Author Topic: US elections (Read 6581 times)

JoInSpain · « **on:** July 12, 2004, 04:01:15 PM »

I am an American living in Spain, and am very concerned about the upcoming Presidential election. I was wondering whether other Americans in my situation would be interested in sharing their perspectives with me? Hope to hear from you soon!

silo · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2004, 03:48:17 PM »

Concerned? Whatever for?

JoInSpain · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2004, 10:33:13 PM »

I don't think I can handle another four more years of the W...Did you know they actually came out with a new Ketchup called \"W Ketchup\" in order to get people to buy something other than \"Heinz\"

silo · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2004, 09:13:21 AM »

But, if you´re living in Spain does it affect you that much? And W ketchup is just as stupid as \"freedom fries\" and \"liberty toast\".

Also, one must ask if the other guy would be any better in this era where people (the media especially) are almost nothing but critical of the president.

I personally would rather use cloning technology to bring back Truman, Roosevelt, or FDR. But, they would probably be crucified by the media too.

El Manco · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2004, 07:37:33 AM »

i think you can order an absentee ballot, for those outside their registered voting precinct. whatever state yer registered in can mail you one, although i'm not sure if they always count them.

the last election was my 2nd year of college and i hadn't changed my precinct, so i voted W absentee. and i live in florida. so i'm sure that one was counted.

we all have our pasts.

cadykat · « **Reply #5 on:** July 19, 2004, 04:49:59 PM »

El manco where are you at?
I´m living in barcelona for the moment and the English magazine here called metropolitan has advertisments about getting your vote sent to you here... sounded interesting... and no matter if your in the US or in Spain who our president is affects us all... Europeans have a particular problem with us based on our president, I would much rather put a fresh face in just to get everybody off our back about what a cacaty president we have!!

mlwalton · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2004, 06:33:16 PM »

I'm right there with ya Katy! How's BCN? How's your certification going? Details, details please....

So then, have you all (that are currently in Spain) heard about Michael Moore's new film Fahrenheit 9/11? I'm curious if any of the media coverage has made it's way overseas....

and again please details of city which has my heart....hope all is well and that the weather is fantastic!

Salud!

Michelle

mlwalton · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2004, 06:38:38 PM »

Ok, so I just read your post in the other forum, :lol: lol....well done to you on your advice and comments. Right on.

cheers,
Michelle

cadykat · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2004, 01:01:25 PM »

hey michelle,
yes its very hot over here but I have to say, I´m not the biggest fan of this city... too many travelers- I hear more english then I do Spanish and everything is outrageously over priced. Since I have lived in a smaller city before my opinion of the city is slightly tainted. I have found other fellow students who know more about spain and have been here before are in the same boat as me... But of course there are others who totally love barcelona. Its been interesting but I don´t think you could even pay me to stay in this city... but thats why Im moving on, each have their own place!!! when you come girl we need to get together ok, I think I can put my opinion aside to come up to barcelona for a little expatcafe uniteing (sp?)!! or possibly the other way around!!!!
if you like stay in contact via email I would love to hear your story, though its possible that we have talked before and I just don´t remember!!!
email me
ps. yes this movie is coming here, in fact I think its here now and its buzzin around.... Im pretty sheltered as im in class all day everyday so I´ll have to see when I start making more spanish friends
cadykat@hotmail.com

silo · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2004, 10:04:49 AM »

June, July, and August are definitely not the best time to be in Barcelona if you don´t like travelers. I have already noticed that the freeway on the way to work is filling up faster and earlier every day with Barcelona residents leaving town and have also noticed an increased amount of the god awful yellow French license plates coming in during the drive home.
In the area I live in I haven´t noticed a ton of foreigners(maybe because I want nothing to do with them) but occasionally you get a stray Brit or German that asks you directions. If you go up to Gracia there aren´t a whole lot either. I saw a Farenheit 9/11 poster yesterday in the middle of nowhere at a bus stop in an industrial poligon. It opens tomorrow.

tonytorero · « **Reply #10 on:** July 23, 2004, 05:31:16 PM »

Quote

So then, have you all (that are currently in Spain) heard about Michael Moore's new film Fahrenheit 9/11? I'm curious if any of the media coverage has made it's way overseas....

Actually Michelle, today's the premier for Farenheit 9/11 here in Spain. On my way to work this week, I've noticed posters promoting it all over the place and today's copy of the free Metro newspaper has a shot of its publicity poster on the front page.

I would imagine that it's going to get a lot of publicity here in Spain. It will probably touch a nerve with quite a few as well. Time (and Linda Ronstadt

) will tell how it's received over here.

Poseso...

mlwalton · « **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2004, 05:25:29 AM »

Hola Tony,

So let me know if you go see it what you think....

Salud!

Michelle

RebeccaG · « **Reply #12 on:** July 26, 2004, 03:16:35 AM »

I just got back from seeing the film tonight (original version in the Renoir Cuatro Caminos, Madrid).

Honestly, I wasn´t that impressed with it. I think Michael Moore is one of the same in sheep´s clothing. Nothing more nothing less.

Believe me when I tell you that I am no fan of President Bush, however, I found Fahrenheit 9/11 difficult to give much serious thought to with so much sarcasm, cheap pot shots and overall silliness. Yes, Michael pointed out some good facts, but he was all over the map and couldn´t decide if he wanted to thrash Bush, the American government, capitalism or what. I think the important facts were brushed aside to give ample exposure to Mr. Moore´s ironic humor. Yes, it caused a chuckle or two, but it really distracted from the main point of the film (if there was one) or the important details.

What he revealed in the film was nothing any person who keeps up with current events wouldn´t already know... at least those who keep up with current events aside from just following Fox News and CNN. What was more disturbing were the pre 9/11 Saudi relationships and how there were supposed economic tie-ins to the war.

In all, I think it´s a film that is worth seeing, but not worth basing your political position on. You should count on more factual, and less subjective sources for that!

mlwalton · « **Reply #13 on:** July 26, 2004, 05:45:31 PM »

yeah unfortunately, most Americans do get their news from Fox or CNN, and sadly there are far too many that don't vote, and suffer from complacency with the mediocrity of the status quo.

Although, I thought Michael Moore's point was very clear, he wants to unseat Bush (or as I like to call him the IIO - Idiot In Office

) from the presidency this November and he wants to ruffle the feathers of enough swing voters to make that happen.

Also, the footage of the war in Iraq that has been whitewashed from the mainstream media here in the States, was very startling, even for me. I don't watch either Fox or CNN, I read Harper's, Mother Jones.....anyway, given the response the film has had (a record breaking $96 million so far) for a feature length documentary, it's interesting to hear what people think. Craig Unger's book House of Bush, House of Saud is next on my reading list. So we shall see what impact the film has had (if any) on the November elections. Of course the fix might already be in with the use of the completely hackable, Diebold electronic voting systems being used, with no paper trail for recounts....(that's for all the conspiracy theorists to debate

) ah, only time will tell....

Salud!

Michelle

Angmaj · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2004, 05:55:50 PM »

On another note, what do you think about Kerry? I mean we know Bush is a moron, but do you think Kerry is any better? (I'm honesty just asking for opinions, not trying to be sarcastic) And what about Hillary-- if she is planning on running in 2008 (which she has basically openly declared) she would want GW to win now, so she has an open road in '08. Meanwhile at the convention in Boston, the Clintons are speaking on behalf of Kerry, and Bill is being used to sway voters in bigger states. If Hillary is looking for 2008, wouldn't Bill also want to guarantee she gets it? Each party and each individual is out for their own, in my opinion.

I just got home from Valencia after a year teaching (yes I'm very sad!) and was talking to my parents about Michael Moore's movie. They were shocked upon hearing that Bin Laden's planes were the first to leave the country, even though ALL flights were cancelled. I think its all propaganda... we'll just have to see how the American people feel.

On that note, I'm off to walk the dog..

ciao
Andrea

cadykat · « **Reply #15 on:** July 28, 2004, 01:00:26 AM »

hey andrea-
hows the hold up, im sure your missing your bf.... well i finished my certificate and am in sevilla working as an au pair for 7weeks and will hopefully return to valencia sept 15 to try and find work... im gonna also lookin cadiz because i went there today and it was gorgeous... captured my heart like valencia.... of course stay in touch and i will talk to you soon...still havnt seen the movie but want to see it.... i pretty heard bad reviews from the americans here saying what the hell was the point again?? but of course i will have to judge for myself...ciao all
katy

El Manco · « **Reply #16 on:** July 28, 2004, 06:42:51 AM »

well, back to where this post started, as i haven't been here for a week... i looked back at the absentee thing ...so for katy and anyone else, according to the way the wonderfully wacky state of florida does it, if you are lucky enough to be voting from overseas and in spain in particular, you can request an absentee ballot over the phone or email. It will be sent to you via fax or email and you can return it faxed or thru the snail mail (not email). and it has to be received by 7pm election day. sounds simple enuff, so if you're from another state, it can't be much more complicated than that, because this is how florida works. And no one, and i mean no one, screws up elections worse than we do. But everyone knows about that.

as for the topic switch to farenheight 9/11... since i'm cooped up here in orlando for another year till i can afford nyu in madrid, i've really been wondering what it'd be like to see it in spain, and to see a spanish audience's reaction, and a spanish prespective of the election, and the eurocup, etc.

so i'd love to hear of expats' reactions and what our spanish friends think of it. as for over here...

i liked it, as a movie. i went into it expecting something that's gospel to some and bull-faced propaghanda to others, and i've seen a lot of that reaction. a lot of my friends loved it, saw it twice, think everyone should see it, etc. others, like my parents and their friends from church, add micheal moore to the list of \"appeasers.\" My humble opinion, I'm glad I saw it because, aside from its humorous nature, it informed me of alot of things i didn't know about, like the bin laden family lfights outta here, and delved into into alot of things i'd heard just whispers of... like the bush-saudi ties and that bush's entourage had to be hurried by so many protestors.

but there was a lot of stuff that either misled by leaving out important facts-like leaving out spain and most importantly britain when making fun of the coalition of the willing-or weaved the facts in a way that totally misled, like moore's inference that fox's annoucement of bush as winner swayed all the otehr networks. they may have a bush person (or a thousand) in there, but as a member of the news media, i can say with confidence that fox is not thought of so prestigiously by newspeople.

So I came out amused and a tad better-informed, but disappointed that moore would rather make a slick ruckus than present events in a more documentary-type manner, which would've made for a much more credible film. it wasn't a documentary, more of an \"editorial.\"

I've planned to vote Nader, I want to cast a disillusioned vote. i'm disappointed, but not entirely surprised, that kerry is the best the democrats could agree on. But after seeing the film, it got me to think about the importance of getting W out, and that 4 years with kerry could at least prehaps serve for cleanup that we wouldn't get w/ 4 more years of Texas Hold-em.

Like Michelle said, Moore wants to unseat Bush. I guess it's worked on me.

cadykat · « **Reply #17 on:** July 28, 2004, 09:07:39 PM »

PEOPLE PLEASE DON¨T ..... ok I have never been one to be heavily politically involved but I do have tosay DON¨T VOTE NADAR.... im not saying that Kerry is some awesome guy but if people start voting Nadar we will end up with the same problem that we had last time..... at least for the sake of saving face we need to get somebody else in and it won´t, in the near future be Nadar... so for the sake of the rest of the worlds opinion of us lets get a new leader and get W out of office and on the golf course where he just might get hit in the head by a golf ball!!!

El Manco · « **Reply #18 on:** July 28, 2004, 11:16:55 PM »

yer absolutely right.... at the moment, it's truly most important who we're voting against.

and it truly makes me sad that in this system you can vote maybe philosophically for a 3rd candidate, but in practice that vote only works against the republican or democrat that 3rd candidate is closest to. how the hell will anything ever change?

i'm gonna start my own party

cadykat · « **Reply #19 on:** July 29, 2004, 12:28:37 AM »

sounds good, if you get chosen can I be vice president??

El Manco · « **Reply #20 on:** July 29, 2004, 06:23:15 AM »

sure why not .... now as for a name, how about calling it the Pizza Party?

silo · « **Reply #21 on:** July 29, 2004, 09:15:53 AM »

For me, this ruins the integrity of the political process of democracy. Voting for someone out of spite of another. Shouldn´t you vote for the person you believe in as opposed to the person who has a better chance to win? Perhaps this is why there is a 2 party system in America apart from people put their money into candidates who they think will win instead of the candidates they believe in. I´m not going to spend a ton of time elaborating on this since I´m at work, but I think you all will get the point since you seem to be decently educated and somewhat informed.

mlwalton · « **Reply #22 on:** July 29, 2004, 05:19:42 PM »

I would say that what ruined the election last time was not people voting for Nadar, (although obviously it didn't help Gore) but three other very important issues:

1) the antiquated electorial college system of voting (Gore won the popular vote).

2) the whole debacle of what happened in Florida, from the disenfranchisment of black voters, to the missing votes, dimpled/pregnant chads etc...

3)the US Supreme Court appointing Dubya president by deciding against the recounts.

The only way to change the system is to be a participating part of it by voting. Nothing happens and nothing changes when no one takes no action.

I will now get off my soap box and order pizza for the party

oh wait that was the Pizza Party....well you've got my vote as long as it isn't Dominoes....their pizza just doesn't taste quite right.

Cheers!

Michelle B)

Angmaj · « **Reply #23 on:** July 30, 2004, 12:23:08 AM »

Hey Katy and everyone else... That sounds cool being an Au Pair... very cool indeed. How'd you work that? Well yea I miss my bf mucho, but I have to say I am glad to be home. I got a Spanish teaching job 2 days after I returned, so things have really been looking up. Within the next 2 months I'll be moving into NYC (I'm so stoked!)

Anyway back to the elections....did anyone hear John Edwards' speech last night at the Democratic Convention? I like him.. I def like him a whole lot more than Kerry that's for sure. I'm not so sure I can believe in Kerry, I can't pin point what it is exactly about him that sends quives down my spine, but I bet Edwards is definitely boosting his ratings. Somebody told me something rather humorous... what do you cats think? That the American people believe in a rich politician and are more likely to vote for a rich politician bc they feel that if he made himself rich, he can make us (you now us regular, middle class working people) rich as well. I mean it makes sense... but how do we know he won't be selfish about alll that richness he has made for himself? I'm just playing devil's advocate here, for my own knowledge, bc I really want to know people's genuine opinions about the candidates.

OK.. GW isn't the smartest wolf in the pack and well the whole using terrorism as an excuse to finish up his Dad's work isn;t working for him. But does everyone honesty believe we initially supported the war in Iraq and invaded based on LIES... that the American people were LIED to deliberately and that there was never even a remote possiblity that the weapons existed? I guess I'm still being rather naive about all of this. I mean I agree that everything concerning weapons and Saddam was out of control EXAGGERATED, but does the whole world (or do you folks) really think the whole thing was completely FABRICATED?

I guess I'll now have to see the movie and read the 9-11 Commission reports.

ciao... Katy stary outta trouble crazy girl! By the way i'm looking for flights for Nov (thanksgiving prob) so if you're in VLC we gotto meet up.. what's new with the ex shadster?

un beset....Andrea

El Manco · « **Reply #24 on:** July 30, 2004, 10:42:06 PM »

Quote

. But does everyone honesty believe we initially supported the war in Iraq and invaded based on LIES... that the American people were LIED to deliberately and that there was never even a remote possiblity that the weapons existed?

oh, i'm sure they existed in sadaam's fantasies plenty, and that the plans to make them were danced like arabic sugar plums in the heads of his scientists and intelligence minions who needed to sneak out and steal uranium from unsuspecting ex-soviet bloc nations, or whoever. If i'm correct, the UN did step in in the 90s to get him to stop just that, and to get rid of chemical weapons stockpiles that he has used in the past upon Kurds and Iranians

nor would i rule out that there was stuff that got shipped out to syria or iran, or that there was some iraq/al-qaida cooperation that yet remains undiscovered....they did, after all, send checks to families of palestinean suicide bombers, so hmmmm.......

plus, Sadaam Hussien is a big, big jerk.

but as they haven't been found yet, there's a good chance that since the early '90s and the gulf war this ferocious persian kitten's teeth have been filed way down-but not completely.

So were we deceived?

well, the administration adamantly insisted on the imminent threat of a nuclear holocaust directed by a thick, black mustache that likes to go swimming. this started in 2002, and despite being barely a year after 9/11, WMD was made the issue, not terrorism complicity.

so...if it's WMDs are on the menu, with some terrorists on the side, I would recomment the roasted and seared Iran. Sweet and sour North Korea is also a popular choice. There's also Israel on rye, but I guess no one really minds if they have some clandestine nukes. If you're on a real mission, you can put them all together with Iraq on our special pu-pu platter.

Iran and N korea are also notoriously not nice to their people. So why Iraq?
1. It's easy....well, against the regular army it is
2. I suspect some neo-cons thought they could make a good example of democracy in Iraq, and forgot that democracy is \"rule by the people,\" not \"rule by the people because i say so.\"
3. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ (oil)

So i don't think we were entirely deceived. Just a little deceived, because it cannot be denied that with Sadaam behind the wheel some dangers exist. But more than anything, i think we went to war based on not lies but a big gamble, one they lost big-time with the world community, and quite likley with US voters. There were some meritous intentions, but not a lot, and the result was another gigantic mess for us to clean up when we've already been spilling milk all over the damned globe.

The world probably is better off w/o Sadaam. Now it's time to be better off w/o Señor W. You just can't stick yer longhorns into everything like that and expect to get away with it. But doesn't the same goes for gassing Kurds?

the questions never end, just like my rambling.

vote Pizza.

cadykat · « **Reply #25 on:** July 31, 2004, 12:24:03 AM »

This is your Vice President speaking and may I suggest the chicken BBQ pizza from Pizza hut in spain... We will throw in chicken wings and cheese bread, but it will cost you out your ass and I will say it soooo fast in spanish you will just say yes because I will say goodbye before you know it!! ok true story but not a true representation of the pizza party, suprisingly pizza hut is the bomb here but REALlLY expensive... anyways now back to my vice presidential address..... ummmm vote pizza!!!

ok so andrea good can´t wait to see you again we will have to rip up the town... no crazy story with the X just told him he´s nuts, he pretty much agrees with that and no more going to get drunk together... it gets a little out of hand.... at least it did after you left!!!!!

now onto edwards, great guy I really like him, only 1 problem right now- too young... he will be great in the next election because he has his name out so I have a really good feeling that at some point he will be the head runner for the democratic party in the future just not right now...

I agree that voting for a person to spite another party is not the best way BUT COME ON:..... this is BUSH we are talking about, this just isn´t a funny joke anymore people straight up laugh at us and I hate it.....he is a totall embarrasment to our society, hell his whole family is (well maybe not his mom she seems nice and his daughters rule so I think its just the men)

anyways my only opnion on this is that in order for us to reach some normal plato of existence among other countires is to kick out the gilipoyas and have a new face and I think that Kerry is it, he is not better then clinton but he sure is a hell of a lot more rational and thoughtful than G W.....
do you all know that when he came to spain he told the president of spanis that he had a nice ranchero which is a mexican word meaning nice ranch but in spain it means like a dumpy farm..... he was the laughing stock of the newspapers, I mean MY GOD does this man have no concept of being curtious of other languages he has a million people underneath him, ASK SOMEBODY HOW TO SAY NICE HOME....

hehehe did anybody see the one conan did on bush when he had come back from africa!! hahahh he was like yeah so G W how was Africa... and the talking mouth of G W said..
well there sure were a lot of African Americans there......
and conan said mannnnn no those are just Africans....
then G W said OF course thats what i said a lot of African Americans there... hhahha
ok im rambling Im around kids all day that yell things at me in spanish and i have no idea what they want until they are practically throwing a tantrum....

talk to you soon all!!!

ps andrea I just got an email from a guy in valencia who is looking for 4 tefl teachers coming sept, only thing is he said it was important for the person to have papers... I wrote him an email saying I was strongly interested and that I will do what is needed for the problem of not having papers, well keep your fingers crossed MINE ARE!!!!

tonytorero · « **Reply #26 on:** July 31, 2004, 06:57:31 PM »

Quote

now onto edwards, great guy I really like him, only 1 problem right now- too young... he will be great in the next election because he has his name out so I have a really good feeling that at some point he will be the head runner for the democratic party in the future just not right now...

I agree, but what about the HC factor? (Hillary Clinton) Wouldn't it make sense to send her up to get the big prize perhaps next time around? That is, if Kerry doesn't win here in 2004. Just a thought.

I saw Fahrenheit 9/11 last night at the Plaza de los Cubos near Plaza de España in English with subtitles. The crowd was more Spanish than Anglo. Anyway, it got a rousing, applauding standing ovation when it was over. I guess that means that the public liked it.

Me, I have to be honest, I would like to see W. lose in November. I cannot even begin to tell you what it's been like to be an American and catch hell for everything he's done over the last four years starting with the Florida vote debacle. I mean, you caught some ribbing with Clinton, but at least his uh.... extra-curricular affairs were actually even admired in certain circles!

I found Moore's film to be a reiteration of his book, \"Stupid White Men.\" It obviously has one goal in mind... to unseat King George in November. Is it a perfect documentary? Is it well done? No. Is it worth your time and money? It is. Is it fair and balanced? Nope. But then again, is Bill O'Reilly? Yeah, right!!

The film is for swing voters who need a push. Moore wants to give them a hand. I came away from the film thinking this though. The film is definitely propaganda. It's never been a huge secret that the Bush family had a relationship with the Saudi royal family as well as even the very large Bin Laden family. And it's pretty much certain that the Bush's as well as other members of the GOP will vehemently try to deny this as well as other allegations made in the film. But they won't be able to deny everything and that will leave an impression with many undecided voters. Will it be enough to send W. packing come November though? Sadly, I doubt it. Time will tell though.

It will be interesting though to see if the film will be able to create a reverse Nader effect. I agree with Shiloh, you should vote for the candidate you believe in and not as you would in a popularity contest, but the Nader influence in the last election most definitely did cost Gore the election in 2000. (Because it occurred before the Florida recount and Supreme Court anomalies took place.) Could this film push Kerry-Edwards to victory? You never know... :huh:

I'd love to read other opinions here... Just play nice... B)

El Manco · « **Reply #27 on:** August 01, 2004, 12:05:44 AM »

yeah i love this opinion-discourse stuff. Best post, Ever.

and yeah again, i agree with Shiloh too about voting yer conscience. My conscience would be voting libertarian or Nader or something, although i've yet to see someone out there who really appeals to my conscience. a vote for nader or a libertarian vote is more of a vote for a direction.

but then emerges the conflict between ideaology and practicality. and i suppose in this instance, my conscience leans towards the practical necessity of confining cowboys to dumpy texas rancheros. (i never knew about that meaning....what do they say in spain, una granja?)

the HC factor's a good point too....a kerry win will probably kill her chances for presidency, and i really can't decide what i think of her. she does strike me as abrasive and with a serious axe to grind, rendering her much less impressive than teresa heinz kerry, who gets points for speaking so many damn languages as well as projecting an image that's more...how should we say...human.

back to Kerry.... anyone watch the convention? more specifically, the speech by his daughter? I must say, he won points in my book when I learned he gave CPR to a hamster. You don't meet people like that everyday.

and last but most important....

Quote

pizza hut is the bomb here but REALlLY expensive

you have just suceeded in blowing my mind. is it really? as good as pizzeria pizza? is that even possible? either way, let's consider it a favorable omen to the success of the Party.

Viva la Pizza

cadykat · « **Reply #28 on:** August 01, 2004, 04:27:39 PM »

VIVA LA PIZZA

(i think we need to get shirts made)

RebeccaG · « **Reply #29 on:** August 01, 2004, 09:38:31 PM »

You can always have expatriate café t-shirts made!

El Manco · « **Reply #30 on:** August 02, 2004, 05:44:14 AM »

i think t-shirts will be a good way to spread the wholesome word of Pizza

and hey, the expatriate café would be my kind of corporate lobby!

mlwalton · « **Reply #31 on:** August 02, 2004, 06:27:43 PM »

Ok, the Pizza Party - I'm behind it all the way....because it's all about choice man! think of the possibilities....toppings anyway you want 'em....

About the HC factor.....I've seen her deny several times in interviews that she's not pursuing the presidency in '08....although, if she were to run I'd support her 100%. I read her book Living History and I was very impressed with her. I gained new respect for her and a bit of understanding of why she has made the choices she has made (staying with Bill, going into politics, raising Chelsea, etc....) It's a good read. And as someone who has been accused of being 'abrasive' herself, (which by the way I'm not, I'm a pussycat

) I think that whenever there is a strong woman who is assertive and outspoken, there is always a double-standard for adjectives used to describe her versus her male counterpart. - just my two cents

Anyway, rock on Pizza Party....our slogan could be \"The Pizza Party - enjoy a slice of life\" B) ....okay that was cheesy (no pun intended)

Salud!

Michelle

cadykat · « **Reply #32 on:** August 03, 2004, 08:30:41 PM »

Michelle you crack me up!!! I like the slogan but i have no idea how to get shirts made here in spain or i would totally get one... i suppoose i could just write it on a plain white shirt... hmmm.... anyways i have to say as a person who is been called abrasive myself i completely agree with michelle.... its a total double standard, i know what i want and have no problem saying it.... so i guess that makes me aggressive.... i have to laugh, because one of the trainers at itc who has a softer personality told me that i should try and ask him things without being so aggressive...i think i asked him something like when is this blah blah blah and he got really offended by my american way.. hehhe anyways thats sorta off the topic....speaking off the topic im really nervous im not going to find a job in valencia and i know i cant do a lot now seeing how its augost and everything is closed im slighty panicing.... i have had so far good luck with all of my transitions i hope to stay on this path and find a job...... so far i really havnt met anybody who said that they didnt find a job at the begining of the school year and had to return home, and i have some experience and a certificate... anyways im worring and i dont have anyfriends right now so im pouting to all of you guys... booo hooo ehehhehe unless you call a 2 and 4 yr olds friends... ok ok me voy a duchar y buscar algo para hacer!!!

Viva la pizza
katy

mlwalton · « **Reply #33 on:** August 03, 2004, 09:45:31 PM »

hey there Katy girl,

Listen my sister, you are going to be just fine. Find the local watering hole and go have a cerveza after work.

....about Valencia, no sense in projecting fear about the future (even the immediate future) when you can't do anything about it until you get there.

You'll get to Valencia, you'll hit the pavement running, spend some euros at a copy center making copies of a flyer advertising for English lessons and copies of your cv/resume and buy some scotch tape. You'll go to schools and acedamias, you'll get interviews, and you'll post the flyers at bus stops, grocery stores, and the post office (if that's allowed)....you'll get work. Everything will be okay.

And all of us here at the forum are cheering you on

give me a \"K\", give me an \"A\" give me a \"T\" and a \"Y\" GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO KATY!!!!

(Ok, that last bit was a bit far out, but everyone needs a cheerleader in their corner

)

Keep us posted chica!

Salud!

Michelle

silo · « **Reply #34 on:** August 04, 2004, 06:41:55 PM »

So if ranchero is really bad...what does that say about the \"ensalada ranchera\" that McDonald$ has introduced in Spain say about it?

And I don´t know how anyone here can even consider calling a Pizza hut!!!!! As you said, it is expensive as hell.

I am not pro or con anyone as much as I don´t care for Bush. I´m not especially convinced that Kerry would be any better. I think one thing we must take into account is that people in the upper tier of the US government know things and see things that we don´t as normal citizens. Reportedly, the US government was suckered into the Iraq war among other things by \"fabricated intelligence\" from their friends the northern Kurds who swore that Saddam Hussein was doing this and that. The thing that worries me the most out of the Iraq war is that...

A. The U.S. government doesn´t know the difference between good and bad intelligence. Meaning we either don´t have people working on it, or the people aren´t adequate to distinguish the difference.
B. The fact that it is mereley looking like profitable exploitation of a country. (in case you haven´t noticed contractors pouncing on oportunity like a fly on caca)
C. The fact that it should be Iraqis dying for their country and not Americans to overthrow a dictator.
D. There is no apparent exit strategy (meaning we are either there for a long time (bye bye tax dollars for public education, health, etc.) or they have no idea what the hell they are doing.

One interesting thing about living here, is that from the outside in, the US looks like a mess when you aren´t being spoon fed Fox News and CNN (which admittedly I watch at times for the entertainment value and because sometimes it´s nice to watch something in English once in a while so as not to think so much. So anyways back to this...The US has 2 political parties, so you can vote radical right, or radical left. In a country the roughly the size of a U.S. State (Spain) there are I don´t know how many political parties to choose from and to form a government they take the majorities of these political parties and do their give and take as far as political decisions. The electoral college is a joke. Okay, it could serve to represent people who don´t vote, but if they don´t vote, it´s because they don´t care. That´s right I said \"US\". I refuse to vote until I am presented with a candidate who is not a lying, cheating, babykissing, cheesy smiling, son of a witch. I refuse to participate in the sham that is an election and I refuse to contribute to it because they do not and will not represent me. Two people I would vote for would be either Jesse Ventura or Colin Powell. I did not follow Jesse Ventural gubernatorial history very well, but from what I did hear, he did not side with one party or another. Being independent, he listened to both sides, if he wanted a law passed, he got them together and they made their compromise. This is democracy. Not fighting for years to get one judge appointed because he is seen as being republican or democrat, that just wastes time and money on stupid caca as is so ably done by our government.

Anyways, that´s enough for now. As I have a life, I am going to live it and we will continue this later.

P.S. I know it sounds like I am anti-American, but I´m not...I don´t care for Spain´s president either......\"Thuper Thappy\" Tony, where the hell did he get that logo that came out during the election? the ZP....THAT WAS HORRIBLE.

Visca Catalunya, Força Barça, Zidane is a witch, Ronaldinho is now number 1 in the world. I´m ouuuuuuuuuuut!

mlwalton · « **Reply #35 on:** August 05, 2004, 08:04:00 AM »

If you don't vote, you don't have a voice.

And as far as I know politics has always been a dirty business. Who would of thought that a vegetarian painter would turn out to be one of the most horrific perpetrators of genocide in history?

Ok I now return you to our regularly shceduled meeting of the Pizza Party - \"Enjoy a slice of life\". I think t-shirts are an excellant idea....

Salud!

Michelle

silo · « **Reply #36 on:** August 05, 2004, 03:00:09 PM »

If you do vote, you don´t have a voice because the government does whatever the hell it wants...When was the last time they asked you if you wanted a tax increase? When was the last time they asked America if they wanted to go to war?

mlwalton · « **Reply #37 on:** August 05, 2004, 06:17:56 PM »

Shiloh,

I'm not going to argue with you in this forum. Especially when I've already had this arguement with you through MSN Messenger. Your vote is your voice. You don't like they way your Congressman/Conresswoman voted, then you vote them out. That's how the system works.

Email me if you want to discuss this further.

El Manco · « **Reply #38 on:** August 05, 2004, 09:48:40 PM »

boy... the things that go on when you don't visit the forum for a few days.

so hello again all Pizza Partiers, our delegates from around the US and our Spain chapters!

i'd say you gotta vote. even if it's a small voice, even if we're not asked weather you want tax cuts/hikes or a war in iraq (and i know the spaniards are with us on that one), we are at least asked at the end of the term if we want to go on Mr. W's Wild Ride one more time.

and even if it doesn't win much, someone of clout might notice there are a bunch of oddballs out there turning their backs to the norm and voting for soemthing crazy called \"Pizza.\"

but back to the great HC, i was wondering what kind of response i'd get from the abrasive comment. I mean hell, we all can be abrasive. I guess our Pizza Party already has 2 self-proclaimed abrasive Pizzamakers and i'll sign up as the third. and my thing was, so is teresa kerry, telling reporters to shove it and all, which i personally find amusing. just for some reason, it seems like she can \"do the abrasive\" and be outspoken and opinionated (which she sure as hell is) more pleasantly. whereas hillary strikes me as doing it rather bitterly. maybe i should read that book, although i fear it was written by a ghost writer...politicians like to do that.

i dunno.. maybe i'd look at it differently if i was a woman. which really sucks, i try damn hard to look at things equally. thats what the pizza party's all about: we're all just equally delicious slices of one big super cheesy pie!

anyways, i know it has little to do with the purpose of the expat cafe, but i've actually enjoyed the discourse in this post so much i'm thinking of making a Pizza Party site to encourage such productive dialogue. i'm just really tired of two artifical sides haranguing each other till some \"final victory,\" as opposed to talking, figuring out others' concernes and coming to some middle ground. i know, it's idealistic, but i'm still young. i can still get away with trying to do something good.

y no os preocupáis, we will sell t-shirts.

¡VIVA LA PIZZA!

-Cocinero Eric

mlwalton · « **Reply #39 on:** August 06, 2004, 01:26:36 AM »

ok not to be persnickety, but here's the webster's definition for

abrasive:

1.) tending to abrade
2.) causing irritation

neither of which is particularly flattering.....sorry, it's a pet peeve of mine....equality in adjective use for men and women.

Long live the Pizza Party - \"Enjoy a slice of life.\" And Eric, if you do start that site, I elect you our first President (well President of the Pizza Party....we'll worry about the country after we get the t-shirts).

Salud!

Michelle

karyn · « **Reply #40 on:** August 06, 2004, 04:23:24 AM »

Maybe I could get Lou Malnati's of Chicago to sponsor the Pizza Party??

Karyn

El Manco · « **Reply #41 on:** August 06, 2004, 08:16:26 PM »

Awesome... and i don't mind if anyone accuses me of having interests in the Pizza industry. Who are we going to invade, little italy?

Angmaj · « **Reply #42 on:** August 07, 2004, 01:47:38 AM »

Speaking of US intelligence, do you all think they are \"misinterpreting\" the new NY/Newark/Washington threats?

It was funny to hear a reporter ask the NYC Police Commissioner and Mr. Bloomberg himself if we should trust the reports and the warnings. No we shouldn't, we'll just let 9/11 happen all over again.(sarcasm...) Obviously to stop living, working and taking advantage of the best city of the world is rediculous and would only show the Bin Laden's of the world that WE ARE GIVING IN AND THAT WE ARE SCARED OF THEM!! That's what they want... ppl to say home from work, Wall St. to close down and for the ECONOMY to crumble. Well sorry, we are too good for that, even if our Pres thinks there are a lot of African Americans are in Africa. Key word:AMERICANS, duh!!

To not take the necessary precautions is just asking for more problems (especially since the 9/11 Commission published their accounts......) so yes we should take the threats and intelligence somewhat seriously in that we employ the necessary protective agents and investigations.

anyway just a comment on stupid questions.

silo · « **Reply #43 on:** August 07, 2004, 03:33:53 PM »

I thought it was quite interesting that all of this is based on intelligence that is more than 3 years old. According to the news they are targets that were being cased even before 9/11, so it seems to me some grandstanding on the part of the government thinking that something COULD happen during the elections or running up to them. Kind of like trying to say \"see, we´re on top of it, just give us 3 or 4 years to process the data and some patience in case we ignore it, or gets taken to someone´s house stuffed in their pants\" (Sandy Berger joke)

News:

Author Topic: US elections (Read 6581 times)