idea of war at all. I knew WW2 and WW1 had to have America's hand in it, but if avoidible, then it is avoidible. If they had a WMD, then why not continue with the search in a peaceful manner I thought. Why not continue with peace talks? Clinton did that and it worked. Why are we rushing the Idea of war? We hardly went throught our dimplomatic resources to even justify that last resource we should ever use. The American military.
So then came 03/18/03 My B-day, I turned 13 but that wasn't the highlight of the day. I recall staying up late at night watching the news. No one was celibrating because we had reason for concern. Bush gave a long speech that night more or less saying, Sadam, get out of Iraq now or we are going to have a war on our hands. you have 24 hours to do as we say. I kept hoping the man would leave.
The next day we hear about a failed attack and this kicked off the Iraq war. The bunker buster didn't kill Sadam. I feel we rushed in too soon. I feel we could have tried harder. We never had to do this. I felt at the time, If Sadam had a WMD we could get the world the pressure him to give it up. I also was a bit scarred at the time too, because if he had one, he would use it right away and lay it down on us for the attempted attack on his life. That is when I really got into poltics.
Thoughts
born in 90?
Submitted on May 28th, 2008 by rom12921Feel less, think more
Yes, those halcyon WJC years ...
Submitted on May 27th, 2008 by John 2000which predate IG awareness (which is why I did not mention) ...
I watched numerous sessions on CSPAN in those years where discussions were clear about the nature of the threats. Numerous! It seems like WJC was too involved his personal idiosyncrasies to pay much attention.
Meanwhile the administration would take positive steps like strengthening the wall between CIA and FBI and helping with the export of critical high tech info and product to friendlies such as China with its friendly connections.
Other steps taken:
- hit pharmaceutical plant in Sudan
- authorize strike on bin-laden location after he was cleared from area
- embarrass US with Somalia-capade
- hit Chinese embassy in Belgrade and destroy much Serbian infrastructure for Kosovar 'liberation'
- USS Cole / al-Qaeda
http://www.richardminiter.com/pdf/about_...
- Mr Clear the Record (Berger)
http://www.examiner.com/a-977346~He_s_ba...
Everyone insists that BHO and HRC are birds of the same feather, and agrees BHO has even less experience ...
IRON GUY,
Submitted on May 27th, 2008 by Skye Riversyou are truly a gem on this site...
I have always watched what was going on in the world and have never involved myself in any kind of forum until now.
Why now.. I guess it brought me back to when Bush was voted into office and what happened to Gore. I thought Gore got a bad wrap and I stood watching.
I watched what happened when Cindy Sheehan son's was killed and how she stood up and protested this war and made a different while I still stood watching.
I watched how two teenagers from somewhere USA did a walk across the country, the two of them alone, protesting the war and this time I called them personally and thanked them, and offered myself for their cause while I still stood watching.
UNTIL NOW...
I got pissed off enough to finally want to do something and started speaking my truth to more than my friends, to more than my family, to more than myself... I went from a political stuck tell me what direction you want me to go in cow mooing American who was stuck in political cow dong; to a outspoken, want to make a difference human being who knows the different between having a choice and having my hands tied feeling branded with despair.
IT took a black man, a white woman, and a very angered POW to FINALLY PISS ME OFF ENOUGH to MOO-VE.
UNTIL NOW, I didn't think anything I would do would change anything in this world and I spent many hours wondering how I could.
We all have the power to change what is wrong in this world. The only problem is, what is wrong for me, may be right for someone else AND visa versa.
Re; then, time for some funny facts too
Submitted on May 27th, 2008 by Respectfulguestand another thing...
Unfortunately many seem to either disregard or conveniently not want to recall significant events and warning signals before 9/11 and before the Iraq war.
As for pre 9/11 it was repeated attacks on US and allied embassies, civilian buildings and ships. An enemy that declared war and repeatedly attacked as the Clinton Administration did little to combat as the enemy strengthened (ok, President Clinton did point his finger a lot and lobbed a few meaningless bombs into Afghanistan).
Regarding Iraq, the Post below eloquently illustrates the number of U.N. Resolutions and the extreme amount of chances Saddam Hussein and his band of thugs had to comply with the international community. Heaven forebid a Commander and Chief of this country follow-up Sanctioned International Resolutions with action for non-compliance.
Sorry, was supposed to be a lighten it up topic. Always had Conservative values, without a doubt 9/11 exponentially increased my interest in the political process.
then, time for some funny facts too
Submitted on May 26th, 2008 by John 2000Text Of U.N. Iraq Resolution
Security Council Put Saddam On Warning
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/0...
13. Recalls, in that context, that the council has repeatedly warned Iraq that it will face serious consequences as a result of its continued violations of its obligations;
Senate approves Iraq war resolution
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS...
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 107th Congress - 2nd Session
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/ro...
YEAs --- (just some of the finer notables)
Biden (D-DE)
Cleland (D-GA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Daschle (D-SD)
Dodd (D-CT)
Edwards (D-NC)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Schumer (D-NY)
I think everybody was hoping Saddam would step down before the last chance entreaty was offered. There had been many UN resolutions for Saddam to live up to the post Desert Storm terms with no real compliance. If the House and Senate were not convinced of a threat surely they would not have voted so overwhelmingly: including some of the Senate eye-popping examples I listed separately.
I think you also have to remember that all this was going down about 1 - 1 1/2 years after the mind-numbing events of September 2001. Nobody will agree that the effort after the fall of Baghdad to the surge was properly executed.
As for me, I have been interested in politics since the year JFK was nominated.