A sad day

[Matt Holcomb]

I apologise for starting what I knew was a contentious thread. But I didn't think anyone would reply given the tone of my writing.

I'm sure I have made some enemies this evening (this morning for most of you), but I had to get a few things off my chest -- I had to share my pain with some of my fellow countrymen, which, as you could appreciate, is quite hard to do in the southern hemisphere. Thank God for the Internet! Well, some of you may not agree!

In case any of you are wondering, I'm not a self-hating American. I found it quite difficult to scan my passport in for the purpose of buttressing my disaffection. But I stand firm; Cheney and Bush are a virulent and destructive duo, although I agree with David Dorion -- Bush isn’t smart or self-aware enough to be described as a Machiavellian president. If Bush the marionette retains the presidency and Cheney the marauder retains the vice-presidency, I strongly believe that one day a chronically divided, dispirited and insular America -- a shadow of its former self -- will be attributed by historians to two troubled men whose shared philosophies were rooted in self-loathing.

[Series900]

Like it or not , our system works. You could have moved to cuba, or even Iraq, yeah thats it, go live under their rules, then tell us how your vote counts, that your freedom of choice exists, and all your "rights" are observed.

[Aurel]

For me, it is really very simple: if the system keeps working another 4 years, then I`ll admit I was wrong and will listen more to the republican talking points. If things implode or explode, like many indicators and commentators seems to predict, then I`ll go back to France

Aurel

[Serge914]

Wait Aurel, there are rumours that New England will merge with Canada in a few years.

[chibone_914]

I remember going to H.S. during the height of the Cold War. It was a time that you were proud to be an American. It meant something when you knew you had liberties in life that most human beings at the time either didn't have them or getting killed trying to achieve them.

With that said, those of you who are not proud to be American, fine....That's your perogative, simply empty your bank accounts, purchase a one way ticket to the third world hell of your choice and get the F**k out of my country!

If you don't love America and all that it stands for, just leave now! And don't let the door hit you where the dog shoulda' bit ya! You've used up enough of our resources, air and finances one day too much. Go back to Canada, France, Spain or N Vietnam, I hear they accept losers, flakes, ingrates, draft-dodgers, and Commie-Pinko war heroes......

[Mule]

Matt, Slippery Willy must have had them pretty energized too (if you're old enough to remember that). Remember the Cole and those embassies. Yimmy Carter aparently ran afoul also (Iran hostages). Don't worry, things will make more sense as you mature.

[tabs]

I believe that when America fks someone...I mean makes a deal we should at least give the receiving party a reach around...Bush and Cheney just have ommited that nicety.

[Porschekid962]

Who woulda thunk this election would stir up so much candor haha. Yes I am still proud to be an American, heck I was two spots away from ending up at USAFA and giving 13 years of my life to become a flyboy. I disagree with certain views and agree with others, its wonderful being able to express how I feel. Im not going to try and convince anyone to believe in my views because thats exactly what they are, mine.

The way things are going for me after I am out of college my job will most likely be in Japan or Europe designing cars. I have been fortunate enough while growing up to have been surrounded with ppl from all over the globe and hear many different views on America. Regardless of how strange things become here we remain the major power in the world and a country in which many ppl would love to live in.

So I hope that Bush/Cheney address some of their mistakes and correct them in the next four years. Also Techweenie mentioned they need to find some common ground with the 48% of voters who voted against them.

Hopefully things will start to improve and we can be a happy country again.

[Superman]

I understand Matt's feeling, which also happens to be shared by pretty much the rest of the world. Of course, Dubya thinks the world is wrong, and many of you have also drawn that interesting conclusion. Okay, so be it. Yes, I am deeply disappointed and I am frightened by what I think will now happen.

But......the election is over and to engage in that dialogue at this point would feel a little....no actually a lot.....like Don Quixote's tussle with the windmill. With no election in front of us, there is no objective behind the dialogue.

So, we'll just see how this all pans out. Some of you guys are feeling that our nation is becoming more secure. I have to wonder if you really do think that. I have to doubt that you really think that.

And yeah. If the economy rebounds, and if peace returns to the Middle East (or at least, the absence of war that was in place before our invasion) and if Americans end up with better access to health care...stuff like that....then I'll be very appreciative of the political agenda that won this election. If.

[Superman]

Matt. Ignore Mule. In fact, he'd be a good candidate for your Ignore List. And mine.

[island911]

Originally posted by Superman
. .. Some of you guys are feeling that our nation is becoming more secure. I have to wonder if you really do think that. I have to doubt that you really think that.
. . .

Of course you are right to doubt that we really think that we are more secure now.

"Danger" is our middle name.

[singpilot]

Matt's passport likeness is probably being used at this point to cross 20 or 30 Syrians from Jordan to Egypt.

At a minimum, it's being duped in Jakarta for sale in the wet market.

After the Patriot Act gets done with Matt, he won't have to worry about being an American exPat anymore. He'll be a Tongan... as I remember, they allow 'undocumented aliens' to emigrate from Austrailia.

Lets see how bad he feels after that!

[Mule]

Superman said:
"I understand Matt's feeling, which also happens to be shared by pretty much the rest of the world."

So now yo speak for the whole world? Are Koffee Anan? If so watch your nickels & dimes. Slippery Willy is after your job!

[Matt Holcomb]

Originally posted by Superman
And yeah. If the economy rebounds, and if peace returns to the Middle East (or at least, the absence of war that was in place before our invasion) and if Americans end up with better access to health care...stuff like that....then I'll be very appreciative of the political agenda that won this election. If.

I can't see things getting better because I can't see Bush becoming a more amenable and self-critical president. His fervour and rigidity are the result of a decades-long war with himself that was ended by God instead of Johnny Walker. If he were to engage in any self-assessment now, he would crumble. And the masterminds of this unprecedented and demented plan to turn the GOP -- and by extension the United States -- into a super corporation have the perfect CEO.

[island911]

Originally posted by Matt Holcomb
I can't see things getting better because . . ..

Yeah?

It also seems that you can't see how posting your passport information on the www is a stupid thing.

Just because you cant "see it" hardly makes it untrue.

(really, ya might want to edit that post)

[Burnin' oil]

Psych. major, Matt?

[rcecale]

Originally posted by singpilot
Matt's passport likeness is probably being used at this point to cross 20 or 30 Syrians from Jordan to Egypt.

At a minimum, it's being duped in Jakarta for sale in the wet market.

No kidding! Might as well post photos of his credit cards here too. Wouldn't want anyone to have to work too hard to hi-jack his identity.

Geeze, not the wisest of things to post....

Randy

[84porsche]

I am curious what is on Page 5 of the passport. Look in the corner of the image.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Dude, IslamaFacists are NOT a product of Bush and Cheney.

And Iraq was not a product of "IslamaFacists", what's the point?

[island911]

yeah-ya. . .Saddam ruled secularly.

But there is no denying Saddam openly supported "suicide bombers". . .and Islama Facists who would throw an old Jewish man (in wheelchair) over the side of a ship.

It's like you guys really try to find ways to say Saddam wasn't aligned with these pigs. Whats the motivation there? Do you believe people will think; wow, what a rare, self-critical man . . . giving Saddam the benifit of the doubt, like that. ?