Would you vote for Bush or Kerry?

[Whatever]

We'll do lunch.

This just in:
President-elect Zoot, nursing a slight headache, called a press conference this morning to discuss the antics of his V.P. Link Hogthrob last night. "Vice-President Hogthrob simply got momentarily carried away, and then literally carried away to the hoosgow. We have discussed with him the impropriety of crossing party lines, as Ms. Clinton is a Democrat (though she secretly voted for our ticket) and we are members of the Pigswillfly Party. I can assure you that this incident will not be repeated. Peace and love and clean air, man."

This is a Muppet News Flash.

President-elect Zoot has reportedly seen the doctor to consult about headaches caused by VP Link Hogthrob. His opponents have stated "This idiot can't make it through one day, let alone four years. We are emigrating to Australia."
*yells* Link, get away from that azalea bush!

 

[GelflingWaldo]

They do not, and cannot. Don't people realize that they still hold every civil liberty?

All male citizens of America must register within 30-days of turning 18 with the Selective Service System. If you do not register, you could be prosecuted and fined up to $250,000, be put in jail for up to five years, and/or considered a felon. Registration is a requirement to qualify for Federal student aid, job training benefits, most Federal employment, as well as other jobs.

If a national emergency arises and the draft is "turned on" by congress and the president (which looks unlikely anytime soon based on what the president has been saying), males between 18 and 26 registered with the Selective Service System could be called by the draft. Although you may be called physical or moral conditions/objections could prevent you from being in combat or any military branches. If you are a male US citizen between 18 and 26 and have not registered with the Selective Service System you are breaking federal law.

The exceptions to this rule are very few and include: nonimmigrant aliens on student, visitor, tourist, or diplomatic visas; men on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces; and cadets and midshipmen in the Service Academies and certain other U.S. military colleges. All other men must register upon reaching age 18 (or before age 26, if entering and taking up residence in the U.S. when already older than 18).

Disabled men, clergymen, and those who believe themselves to be conscientiously opposed to war must register because there is no draft in effect, nor is there a program to classify men at this time. Should the Congress and the President reinstate a draft, a classification program would begin. Registrants would be examined to determine suitability for military service, and they would also have ample time to claim exemptions, deferments, or postponements. To be inducted, men would have to meet the physical, mental, and administrative standards established by the military services. Local Boards would meet in every American community to determine exemptions and deferments for clergymen, ministerial students, and men who file claims for reclassification as conscientious objectors.

For more information on this, I urge you to visit the SSS website at http://www.sss.gov/ and register. The government does crack down on this, it may not be immediate but I know some people who were late registering after turning 18 and got in big trouble. Please don't let this happen to you (or your family members). It is the law.

 

[Beebers]

You miss my point. As the parent of a service-age young man I am entirely familiar with the above. The point being made was that people can in fact work with and within the "system" and retain their wish to remain civilian in every sense of the word, without penalty. And that is a fact. It can be done.

 

[Beebers]

Well, Bin Laden will be hard-pressed now to attack every state in Bush country, as promised, as most of the country is red. He's sitting in his hovel thinking, Geez, four more years till I get a bath. Four more years till I can come out and wash this picnic cloth on my head. Four more years of Lice R Us.

 

[Dantecat]

Hey Everybody,George Bush Is The Winner!!!

 

[Beth C]

Hey Everybody,George Bush Is The Winner!!!

Quick.. someone call a gardener... Bushes belong OUTSIDE the White House not IN IT.

Anyone got a weed-whacker?

~Beth C

 

[GelflingWaldo]

Hey Everybody,George Bush Is The Winner!!!

 

[McFraggle]

Oh well, 4 more years.

 

[Buck-Beaver]

Interesting thread, some thoughts from a non-American outsider who's watched this race with interest (me):

For all the flack it takes, I think the the Electoral College is not a bad system. During most of America's history the electoral college vote has more or less accurately reflected the popular vote. Sure there are a few abnormal years like 2000 where the popular vote doesn't line up with the electoral vote (and consider that had a recount taken place in Florida, Gore would have likely won in 2000 and that year would have followed the normal trend).

The big problem with a popular vote system is that you often end up with endless run-off elections and/or third party candidates with regional or "special interest" agendas sometimes get elected with less than 50% of the population's support. The U.S. system as it is now is a very good one, set-up with many checks and balances.

What I do think Americans should be concerned about - whether you're a Democrat or Republican - is that soon all three branches of the U.S. gov't will be in the firm control of one party (I know the Supreme Court is supposed to be bipartisan but we know that's not really the case). America has handed a blank cheque to one party. That's not what the Founding Fathers ever intended for the U.S.

Interesting to hear that polls were done in various countries before the election and virtually every nation on earth (the exceptions were Russia, Isreal and a few small islands no one has ever heard of) did not want to see George Bush re-elected. I've seem some U.S. media outlets spin stories like this in the past as global anti-Americanism. It's not.

Except for a few weird countries like Cuba, Iran and North Korea that are run by tin pot dictators and assorted other Fruit Loops the world loves America even if we are pretty anti-Bush. It's just that the "Bush Doctrine" and the whole concept of going it (almost) alone, pre-emptive invasion and abandoning international institutions like the UN and the Geneva convention really freaks everyone out. Many of the post-9/11 policies - whether you agree with them or not - unquestionably go completely against the ideals that America spent the 50 years prior to Bush spreading around the world.

Whether you're on the right, the left or stuck in the middle like me I'd encourage all of my American friends to just remember the values that make America the great country it is - truth, liberty and justice for all.

You guys sneeze, the rest of us catch a cold. You're the good guys, please fight the good fight. We need you. If you're not on side the rest of us are in a whole lot of trouble.

 

[MuppetsRule]

The elctoral college DOES work and is a good system. Without it candidates could completely ignore the smaller states and campaign only in the larger populated states like California and New York.

The draft will NOT be reinstated. The bill to reinstate the draft was floated, as previously stated, by two democrats. It was primarily an election time gimic to spark this very type of discussion and frighten many young voters into voting for Kerry. Politics as usual.

The military is opposed to the draft. They want somebody that wants to be there. In addition, under the draft system you are committed for two years. In today's highly technological military that simply isn't long enough to train. The current system does work extremely well.