Bush or Gore

[scruffy]

It seems as if some didn't get the correlation between Harv's research on buying his tractor, and to my SUGGESTION that we (everyone) should put the same amount of EFFORT into researching our personal choices for POTUS. OWNING/BUYING a tractor had nothing to do with anything, accept the TYPE of process/research methadology used to reach that decision...it was thorough. 'Nuff said from me.

 

[glennmac]

Thomas,

McCain was my guy also. A man of principles, character, ethics, heroism. A big missed opportunity for the country.

Glenn

 

[Kelvin]

Responsibility: I am real big on accepting responsibility for one's actions, and have a hard time dealing with those who refuse to do so (If you choose to not use you tractor's seat belt or ROPS, then fine. Just don't blame the manufacturer when you suffer injuries that could've been avoided by their usage). I feel that a lot of candidates demonstrate irresponsibility by routinely changing their stand on issues (trying to guess what'll get the most votes) rather than sticking with real convictions on what is good for America.

Easy Money: I think that the US government has rewarded irresponsibility too much via welfare programs and the like. Why work hard to get ahead when you can goof off and let Uncle Sam support you by playing Robin Hood?

Military: I guess that I am most concerned about the status of the military. Our current "Commander-in-Chief" sets a very poor example as the leader of the military. We're very lucky to have a military technological advantage over most potential adversaries. I feel that there is a continuing decline of the academic standards in America and in a few years that will allow other countries to challenge us for the leader as the technology leader of the world. We can't afford to lose the military's morale and the technological advantages.

Religion: Someone mentioned that religion should be a "private matter". I find it interesting that Russia has more religious freedom that the US does (school prayer etc). Given the current trend, the "zip-lip" approach to God in America will change from optional to mandatory before long. I dread the day. I like that both candidates are bringing up religion...I just wish I had confidence that they actually meant it.

The Vote: I don't directly associate with either party, but I do consider myself very conservative. That usually means that I vote Republican. Or, on a lighter note (pardon the poor attempt to bring the discussion back to the tractor world), I'll vote for the "Bush-Hog" rather than the "Gore-Hog".

Kelvin (Tennessee)

 

[Alan L.]

Bush all the way. He ain't Einstein, but will have to do given the alternative. I think algore is less evil than Slick Willy (who doesn't know what the definition of IS is). Sorry that our friends in the Northern parts of the country will have to pay more for heating oil this winter (what is heating oil anyway - we use natural gas down here in Texas), but nobody was feeling sorry for us Texans in the summertime when we had about 200 straight 120 degree days and had to run our air conditioners double time! Is it really a national emergency that we should use the strategic oil reserve to decrease the cost a few pennies? What if we need the oil and its gone? What is the real reason for such a move?

I don't believe in tractor control. If we register our tractors, someone is liable to confiscate them one day.

 

[jyoutz]

Come to think of it, electing algore dogcatcher might not be too bad of an idea. Would keep him out of our hair and for once he would be doing honest work for his pay.

 

[bpence]

glenmac, I'm afraid I can't reveal my sources for those types of pictures. I do have to protect the guilty photographer in this instance. By the way, I kind of agree with Bird and some of the others, this is really a choice (once again) of the lesser of the two evils.

Bob Pence

 

[Branch]

Personally I cherish integrity and ethics above all else when choosing friends. When choosing a president, someone capable of sending my sons to their death in some obscure part of the world, I want a president with integrity and ethics in control. Through out Clintons administration I've had 2 sons in the military and it's been frightening to me. I just couldn't get the picture of Slick Willy, sitting at his desk, Monica kneeling under it, and him signing the paperwork that committed one or both of my sons to their death.
The first priority of president is to be the commander and cheif of our military. How can we elect another buffoon who's a liar (read that as Gore) and incapable of using ethics and integrity where our military is concerned.
My kids will be out of the service in October so it won't affect me directly anymore. But there will still be several hundred thousand more kids left in the military that deserve the best commander and cheif we can give them. Bush ain't the best choice, but in my opinion Gore isn't even in the running.
Flush the White House and then Lysol it.

 

[Will]

Eisenhower was the sort of commander in chief you could trust, he certainly had a fine military record, but from what I've read, he had trouble keeping his pants up while he was married. This is old history, my point is that personal ethics don't necessarily correspond to ability as commander in chief. I don't think Gore has the obvious sort of ethical problems that Clinton does,and maybe his military experience will help him in the job. Gore's proposed budget has more money in it for the military than Bush's which should allow him to do more.

Bush, the person, seems like a reasonable candidate for the job, but I don't like his policies. I think he's always looking out for his big supporters. This means big tax cuts, that mostly benefit the rich, and oil policies that primarily benefit oil companies. This last week was a perfect example. Consumers of oil are the winners while Bush and the oil companies are left complaining that it was a campaign trick.

Etc, etc, I'm running out of steam. I'd rather read about tractors than write about politics anyway.

 

[RobertN]

I have hesitated commenting like this, especially to you Thomas(Farmalls rule!), cause I really like y'all on this board... I don't want to upset anyone.

But, this issue couldn't divide tractor colors; most all of our tractors are made in Japan!

Heck, I parked my Kubota on Memorial day, and Fourth of July. I did get out on the Farmall, flags waving.

I just had to get that out. I am 50% humorous when I say that. But at the same time, 50% serious.

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[glennmac]

Now that we have analyzed the candidates, it is customary to analyze the election results, which I find rather surprising.

The result so far has been one-sided. While most posters are not too excited by either candidate, the ovewhelming trend is for Bush on a lesser-of-evils approach. Gore seems to inspire outright hostility, based on his own actions/words and derivately from Clinton. I count only two posts that could be interpreted as leaning toward Gore.

I think it is interesting to discuss why Tractorbynetians, as a voting group, favor Bush. I can think of a few explanations:

1. The national polls are wrong (showing a close race), and our "poll" is closer to the national voting trend. I tend to doubt this.

2. There are Gore supporters here but they have not been posting, perhaps deterred by the swiftness and ferocity of the anti-Gore/Clinton posts. I think there may be some of that going on. Hey, if you're out there, speak up. This is all in fun.

3. Tractorbynetians are not members of those ethnic, gender, religious and occupational groups that traditionally and historically vote Democrat. Plus, tractorpeople are rural landowners.

4. Tractor ownership causes people to vote for Bush (or against Gore); or, vice versa, support for Bush (or opposition to Gore) causes tractor ownership. While this may sound as absurd to some as saying that Clinton caused the good economy, there may be something to this in a more indirect sense. Tractoring is a simple, honest, elemental thing. It requires hard work and patience. There is right and wrong. There are very visible rewards and punishments for jobs done well and poorly. We can't fundraise or rent our bedrooms to raise money to buy our equipment. You can't get a tractor task done by flapping your tongue. You can't bullsh*t your way around cowsh*t. You can't lie about whether you pulled the stump or moved the boulder. Successful tractoring involves disciplined adherence to codes, standards and principles--not relativism.

Perhaps tractorpeople tend to vote for the candidate who they see as better reflecting the principles embodied in tractoring.

Glenn

 

[geneP]

Glen, In my opinion, items three and four are the more accurate. Paraphrasing item four: dicipline, patience and work-in-the-dirt ethics give tractor owners that frequent this board the wherewithal to acquire rural property and tractors without government subsidies. I also acknowledge there are exceptions. I'm sure there are Goreites out there who have worked hard and long and achieved a degree of success, they just don't like tractors.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Some food for thought (from the Early Years portion of Al Gore's website biography):

Al Gore's childhood is split between Carthage, Tennessee, where Gore spends his summers and vacations, and Washington, D.C. where his father works. While in Carthage, Gore works for his father on the family farm — getting up before dawn to help feed the livestock, cleaning out hog parlors, and helping to clear and plow fields.

 

[Thomas]

Robert,
Sorry I took so long to reply./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
You hadn't upset me by any means,and just be who you are. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[ddl]

One of the poster said the Gore spent time in Tenn. working
on the farm. If you beleive that, I am sure he has some china tea for you to buy. He will even throw in some X rated pictures from his supporters.

Dan

 

[glennmac]

H. Ross Nader,

Thanks for the biographical info on Al Gore. You know, that could explain a lot of things. About 6 months ago, Gore switched his campaign headquarters from Washington to Nashville and switched all his suits to earth tone colors. This could be interpreted as a sincere and principled return to his agrarian roots.

Hope all's well with your buddy Jesse Buchanan.

Glenn

 

[jimmoore]

Hey BIRD, Arkansas has had a POTUS. I am willing to give a TEXAN a chance now. Since every thing is bigger in TEXAS, LOOK OUT MONICA!! "GAG"

 

[Alan L.]

Bush's tax cuts cut all rates. That means that everybody shares in the cuts. Everytime there is an increase in taxes the "rich" are soaked, then when it comes time for a cut only the others benefit. Its not fair. At some point the "rich" are entitled to share in the tax cuts, and that time is now.

I'm no where near being rich, but I don't get to share in any of Gore's cuts. Gore considers many middle income families as "rich". He targets large numbers of low income taxpayers for his cuts because those are where most of his votes will come from.

Sorry for the epistle, but I just don't see why the middle class has to pay the bill every time it comes due, but when the refund comes the lower income people get the refund.

 

[ERNIEB]

Glenn,
While I basically agree with your analyzation of why we lean toward Bush, I would say it a little differently. Certainly the tractor is what draws us to this board, but as noted in 3 we are rural landowners. I would say that land is the tie that binds. Wether We bought it or recieved it through legacy, We feel a closeness to it and indeed a responsibility to it. It must be maintained, and our tractors are the tools we use to do this. We mow, clear, till, and do all sorts of other things in order to improve it. This becomes Our main goal. We are not fooled by the groups that advocate a "hands off" policy, but we are also able to see when land is being misused.
If one spends some time going thru the posts, you will find several instances where wildlife has benifited from land manipulation, and where grass, fruits, and vegetables grow where none grew before. I no doubt took some liberties in using the pronoun We, forgive me. But to me this says more about who We are than the color tractor we drive.
Ernie

 

[jyoutz]

I'm sure that Gore has spent just enough weekend time on the farm to build up his photo library.