h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The gallery is decorated ready for the end of the long haul for the election in November.

Red, white and blue balloons are filled with long lasting helium and hung up in a light net high up in the ceiling.

There are 42 paintings of former Presidents now resting on the gallery walls split behind a giant Donkey and Elephant disignating their respective parties. With one or two stragglers in the middle.

A podium is set up on a raised dias in case anyone wishes to make and stump address, victory or concession speech.

I'm sure we all hope that this tears declaration is a lot quicker that 2000. But we are all devided on who is the best man for the job as we can see that yet again no women are in contention.

So feel free to discuss the Primaries, Candidates, Elections whatever below.

*walks in, sits down under the donkey*
*stands up again*

Hi. I'd like to address some of the points from the 67th conversation.

1st, I agree that no one is throwing away their vote. But I do think that you run the risk of re-electing Bush. That's a personal choice every voter has to make. It's a powerful statement, and eventually if one party consistently loses b/c their losing votes to a third party, that third party will either become something, or one of the bigs will have to take notice of its issues and change. So that vote isn't wasted at all!

2nd, someone in the Atelier said what about issues, no one cares about the issues. Here's why I'm against Bush at all costs
1) He said he was the candidate that was pro-environment in 2000. He has subsequently pulled out of the kyoto protocal, attempted to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, attempted to help lumber companies destroy more forest, gutted the clean air & water act, and is working to hamstring the EPA (environmental protection agency)
2) He has consistently lied about his budgets, and budget plans. He has yet to include ANY cost for the iraq war in ANY of the budgets, making the deficit appear to be smaller. In 2000, everyone knew that the budget surplus DIDN't really exist except for maybe a year or two - but he passed his tax cuts based on the fallacy that there would be surpluses for 10 years. Now, he wants to make all of his tax cuts permanent - and he is blaming congress's uncontrollable spending on the deficits!!!
3) The tax cuts disproportionately favor the wealthy. In addition, the benefits received by the lower classes are being cut - so if you actually look at their net balance with respect to the government, it looks like a tax hike! They are paying slightly less taxes, but getting much less in benefits.
4) He is the 1st president in the history of the US to call for tax cuts DURING a war. Every other president in history has raised taxes to pay for a war. He uses the "Laffer curve" to justify this. The laffer curve says that reducing taxes will spur the economoy, leading to higher tax revenues. It doesn't work, at least not in the US. The taxes are too low already.

I just hope it isn't too late to undo the damage he's done to my country. I'm worried about how long and hard we're going to have to work to fix this, if it can even be fixed.

*sits down*

So is one of the deliberate mistakes the fact that you have all of the past presidents behind either a Dem or a Rep sign? Those have not always been our parties, after all.

Okay, then Marv. *You* tell us what the Whig mascot was.

The republican party's mascot is an elephant, first used in 1874 by cartoonist Thomas Nast.

The democratic party's mascot is a donkey, first used the represent Andrew Jackson in 1828. It was first used in a political cartoon to represent the Democratic Party in 1837.

The Whig party existed from 1837 to 1856.

Info on the political parties, past and present, of the US can be found at: http://ap.grolier.com/browse?type=pep#politics

*listens to all that's been said, nodding* I'm formulating a statement now, which I'll post later.

DD, thank you for setting up this debate, and for the interior decor. Wasn't there a Republican Democrat party when Jefferson was running for president?

I think there ought to be a "green" corner for whatever candidate chooses to run as an Independent, a Green or Third party.

Jimmy Carter approached the most likely 3rd party candidate, Ralph Nader, and very politely asked him to stay out this year. I think he will.

Although Clark's dropping out really pissed me off. I don't like that someone elsewhere decides which candidates I get. I don't like Kerry, never have. I'd rather vote for Ted Kennedy if I have to vote for someone from Massachussets. Both he and John Edwards, the likely second on the ticket, if the Dems want to take the south, both bother me.

what about clark as a second MR? Do you see any chance of that happening? That's what I'm hoping for, at this point.

I don't know about Ted Kennedy, Montana; I'm so old I clearly remember the Chappaquiddick incident

And let's not forget to set up corners for both the Bull Moose and Know Nothing Parties!

I think MR's choosing Kennedy over Kerry shows the depth of her dislike for Kerry. I know Sporky feels the same way about him. At this point my motto is becoming "Anyone But Bush"--and, for Affy, I do know why. His reign is based on lies, corruption and fear. And let's not even start on his policies.

I don't know the platforms of any of the remaining candidates really well at this point, something I intend to rectify over the next few days. I do know however that voting for the shrub is right out, I cannot countenance the apparent lies he has told and have been told on his behalf.

*Brings in large pot plant to set up a Green corner with no potraits in it*

*Hangs a Bull Moose head over the on attached Presidents*

*Hands out star spangled FTFM to Dave*

Nobody has yet spotted the 'deliberate' Mistake though.

*settles in to an easy chair to see how debate unravels*

*shrugs*
*examines star spangled FTFM*

what is it?

You reward fro being the first to the forum, special edition

it's a "first to the forum" mug Dave, unless I'm very much mistaken.

*takes off welding goggles*

Ah yes, now I see! Thanks so much!

*fills mug with Tang(tm) orange drink*

Thanks, DD, for making this area so comfy. I think we'll be spending a lot of time here.

42 former presidencies - 41 former presidents. Grover Cleveland was #22 and #24

Which brings to number us to George W. Bush # 43.

Soon to be former, I hope.

I heard that if he wins reelection, the GOP will want to run his brother Jeb in 2008. Please tell me that this is a nightmare and I'll wake up soon.

If the shrub wins reelection, I fear that the nightmare will only be beginning.