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The religious right makes up about 35% of the American voting public as per a CNN/ Time survey. The Republicans will nominate another hard line religious right winger. The Democrats, in an effort to woo such voters, will lean more to the right and promise to repeal Roe v. Wade and force prayer in school (all you Jews, Muslims, Hindus etc attending public schools will be forced to pray to a god you do not believe in). Interestingly, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada will become more left leaning as they always do when the US leans further right.

Posted by The Doctor The religious right makes up about 35% of the American voting public as per a CNN/ Time survey. The Republicans will nominate another hard line religious right winger. The Democrats, in an effort to woo such voters, will lean more to the right and promise to repeal Roe v. Wade and force prayer in school (all you Jews, Muslims, Hindus etc attending public schools will be forced to pray to a god you do not believe in). Interestingly, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada will become more left leaning as they always do when the US leans further right.

Interesting. And probably accurate.

Canada has, (thank God...or whoever) officially made into law the RIGHT of people to marry whomever they please.

We can only hope that Stephen Harper takes up residence below the 49th. Won't happen...but a boy can dream.

Soon, Canada will repeal those draconian anti-marajuana laws.

As for the bozos in Washington, repealing Roe vs. Wade should make for some entertaining television. Plan on hearings. Plan on massive protests, both pro and con. It should be worth noting that future President Hillary Clinton will step into this mess, and will likely emerge a champion. Or at least we can hope.

Hillary, if you're reading this, please PLEASE do the right thing. A priest has absolutely NO BUSINESS WHATSOEVER playing part in a conversation between a patient and her physician.

Polls mean little. 35% now could be 60% in an hour, depending on who you call. Which isn't to say that 35% is nothing. It's a pretty thick minority. I guess that translates into something like 100 million plus Americans. On the other hand, that number won't get smaller. If anything, we can expect it to slip over the 50% mark as the current batch of brainwashed adolescents, those raised on the Just Say No To Everything mantra, become eligible to vote.

However, with support for the War on Terror(tm) slipping, whoever gets the keys to the White House in 2008 will have a lot to think about. If 1600 plus American kids have been killed thus far, those numbers will grow as election time draws closer. Republicans will have a tough job selling that gig.

I welcome a more left-leaning Canada. I welcome a moderate Western Hemisphere...the USA will be alone like it has never been before.

Then what?

Canada alone, has little or no impact on US policy. However, Europe and other western nations with Canada will create a sizeable left wall. The US will most likely say, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" as they always do. It is unfortunate that the actions of the US government affects almost all global citizens. I too am proud that Canada is a liberal nation where human rights take a higher ground than religion. I have always noticed in my travels that Canadians are more like Europeans than Americans, which is surprising considering that we share the largest undefended border in the world with them ( i.e. W we are more politically centre or slightly left of centre...except for Alberta)

PS. Harper would fit right in Washington

As with all things political, there is a pendulum swing. For Bush and the Republicans, it hit too far right during the Terri Schiavo debacle.

I expect the next President to be more of a centrist. The Religious Right is still a minority and asking for extremist views to be foisted on America. The Republicans see the Religious Right believing that they own certain pols. Not good. The Democrats won't try to woo the Religious Right, but instead point out the "failures" of the current administration to forward their agenda and therefore suppress thier numbers on election day.

Howard Dean will have to disappear to parts unknown. Hillary can't run. Right now, she is a sure loser. The Democrats need a new candidate. Independant parties might actually make a showing if they get someone more enthusiastic.

Theres a bunch of pissed off people out there. Darth Cheney can't win and alledgedly won't run. Jeb Bush suffers from being the brother of the current sitting President. Both parties need a viable candidate.

Posted by Valiant Dancer As with all things political, there is a pendulum swing. For Bush and the Republicans, it hit too far right during the Terri Schiavo debacle. I expect the next President to be more of a centrist. The Religious Right is still a minority and asking for extremist views to be foisted on America. The Republicans see the Religious Right believing that they own certain pols. Not good. The Democrats won't try to woo the Religious Right, but instead point out the "failures" of the current administration to forward their agenda and therefore suppress thier numbers on election day. Howard Dean will have to disappear to parts unknown. Hillary can't run. Right now, she is a sure loser. The Democrats need a new candidate. Independant parties might actually make a showing if they get someone more enthusiastic. Theres a bunch of pissed off people out there. Darth Cheney can't win and alledgedly won't run. Jeb Bush suffers from being the brother of the current sitting President. Both parties need a viable candidate.

Agreed. Darth Cheney won't run because his heart (what's left of it) won't cooperate. Or we can only hope. Besides, he's already President. Not in name, maybe...but that's just semantics.

I refuse to accept that the USA would elect a man named Jeb.

Hillary is a good bet, but likely won't run this time around. Maybe 2012.

John McCain is a decent man. A bit hot headed, but at least he's intelligent, moderate (more or less) and has actually seen combat and the business end of a Soviet AK47, unlike Shrub, who has seen only pictures of them in colouring books.

Anyway. 3 1/2 years is a hell of a long time in Big League politics. Who knows...maybe I'll run.

Posted by KublaKahn Anyway. 3 1/2 years is a hell of a long time in Big League politics. Who knows...maybe I'll run.

Ummm... aren't you a Canadian? I think you must be US born in order to run for pres. I like the idea of McCain. Personally, I'd endorse John Stewart of Daily Show Fame.

Posted by KublaKahn John McCain is a decent man. A bit hot headed, but at least he's intelligent, moderate (more or less) and has actually seen combat and the business end of a Soviet AK47, unlike Shrub, who has seen only pictures of them in colouring books. Anyway. 3 1/2 years is a hell of a long time in Big League politics. Who knows...maybe I'll run.

Heck, I'd vote for John McCain. Not only has he seen combat, he's seen the rigors of being a POW in a country that didn't sign, at the time, nor adhere to the Geneva convention.

He'd make a good President.

Posted by The Doctor Ummm... aren't you a Canadian? I think you must be US born in order to run for pres. I like the idea of McCain. Personally, I'd endorse John Stewart of Daily Show Fame.

I AM CANADIAN. And no, I was not born in the USA. Therefore, I am excluded from the American democratic process by virtue of my birthplace.

However, Arnold...sorry, Ahh-nuld...might make a bid to have that constitutional nuisance changed. And if he does, he'll run. Imagine the campaign posters: Running Man, featuring President Ahh-nuld.

What a freak show that would be...

Posted by KublaKahn I AM CANADIAN. And no, I was not born in the USA. Therefore, I am excluded from the American democratic process by virtue of my birthplace.

The USA basically runs the damned place and they're the only ones allowed to run for the Big House Office. I mean really...if American foreign policy controls the world, then shouldn't some schmuck born and raised in I-dunno-where Africa be allowed to run for President of the United States of America?

How about Karl Rove? I hear he's a nice man with decent principles, a moral conscience, and an impeccable (and, thus far, unimpeachable) record as a moderate voice and he even volunteers at the local ASPCA as a dog walker.

And he kinda looks like a cherub.

Posted by KublaKahn The USA basically runs the damned place and they're the only ones allowed to run for the Big House Office. I mean really...if American foreign policy controls the world, then shouldn't some schmuck born and raised in I-dunno-where Africa be allowed to run for President of the United States of America?

That would be because of Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the US Constitution which was to ensure that foreign governments did not interfere in the Executive Branch of the government.

What would Canadian people think of a person who emigrates to Canada and becomes PM? Wouldn't there be the least bit of question concerning where the PM's allegiances lay?

Arnie has a hard row to hoe. Not likely the Constitution will be amended in that particular way. The concerns are the same.

Posted by Valiant Dancer That would be because of Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the US Constitution which was to ensure that foreign governments did not interfere in the Executive Branch of the government. What would Canadian people think of a person who emigrates to Canada and becomes PM? Wouldn't there be the least bit of question concerning where the PM's allegiances lay?

I guess that would depend on whether the immigrant was a citizen of Canada. It would depend on the quality of life that that person had built while living in Canada...as a Canadian citizen. It would depend on her/his contribution to community; to their long-range goals for a better, more prosperous, and indeed more inclusive Canada.

As far as I know, Canada welcoms all of her citizens, regardless of country-of-origin/birth, to participate in it's political process.

Arnie has a hard row to hoe. Not likely the Constitution will be amended in that particular way. The concerns are the same.

Yeah...but he kinda hinted at the possibility. 60 Minutes, I think. Or at least he said he'd consider running if such an amendment were made, and then acknowledged that there was some chatter about such an amendment. Or at least that the process had been 'discussed.' Something like that.

Put it this way: he's likely the only Republican who could win California in a run for the big house.

Posted by Valiant Dancer Heck, I'd vote for John McCain. Not only has he seen combat, he's seen the rigors of being a POW in a country that didn't sign, at the time, nor adhere to the Geneva convention. He'd make a good President.

And he could probably address the current American stance of NOT adhering to the Geneva Convention...at least as far as Guantanamo is concerned. And who-knows-where-else, for that matter.

It would stand to reason that a former POW would have strong words against a system that routinely practices arbitrary imprisonment and torture, and that denies access to legal representation.

I love a good discussion about religion...

Posted by Mr. X I love a good discussion about religion...

Politics IS religion.

Isn't it?

Posted by KublaKhan Politics IS religion.

No, it is not.

You really should take political discussion to the proper board. This whole thread has lost touch with any sort of topic that's even loosely based on religion and spiraled into a rant over who the next president will be. There hasn't been one ounce of any religious discussion in all of these posts.

Posted by Mr. X No, it is not. You really should take political discussion to the proper board. This whole thread has lost touch with any sort of topic that's even loosely based on religion and spiraled into a rant over who the next president will be. There hasn't been one ounce of any religious discussion in all of these posts.

Well...to be fair, there was some discussion about the Religious Right and a cartoon character named Bob. Apparently, he's gay. At least that was (or is) the opinion of religious conservatives who flexed their political muscles and managed to get a federal grant revoked from a public broadcaster.

I merely extrapolated that discussion along the lines of 'what happens when Their Boy leaves the White House?'

So, in this respect, politics IS religion.

Or maybe I should say: Religion IS politics...

...or even...

Religion is political.

Is that better?

Let's hope a moderate (or agnostic/ atheist) is elected, not another "evangelical, fear not for the Rapture approaches," knob. I'm gonna nominate George Carlin or John Stewart.