| Archive for The Buffy and Angel Trivia Guide |
| greengirl00 |
American ElectionOkay, this topic is started partly to try and get some conversation going- the forum's been dead the last few days, also, partly because I'm curious. Since I don't live in America, I only get third hand information about the election and even then I have to go looking for it. So, I was interested, what's the general feeling? |
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| Ant4buffy |
I would vote for Obama. I'm not going to pretend I know anything about politics but when McCain has the same views as Bush it doesn't seem like anything different will happen. Also his second in command seems a little bit stupid and just there for show. | ||||
| Wynter |
I would vote for Obama, 1) because I don't like the Republican party or their policies, and 2) because I really believe that under his wing, the USA can start to make some positive changes. I don't know much about their politics and situation, but I know enough, and I really think he's the right guy if there's going to be any sort of improvement. Obama FTW! | ||||
| beagle |
I'm not voting for either of those (*&)(&*&^^##@@!
Both parties are nothing but collective parasites feeding on the liberties of their rivals. Trading the other's freedoms for the sake of some tiny degree of security for themselves. That being said, if I'd have to choose I guess it would be the evil republican. Don't get me wrong, I hate them both equally, but I haven't heard Obama make a single tangible comment on an issue yet. Just glaring generalities about change and other items that, when taken out of context mean,,,, nothing. He has no context to his cmapaign. Oh, And I don't know crap about this stuff. I make it my moral oblegation to avoid the pervasively incidious media at all costs. |
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| ildjarn |
Usually there are some other, independent, candidates. Are there any this year?
Didn't Jello Biafra run for president once? I'd vote for him 
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| beagle |
Yes, I believe Jello did run a write in campaign once.. haha, I forgot about that. Yes, there are several other candidates but do you ever see those guys on the TV? I tend to side with the Libertarian party more than most of them but in the end they are all politicians, parasites. Who cares?
Ok, I am bitter,,, today. |
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| greengirl00 |
Aw, I'm sorry I made you a bitter beagle. c= Still, I find the whole American system interesting (and much easier to understand than ours...) |
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| TwoToGo-Grave |
Very well said beagle. The political system sure is depressing, isn't it? | ||||
| marvin21st |
They all look kind of dicky from over here. But Mcains vice was described as gun totting thismorning that cant be good. I cant say much I voted for the guy who eats his own ear wax. I just couldnt stand looking at those bushy eyebrows anymore.
ps Erin screams in protest at any election she cant vote at (which is alot). |
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| beagle |
I don't have a problem with gun toting. In America, a country which has some of the most liberal gun laws in the world, the average is around a 1 in 23,000 chance of being killed by a gun during a year. Edjucate yourself on gun safety, avoid dangerous circumstances and reduce your chance by who knows how much.
You have a one in 10,000 chance of dying in an automobile accident each time you get in a car. You really afraid of dying? outlaw alcohol, that would save a lot more people than outlawing guns. Oh, you like alcohol, but not guns? think Truth is, freedom is dangerous. Either scramble to seize some tiny bit of safety at the expense of another's freedoms or man-up and accept some tiny risk in favor of Liberty. Live free or Die. (New Hampshire state motto) |
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| Dosta |
McCain does not have the same views as Bush...yes he is in the same party as bush but that is as far as that goes.... McCain has more views that are like the Clintons... And Obama Is a Joke..the dems...should have picked Hillary Clinton... I don't like that there are only two Parties in our system that has a chance... in our history we always had more than two parties that had a chance to be President.... that is the problem only two parties with a chance |
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| marvin21st |
The image of gun toting for me is someone walking around the streets with a shot gun on thier hip. Its just the sensational way it is being reported on here. Not what it think the average american actually does. |
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| NotFadeAway |
I support McCain, as I have long respected him and, although I think highly of Obama's character and all, I very much support McCain's views on most issues over Obama's.
What I really wish is that McCain had won the Presidency in 2000 (he ran in the Republican primary against George Bush), as that would have saved our country from eight years of a [insert any number of very mean words] as President. On the bright side, we finally have two quality people running this year, as opposed to the last two elections... |
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| greengirl00 |
I don't know about that, but I heard she hunts wolves, and I have this whole thing about blood sports, and I love wolves, so, you know.... I should mention I got this from a eensy bit biased site and really know nothing about it. But it's succeeded in making me kinda predjudiced against her. It's so nice to actually hear something about the election from peopel who know about it. (You might think the news would, but they really don't seem to) |
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| beagle |
Oh Greenie, you are sweet but we probably understand less than you. I mean, we are the ones that are being exposed to the american media. We're little more than zombies.. ha-ha |
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| insaneinthebasement |
mmm, me too. i would vote for obama if i was american, but i'm kinda glad i dont have to vote for either. |
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| Sunnydalehigh |
Wow. I'm a bit shocked at the variety of opinions out there. I'm not only voting for Obama, I'm a volunteer for his Campaign for Change. It makes me feel good to be a part of the political process. I'm not going to try to change anyone's minds, but I have to respond to those who say that Obama hasn't articulated his plans. If you go to his website, www.barackobama.com, you will be able to read a 6-page summary of his tax plan, a 15-page summary of his health plan, a 6-page summary of his policy in Iraq, etc. For those of you wanting more details, check it out. If you want a bipartisan website with the facts, check out www.factcheck.org. It's okay if we don't agree on stuff, but I encourage everyone to at least get the facts, and then VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! | ||||
| dramagirl |
Well, haven't you sparked a debate. hehe.
Me, I'm not much for American politics, cause from over here it looks a bit like they're all just trying to get votes however they can... which is probably completely wrong, but I always think it seems a little like they've all had their morals sucked out. Again, English, don't know a thing. But if I had to vote, I'd probably go with Obama too... though more just to get away from any party that George Bush belongs to than anything else. It's fun to be ignorant. 
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| TwoToGo-Grave |
No, you're not wrong. That's just how all campaigns are, though. The candidates tend to just be shills for their respective parties, and neither major party actually stands for ANYTHING other than trying to gain votes. |
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| Dosta |
I will not vote for the Obama, why, well his party sent us to war with Iraq.
Why did they send us to war with Iraq, so they could blame Bush For the War... Most people think that the President has the power to take America to war But a President CAN NOT SEND US TO WAR, ONLY CONGRESS can and it was Obama's Party that sent us to war, Just so they could win the Next Presidental Election....It is Very SAD that they would endanger the World for that Power.... PS. I do not like President BUSH... I do not Vote for any Party I vote for the best person for the JOB...... Have a nice Day 
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| NotFadeAway |
I support McCain, but not for this reasoning at all. While the Democratic party (Obama's party) mostly supported the War, Obama voted against it, and has always opposed it. He can't be held liable for his party's actions any more than McCain can be held liable for President Bush's. |
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| Dosta |
OF couse Obama did not vote for the war. He was not in the Senate at the time when the vote for war was held.. War with Iraq Started in 2003. Obama was elected to Senate in 2004. so he Could not Vote for or against the War.. |
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| NotFadeAway |
Didn't notice that, but Obama has been strongly against the War from the start (if I'm not mistaken, anyway.) I realize that it was easy for him to oppose it (not being in Congress), but I think it's clear that he's not a part of the reason that we're at War in Iraq.
I should also mention that, again, I do support McCain, and I don't think you can blame those who did vote for the War. Bush and him minions originally sold the War as an effort to dispose of a dangerous dictator (which Saddam Hussein was) who was intent on acquiring weapons he couldn't be allowed to have. Members of both parties (as well as the American people and much of the world) believed what they were told, and therefore supported the War. Obviously, many changed their minds later, but I don't think it's true that either party (by itself) is responsible for this war. If anything, I would blame the Republican Party (I don't, but I would put the blame on them before the Democratic Party), as it could be argued that support for the War in Iraq helped them in the midterm elections in '02 (I think it's clear that fear of Iraq and held over fear from the attacks in '01 is what allowed the Republicans to gain in '02, after all.) Anyway, I respect your opinion of course, but I disagree a bit. |
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| insaneinthebasement |
Did McCain vote against the war in Iraq?
Sorry for my ignorance, but in 2003 I was living in Thailand and I didn't really get the international news much (I remember sitting on a bus one time and talking to an American woman who mentioned Saddam Hussein being on trial, and I was like, 'Oh did they find him?', she stared at me at me and said 'Yeah, three months ago'. What can I say, ignorance can be bliss), so anyway I didn't even know about the voting for or against the war. Quite macabre when you think about it; sitting around voting on whether or not to go off and kill people. |
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| Dosta |
I really don't think that they were sitting around voting on whether or not to go off and kill people..... I think they were thinking should we go Free the people of Iraq from an Evil dictator (saddam Hussein)and would the rest of the World join us in freeing the Iraq People....and alot of Countries did. It might be just me but i don't think that good people want to see anyone killed......Unless they are killers and Saddam hussein is or was a KILLER...Saddam mudered thousands of people...Man, women, children... Also i don't think that anyone wants War....if they do they are CRAZY... hope everyone has a great day. |
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| TwoToGo-Grave |
Well said, dosta.
As for war, it's so unfortunate that war is such an important part of the world and that war is such an important part of the history of the world. No matter how advanced we get as a society, war always remains, and that's such a sad thought. |
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| BepperGirl |
Obama! Mailed in my absentee ballot on Tuesday. I'm really annoyed at the VP picks though, particularly because of their laughing during the debate about how they agreed about the issue of same-sex marriage (which is my #1 issue, personally). But Palin truly frightens me, how in the world can she call herself a feminist? I. Don't. Get. It. So Obama it is.
Also, amusing tale, sorta: 300 absentee ballots in my home county had a typo. The typo was so that it read the Democratic nominee was Barack Osama, not Barack Obama. Unfortunately for me, I got one of the regular absentee ballots. Oh well! It would have been a nice memento for my first presidential election. |
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| NotFadeAway |
That's just horrible. Whoever sent out those ballots (or let them get sent out) like that should be fired. It makes me sick when people refer to him as 'Osama' or put importance on his middle name. As for the issue of gay marriage: surely it won't be too long until this isn't an issue anymore, right? Or am I giving people in this country too much credit. PS: on second though, if people are making a deal of Obama's middle name or the fact that he had the audacity to have a last name that rhymes with Osama, then we really do have a long way to go before gay marriage is accepted. |
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| BepperGirl |
And in California, there's currently a Proposition 8 that would take away those very rights that gays just won. *fingers crossed that won't pass* |
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| NotFadeAway |
I thought it was horrible (and so embarrassing) when Georgia had a vote to outlaw gay marriage a few years ago, and it passed by like 4-1. I'm obviously not gay, and I don't know anyone who fully is, but I still can't believe that our society looks down on gay people like it does. And I really hate it when that hate is thrown down in the name of Christianity. I'm a Christian, and it makes me sick when people use the name of my Lord and Savior as an excuse for hate. There's just no excuse for that at all. | ||||
| TwoToGo-Grave |
Very well said. I agree fully. |
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| cardboardy |
hi pals
its so hard to think what i could possibly contribute to this thread, being in the land of earwax man (if you want to know more, type kevin rudd eats earwax into youtube and thats who's running our country) facts are almost irrelevant in this day and age, its all about how information is passed on, by whom, and with what agenda. the australian media in the last decade become deeply anti american and one thing that has been refreshing is that the media seems to have enjoyed following the race between woman person and black person... the media has been happy to feed us the story of the post bush enlightenment of the us of A. its a nice change from the evil seppos* narrative they usually bang on about but given my limited view, i feel that obama has definitely got more substance than mccain, and more skill. however i cant help but think the presidency is a poisoned chalice for the next term... my ma, who is from Virginia, voted for Obama, but she is very doubtful that america would actually vote in an african american man, regardless of his calibre, or his name. perhaps shes been away too long, but she reckons that its just not gonna happen, no matter what the polls say. im not so sure i agree with her. either way, change is in the wind. i might as well chime in on a few other issues too, seeing as i'm stopping by for a throw gun-totin: the land of ear wax is a land with very tight gun controls, and their use is restricted to things like hunting and animal control, sport and policing and security. there is really no such thing as gun ownership in australia for self defense, its just not part of the culture here. we do not have a right to bear arms, and as a nation we consider this a blessing rather than an injustice. sure guns and crime go together, but guns are (compared to the USA) very rare. they are still available if you know where to look i guess obviously that means that death by shotgun is very rare, except when police go round shooting people so culturally, 'gun toting' is anathema for many of us because its just not part of our belief system. as a result, 'gun totin' has become a stereotype, which holds that gun toters, and even people who are pro gun ownership, are irresponsible rednecks who are somehow collectively responsible for all the deaths by gunshot. yes people kill people, but its a hell of a lot easier with a gun. i mean no offense by what i write here, im just offering an insight into the australian cultural lens on this particular issue. gay marriage: its sure a long way away ... in australia there are so many more areas where we dont have legal parity. its shit, everything about being gay is so contractual, its like if you want to have rights in your relationship you have to register with the council like a dog, and if you want to have babies you need to hire a lawyer to make it all safe and sound. if you want you partner to be your next of kin you have to write a will. anyway its all a bit shite when you think about it that way, so its much easier to just reject the institution of marriage and go on being a homodefacto xx *some time ago there was a yarn about rhyming slang, well seppos is pretty offensive rhyming slang for americans, seppo short for septic tank Yank |
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| marvin21st |
Well put that is what I ment. |
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| greengirl00 |
The thing about guns in Britain is pretty similar, I think. You have to have a liscence to own a firearm, and self defense wouldn't be accepted as a reason. It'd have to be something like being part of a shooting club, or I think farmers are allowed them sometimes, for defence of livestock (or shooting rabbits, which isn't quite defence... hmm...) but even then laws on hunting here have been getting stricter and stricter. For instance in 2005 (I think... 2002 for Scotland) hunting foxes with dogs was banned, and that would have had some impact on the gun issue. The ban is still a pretty big issue around me, because loads of the farmers used to do it. Actually, speaking of hunting, thats another area where laws are really different in the US. I think Sarah Palin hunts wolves and moose (blood sports are poo) which I'm pretty sure wouldn't be legal here. Though that may be just because we don't have any wolves or moose. We used to have wolves, but we hunted them to extinction here, hence the different laws, I suspect. In fact, there's even talk of deliberately reintroducing them. Anyway, back to the whole guns thing, I think that in Britain it's the same as you were saying, cardy, that not being allowed guns isn't seen as an infringement on our freedom in the same way as it is in America. Of course, people do still find ways around it... There's been more stabbings in schools this year than the press can deal with... Next issue, heehee Gay marriage in Britain is something I'm a little unclear on the ins and outs of. Basically, you can get a civil partnership, which in many ways is exactly the same as marriage in terms of tax and next of kin stuff. The main difference is, I think, that there can be no religious content. Same as cardy, I don't mean any offence here, just writing what I think is generally true across the country. |
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| NotFadeAway |
Election day is almost here!!!!!!!
I hope all Americans on this site (who can, anyway) go out and vote tomorrow. No matter what happens in the Presidential election I hope that everyone (in the country; not here, since I know that the people on this site are the nuts) can be civil and supportive of the new President (probably Obama, but we can't be sure yet.) |
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| greengirl00 |
ooh, fun. Someone tell us whats happening. I can't see from here. *tries to see over the sea...* | ||||
| TwoToGo-Grave |
Obama by far. I hope that he can make a great president; this country needs one and I sure hope that he can deliver. Oh, and a brag: after hearing about how long the lines would be, it was awesome that my brother and I got in and out of the polling place this morning in under five minutes. It was the nuts.
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| Wynter |
Lol, awesome, TwoToGo! You're right though, I heard from all over that the lines were CRAZY.
Also - YAY OBAMA!!! I'm so happy! |
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| greengirl00 |
Happiness seconded |
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| NotFadeAway |
I'm really eager to see how President Obama handles the job and the problems facing this country, and the world. He should have a huge mandate with that landslide victory, and with the Democratic-controlled Congress he should be able to easily push through his policies. I certainly hope that Obama will turn out to be a wonderful President, and that he can help to fix the messes of the economy and the wars. I think he'll do a good enough job, but I hope that he becomes a truly great President.
I mean, after eight years of President Bush, we're due for a good President... |
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| NotFadeAway |
I thought I would post this article about the voter-approved ban on gay marriage in California. It really seems horrible that this would pass in California, of all places. I mean, this is one of the last states that I would have expected to ban gay marriage. I really wish I knew why people would possibly oppose two people getting married, but I don't. I also wish I knew what it is about gay people that inspires so much hate and fear in so many. I guess society hasn't gotten that advance yet. Hopefully it will soon, though.
Anyway, here's the link, but be warned: the article will make you angry and confused at the stupidity of these people... http://news.aol.com/elections/art...d=100214839x1212749796x1200806874 |
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| greengirl00 |
That's just shocking, really. Especially the part about non-married couples not being allowed to serve as adoptive parents. Yeesh. Crappy rules. |
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| cardboardy |
im pretty happy that obama mentioned gay people within the first couple of paragraphs of his accepatance speech. thats pretty amazing, i cant imagine any other leader stepping up to make his most historic speech and say the word gay.
as for marriage... whats most disturbing the the comments people are posting. as a dirty homo, this is the sort of thing that you just have to accept.... sure some would say fight fight fight, but quality of life, well its a thing. so marriage? well personally i love romance and parties and acknowledgement, but the whole issue of gay marriage is so frought now that i think a lot of us dont want it any more (if we ever did). Equal rights are a long way off for us... so we just have to make the most of living our lives and trying to surround ourselves with loving friends and family, and forget about the rednecks and fuckwits of the world (because eventually they will choke on their own bile or get cancer in their underpants) |
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| NotFadeAway |
I had not actually read the comments below the article. Wow. I mean, these people are the scum of the Earth (the inbred, fuckwit scum, in fact.) They absolutely make me sick. I almost can't believe there are actually people like this out there, but obviously there are.
@cardy: do you really not gay marriage? Obviously I'm not gay (so it doesn't have an effect on me), but I would have thought that this right was very important to those who are. I know I fully support gay marriage and wish it was legalized everywhere, and I'm a bit surprised that all gay people don't want this very much. I'm assuming it's a result of the barrage of hate and mental retardation from those opposing it, and I hope you can find a way to ignore this (if possible.) Obviously, you're awesome and these people spend their time trying to bite their ears... I hope my rambling makes sense. |
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| Wynter |
Urgh, noooo! Proposition 8 was passed? BULLSHIT! That's ridiculous, seriously. | ||||
| NotFadeAway |
It's being contested, but yes. I doubt that contesting it will go for anything. It was passed in a referendum, so I don't see how a judge can overturn it. It's just so sad that the majority of people can support something like this. I guess there's just a lot of nasty, retarded people out there. |
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| Wynter |
I think that's the only way to explain how something like this could've happened. And I'll admit, I'm really surprised that something like this passed in California, of all the states. I didn't expect that at all. |
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| NotFadeAway |
That's why it surprised me so much too. I hate to say it, but if this had passed in Georgia (the state I live in) I wouldn't have been surprised at all. I hate that laws like this can still pass in this day and age, but hopefully it won't be too long until people learn that gay people aren't anything to be afraid of. |
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| cardboardy |
hmmm its an interesting debate, and i sure dont speak for all queer people, just myself.
but marriage is a heterosexual institution and its closely linked with property and ownership, and it also has powerful religious meaning for many, and there are so many reasons why its not about love between two people. its hard to escape the historical context of marriage, and many people, and not only queers, question the relevance of this contract anyway. if you love someone, just be with them forever, have their babies, have a big party and pay for everyone's booze, get frocked up, celebrate anniversaries and do all that. i think marriage and babies are part of a heterosexual script that is really limiting. how many couples do you know that broke up because one of them didnt want to marry or have babies? having said that, im just bitter cause Q keeps saying no whenever i propose. hehe x |
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| TwoToGo-Grave |
No offense, but I think, personally, that at least 95% of the reason is bigotry/prejudice and not anything else. It's sad, and hopefully will change soon, but for now, it's the way things are. 
Oh, and it's so embarrassing to have something like this mar this country (what must the world think that the people of America are a bunch of ignorant homophobes?). |
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| dramagirl |
Aww, that's just crap. I don't understand how people can be so stupid. | ||||
| Wynter |
It's interesting actually, because a friend and I were talking about this the other day - she was also surprised that this amendment passed in California but then she pointed out that if a similar sort of thing was proposed here, in all likelihood, we'd have the same result. I'm inclined to agree with her, I don't think the mentality towards same-sex marriages here is any better. So don't worry, it's not just your country. |
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| cardboardy |
yeah i reckon it would be the same here too
the fact is that gay marriage has never been legal here in oz... at least i was for a time in the USA |
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