Kerry -vs- Bush ....Round 3

The third and final Presidential debate has come to an end. Again the Q&A time limits didn't allow for any in-depth debate between the two candidates. The focus of the debate was primarily Domestic Issues but Foreign Policy and Iraq were brought up a few times. Bush did his best job yet at keeping his facial expressions and temper under control. He also skated a number of questions regarding his polices and seemed to think his under-funded Education Plan would solve everything from employment, the economy, taxes and even foreign relations. Throughout the debate he constantly referred to the "No Child Left Behind Act" which he touts as one of his great achievements, even though there have been a number of law suites brought against the government by states that are not able to meet the requirements because there has been so little funding to meet the strict guidelines that were laid out.

Kerry again did a remarkable job in detailing his position while at the same time defending himself from Bush's attacks and criticizing Bush's performance as the President. Kerry was able to add substance to what he had to say. Bush on the other hand really said very little, said the same thing over and over, and failed to support his statements.

With regards to homosexuality being a choice, Bush says, " I just don't know." He also went on to state that, "...we have a choice to make in America and that is to treat people with tolerance and respect and dignity. It's important that we do that. And I also know in a free society people, consenting adults can live the way they want to live. And that's to be honored. But as we respect someone's rights, and as we profess tolerance, we shouldn't change - or have to change - our basic views on the sanctity of marriage. I believe in the sanctity of marriage. I think it's very important that we protect marriage as an institution, between a man and a woman. I proposed a constitutional amendment. The reason I did so was because I was worried that activist judges are actually defining the definition of marriage, and the surest way to protect marriage between a man and woman is to amend the Constitution." What Bush has actually said in this statement is that he doesn't really know what he thinks about homosexuality, and that regardless of ones views on marriage, we should respect those views and not force one persons view upon another. His way of protecting those rights is to amend the constitution so that only one view is accepted and forced upon others that do not share the same view. It's a hypocritical statement that uses doublespeak to form its' structure.

The Republicans have also now focused on Kerry's statements regarding gay marriage and a reference to Dick Cheney's Lesbian daughter. I say lesbian because that's exactly what she is. Look it up in the dictionary and it will say "Lesbian: A woman whose sexual orientation is to women." She herself has admitted to being one and it is in no way a derogatory remark.

What exactly did Kerry say? Kerry said, "We're all God's children....And I think if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's being who she was. She's being who she was born as. I think if you talk to anybody, it's not a choice."

Somehow this seemed to anger Cheney and his Wife. I guess they felt that she wasn't who God made her to be and is instead something else. Again they have taken something out of context and have tried to distort it into something that it isn't. This has been the tactics behind the GOP smear campaign throughout this Presidential Race to the White House and it seams that they are sticking with it all the way to the end.

"You saw a man who will do and say anything to get elected," said Cheney, "And I am not just speaking as a father here, although I am a pretty angry father." I can only guess that what he meant by "do and say anything", was that Kerry was willing to answer the question honestly and truthfully. A question which Bush skated around by talking without saying anything or confirming his stance, which sadly seems to be his strong point as a leader. Cheney's wife even voiced her view saying, "This is not a good man.", "Of course, I am speaking as a mom, and a pretty indignant mom. This is not a good man. What a cheap and tawdry political trick."

Mary Cheney, Dick Cheney's daughter, declined to comment.

It seams to me that the Cheney's are using their daughter as a political tool in the same manner that they claim Kerry has disgracefully done. Now to me that seams like a cheap and tawdry political trick if there ever was one.

Kerry was the clear winner of the debate, just as he has won the last two debates. The Bush camp is using every dirty trick they have up their sleeves to win the election. It would not surprise me in the least to see the "Terror Alert Level" boosted to it's highest possible level as we approach Election Day this November 2. I also wouldn't see it as being beyond the President's ability to mislead the American people by issuing Severe Terror Threat Warnings and even having the National Guard, at least the ones that haven't been sent to Iraq, deployed in areas of the country the Bush stands to possibly loose or in order to scare voters away from the polls so that the electoral votes go his way.

It's up to the American Voters now. The American people must now stand strong and not let fear dictate their lives. No matter what bad things you may think are going to happen, don't fall prey to your own fears. Go to the polls and vote. Go about your day as if it was just another day and not hide under your desk in fear that somebody is going to try and blow you up if you venture out to vote.

My prediction for the next four years is that if Kerry wins, Bush will go down in the history of this nation as the worst President this country has ever seen. If Bush manages to steal or con his way into the White House for another four years, then he will end up going down in the history of the world as one of the worst tyrants the world has ever seen. His name will appear on the roster right next to Hitler and even Saddam Hussein himself.

I fear that if this great nation of ours is forced to endure another four years under Bush, we will see civil war. Peaceful protesters will see that protesting peacefully will do nothing to change Bush's agenda which is destroying America and will resort to violence and fighting. What we see every day happening on the streets of Baghdad will happen on the streets of Washington. We are at a crossroads in this country. We will either see a renewed effort to become that Free Nation which our for-fathers have shed their blood to create and build, or we will see a violent end to a once great dream.