The Angry Fat Man

As I was looking for something to write about today, I came across several articles that allude to the 1980 election and the famous quote from Ronald Regan. The quote in question is, "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?"

Interestingly enough, both candidates have been using this question. At least in limited fashion. Neither of them is dumb enough to to come out and say it directly, but they are hinting at it. Kerry has had some of his flunkies ask the question. Bush was asked the question in an interview and said that at least 50% of the people in the United States would say yes.

Hey candidates... Is anyone really better off? We have had a lot of crap happen in the last 4 years. September 11. Skyrocketing oil prices. War in Afghanistan. War in Iraq. There are a couple of those that are questionable as to their reasoning, but the question still remains...

Are you better off today than you were four years ago? Probably not, but would we have been in a different boat if someone else had been in office? Probably not.

First candidate to actually ask that question is going to lose some serious points. Just for being stupid.

Still tied at 0-0.

56 Days & Counting...

Posted by The Angry Fat Man at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The American death toll in Iraq surpassed the 1000 person mark today.

No matter what side of the fence you sit on, that is not a good thing...

Still 0-0.

56 Days & Counting...

Posted by The Angry Fat Man at 09:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sunday and Labor Day... Really slow news days.

Nothing all that good to talk about.

The score is still tied at 0 - 0.

57 Days & Counting...

Posted by The Angry Fat Man at 08:53 PM | Permalink

John Kerry decided today to talk about jobs, so that seems like a good topic for me.

Both Bush and Kerry are campaigning on the issue of jobs. They are both spending a lot of time in the "Rust Belt" section of the United States: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio and Pennsylvania. Of these, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania are considered "swing states". More on that topic in a minute.

They are both going into that section of the country and talking about how they are the candidate that is going to foster more job growth and it is going to help them. The people in the Rust Belt. Here is the problem with that argument... I don't believe it. Not at all. In fact, I think that it is nothing more that hot air.

Here is why... The Rust Belt states have been in decline for the last 40 years. The main problem is that the steel industry can't compete with steel manufacturing from other countries. One person, whether they are a Democrat or a Republican is not going to be able to help them out. But, if they are able to convince them that they are, then there are three of the coveted swing states and that candidate will be that much closer to the White House.

At this point, the whole job creation argument is a fighting point that is going to win the person with the most convincing answer a couple of swing states. It doesn't really affect me personally, so at this point, neither candidate has gained any additional credibility.

The score is tied at 0 - 0.

59 Days & Counting...

Posted by The Angry Fat Man at 04:39 PM | Permalink

There are 60 days left and then it will be all over.

The election, that is...

Right now, I am an undecided voter. If the elections were held today, I would probably avoid voting. I don't completely agree with either candidate. Each of them has some things that I agree with, but I just don't feel like I can get behind either one.

So, here is what I am going to do. Each day, I am going to try to find one topic that I can consider. Some of them will be controversial, some of them will probably be stupid. At the end of it all, I will be an informed voter. I may still be undecided, but at least I will be able to tell you why.

60 Days & Counting...

Posted by The Angry Fat Man at 07:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)