[Mr 5 0]

Originally Posted by RBatson

If you didn't like Clinton's southern accent then you probably really wouldn't like mine. I've been told its kinda thick.

Accents can be dropped. I once had a thick 'New Yawk' accent but learned to lose it and speak clearly. Anyone can.

Bush's lack of vocabulary is almost comical to me (what are they teaching in Harvard anyhow?).

President Bush graduated with two degrees from Yale. I don't think his lack of articulation is 'comical' but it is very unusual for a politician of his rank to be inarticulate. This is probably a result of the fact that Mr. Bush did not enter politics until he was almost 50 years old and never had the need to develop a good speaking style. Too late now, I guess. In any case, he mananged to beat two presidential challengers with better speaking skills and is the President of the United States. I think most folks understand President Bush and see his lack of verbal 'skills' as down-to-earth, not phony or contrived.

As far as Hillary, I wouldn't vote for her either. You still see me as left wing, I'm neither left wing or right.. I agree with views on both sides. I would vote Republican if I thought the canidate was a better choice. Actually, I have voted Republican before. Bush simply is not presidential material, but we're not going there, right?

What's the point? As I said, I loathed Bill Clinton but by 1997, following his easy re-election, I had accepted that he was president until 2001, whether I liked it or not. I simply decided to get past my revulsion with him. It made life much more pleasant. That's why arguing over President Bush's virtues or faults is a waste of time at this late date. He's the president (until January, 2009) and all the grumbling and mocking him you or anyone else can do won't alter that fact. Why bother? I see your views here as very leftwing, even if you do not, but I'm glad you are not so far gone as to consider voting for Hillary Clinton. There may be hope for you, yet.

I never figured you would race the Honda, we both know that. Its just transportation, I understand that. I actually had to drive 2 foreign cars before I could afford an American made vehicle. You aren't the only one that feels that foreign cars are a better deal, there are alot of folks that feel that way. Personally, I don't. The way I look at it is that every American job depends on every other American job. Like spokes in a wheel, take one spoke out and it puts more stress on the others. I will literally spend hours shopping to find a product that is made in the good ole USA. I'll see a T-shirt I really like that is made in India and buy the one next to it that I don't like quite as much because its "Made in the USA" (It really pisses me off that Levis aren't made in America anymore). While its true that foreign products do employ Americans, they don't employ as many and the dollars go to strengthen the power of another country. The local Honda dealership does infact employ American salesmen. The new Ford you just bought may have parts made in Mexico or Canada or even been assembled there. The fact is that its an American company and when they buy more land and hire more construction workers. they are owned by Americans. I really don't like the thought of Asians or anyone else) owning our land. I like the thought of Americans working but hate the thought of foreignors owning our land. I will not buy foreign products as long as comparable American made products are available(and yes I'll pay more for them). I'm not a wealthy man either, I'm working on it but.. not yet. Still, I will not sacrifice my ideals for wealth.

I think your inflexible attitude toward 'buying American' is a bit overdone but at least you have the integrity of trying to put your money where your mouth is. Most foreign car companies have large American workforces - both in the factories and in the executive suites - but ultimately, the profits do end up in Japan , Germany or wherever. Foreigners own a lot of U.S. land but this is a global economy and U.S. companies also own land in other countries.

I don't share your deep aversion to foreign-made products and I don't have the time, patience or money to seek out U.S.-made goods in every purchase I make. I don't really think it is a issue that I need to personally crusade over but as you do, then it's your right to spend your money as you see fit.