George,
You pulled a "movie star" move, (as they are prone to do when accepting an Oscar, see Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Di Caprio etc.) You have turned a pool forum into a platform to express YOUR political views.
As there is no NPR forum on 1P.org., I consider this a "low blow". So I will respond with MY views. I will also remind you, that you are responding to a person (Artie) who is the epitome of all the things you seem to detest.
The liberally biased media, and all of Hollywood, cannot overcome the fact that this country is, what it is, by virtue of ALL the people who were SMART ENOUGH to make money, and provide jobs. I'm talking Andrew Carnigie, J.P.Morgan, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates,
and thousands of others who saw through the liberal views that have created some of the WORST years this country has had to endure.
Yes, we are up against it again. I have never been a fan of Bush/Cheney, but I KNOW we'd be really screwed if we had a Clinton or a Carter trying to deal with our current economic problems, AND the terrorist threat.
Let's hope our next President can provide the leardership we need now, more than ever. I wish you luck with your Fall garden, but I think you need to let the "Big Boy's" deal with our financial situation. Protecting our entitlements will not get it. Do you really want a "Welfare State" ?
I've said my piece, (more than I meant to) we can debate further if you'd like, but maybe we should do it via PM. I'm sure Steve would prefer that too.
Dick
PS It looks like once again, whoever is elected, they won't be the best man for the job....all those guys are too smart to want it. Lets ask Artie, I'll bet he agrees with what Fat's said re; politicians, "They're all thieves and hustlers"