| Ok just some observations here.
If the economy continues to tank, let's keep that in mind, continues to tank Bush will loose the White House in 2004. It doesn't matter even if he comes up with the best way to recover the economy, he won't because republicans are inept when it comes to job building. But even if he did he would still loose. Historically, a bad economy, even when it was a democrat, has caused the general population to kick the POTUS back to where he came from. It's how we vote, and why shouldn't we do it that way? The president is after all responsible for the mess.
Any efforts the Bush Administration has made to recover the economy has failed. Sure, we did have a resurgance in GDP, but when the money needed for Iraq will be about 4.3% of that figure, we're in for more economic suffering. Regardless of your opinion on the war, that much is fact. Even with this boost in the GDP the unemployment rate is still at 6.2%. The administration claims that the jobless claim files are going down, well that's to be expected. You can only fire so many people.
In regards to a draft, I'm eligible, but I'm not worried, they wouldn't dare reintroduce the draft it's bad politically and bad for the military. A volunteer based army is better then a forced service, no disrepect meant to those who may have served as a Draftee.
Yes, there have been no formal charges in declining to register for the draft, but they don't have to charge you. Why charge you when all they need to do is disqualify you for federal financial aid. In a country where college tuition is rising at an alarming rate, that's a pretty harsh treatment, and why I'm registered.
As far as the White House getting free reign if the economy tanks, that's just not going to happen. If the economy tanks the White House will be more limited in what it can do domestically, and the election will be effected by that. A bad economy will only force more rediculous tax cuts, and with the increase in spending, I think even some republicans may have to question the presumptive head of their party.
Also, if the economy remains bad and the democratic alternative is shown to voters as the only alternative, then they will probably largley vote Dem. People would rather be back in work and paying their payroll taxes, then sitting on their asses not making any money.
Democrats hold a long history of being able to spur the economy and produce jobs, we wrote the book on it.
Anyway, maybe I'll come back, maybe I won't, but I just wanted to add some things in.
As for the UN, today France and Germany balked at the US proposal. In the end I think these countries will provide aid, but the fact is the balk is and should've been expected. |