The next U.S. President (for non-US members only)

Slartibartfast wrote: I hope to be proven wrong regarding Obama, but even if you put race aside (and maybe my perspective is colored a bit by living in the south east US all my life), don't underestimate the ability of the right wing noise machine, and vote shenanigans to pull off a Republican victory.  My wife (who's black) thinks that if Obama is in a tight race and there are shenanigans like in 2000 and 2004, people aren't going to stand for it and there will be riots.  I'm not so sure it won't be like 2000 and 2004 all over again, a minority of the people will get very upset but most will just take it.  If HC is the Democratic nominee, I'd still vote for her over any Republican or even Nader (though I like Ralph).  Or how about "Don't blame me, I voted for Zappa"?

I wouldn't be surprised if there is rioting after a GOP victory...the only way they can possibly win is to play dirty. 

Obama cracks me up.  His platform is simply the word "change".  What does he want to change?  He rarely mentions.  How does he plan on going about these changes?  He doesn't have any idea.  BUT, unlike every candidate in history who has promised change (read: all of them), Obama will ACTUALLY change things.  

Slartibartfast wrote: Better watch what you say Croatia and Wales.  Is that WMD I smell you cooking up there?  And damn sure better not have any oil. I spoke a little too soon about and then there were four.  Apparently some Republicans aren't so easy to quit as the debate last night was a four way.  I'm really disappointed in the Democrats.  I think Edwards would have beaten any Republican nominee in a landslide, should have hung in a little longer. For any of you furreners around the around the world that might be interested, these are my predictions for matchups of the top four from a US American (anyone know where I can find some maps?): McCain vs. Hillary, too close to call. McCain vs. Obama, McCain (too many in this country who vote [and by that I mean those who haven't been disenfranchised] who won't vote for a black guy) Romney vs. Hillary, Hillary (too many religious fanatics that don't trust Mormons, but then again they probably wouldn't vote for Hillary either) Romney vs. Obama, too close to call. Stay tuned for updates, when it come to opinions, I am full of it.

do you really think so? (especially the first one) To me, it seems that Obama is wildly popular, especially among moderates - I think if he went up against Romney in particular, that he would win over a good chunk of the moderate-conservative vote...it would be a landslide.  Actually I think Obama probably will beat anyone the GOP chooses, because his character is such that people find it hard to dislike him...hell, even Fixed News has laid it easy on him.  I honestly don't think the race issue is as big as some may think.  Of course I could be wrong, maybe it's worse farther south (you would know in Georgia...).  I'm also disappointed that Edwards dropped out, but he just wasn't getting any attention with the media focussing on anything but policy issues - Edward had the most clear view of where he was going and what he would do in the white house.  If you ask me, there were some strings being pulled behind the scenes before super tuesday (hopefully not by Clinton).  IMO a ticket with Obama & Edwards (VP) would be the way to go for the Dems...otherwise I'll vote for Nader if...when he jumps in again

Deathrabbit wrote:

Hoppin' the pond eh? Well good luck, the naturalization process is a bitch and a half.

I have a friend from India who has lived with his parents here since he was 6 (14 years ago) but they still haven't been able to get in. If you don't know a guy who knows a guy then you stay enqueued whilst others are grandfathered in. No wonder the illegal immigrant problem is so horrible, the process is not a process because it does not complete in a finite amount of time! Grr
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I am applying for a K-1, or fiancé visa, since I can't wait to marry another certain forum member whom you may have come across... They usually take about 6 months (may be more, may be less), and then of course there is a lot of fun to be had with the whole Adjustment of Status process. All I have to say is, I wish your authorities were so honest as to say that US citizens are not allowed to marry foreigners. The whole process involves serious invasions of a person's privacy, even when one has NOTHING to hide as in my case, and is clearly not engaging in a Green Card scam (no Western Europeans are, especially people like me who have property and a job in their home countries).

That said, unfortunately for us, we can't afford not to care about who is elected president of the US. The Italian territory is FULL of US military bases and such, since we are part of the NATO - not to mention that nowadays the world has become way too small for every country not to be in some measure influenced by what happens somewhere else.

I don't care who will rule some foreign country, in a same way I would like that foreign country to mind their own business within their borders.
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Of course, that's idealistic and unreal, but that's how it should be, more or less. We all know the impact of U.S. on the rest of the world, for good or for bad - that just shows how the situation is distorted - and far from ideal.

And now there are four.  Be afraid, be very afraid.

funnnneeeeyyyyy!!

Nobody wants to take a strong stance either way on the environment, because if you go way pro-environment you lose critical corporate $$$ for your campaign, but if you go pro-business you alienate the young vote.  

Ghost Rider wrote: jimmy_row wrote: 1 vote for McCain, Romney, Huckabee, and Guliani combined...god I love this place!   I wish you guys could come over and vote in November Hopefully I will already be in the US by November, but unfortunately I won't be able to vote for a long time... Who knows, perhaps in 2012 I will!

 it'll be too late by then, I'll be drafted...but as Slart said, good luck studying all that stuff that few Americans even know, the revolution begins in 2012

Ghost Rider wrote: jimmy_row wrote: 1 vote for McCain, Romney, Huckabee, and Guliani combined...god I love this place!   I wish you guys could come over and vote in November Hopefully I will already be in the US by November, but unfortunately I won't be able to vote for a long time... Who knows, perhaps in 2012 I will!

Say, have you memorized all that stuff us US Americans should know but don't, so you can pass your citizenship test?

By the way if you're one of those stinkin' liberal feringners trying to sneak your way into this country and corrupt it, you've got my support 100%.


Edited by Slartibartfast - January 28 2008 at 07:58