-=> Quoting Nolan Penney to T Owen <=-
 NP> Yes, Presidential influence can be substantial.  But it isn't
 NP> inherently so.  
 
This is true. 
 
 NP> Mr Ford's influence was many things, but substantial
 NP> wasn't really one of them.  Clinton, for being an outsider, has a heck
 NP> of a lot of influence.  To my eyes, a phenomenal amount of influence. 
 
I see him that way as well, and I find it a bit frightening,  
considering the things he is trying to do; the most noteable to
me being "gun control", naturally. 
 
 NP> I would expect Dole to have every bit as much influence, if not more. 
 NP> Both are consumate schmoozers.  Bill Clinton perhaps a bit more so. 
 NP> People have called Regan a teflon president, but he's nothing compared
 NP> to ole slick Willie.
 
Agreed. I think that Dole is likely to have *more* influence than
Clinton, since he has been playing the game longer, and has more
points accumulated, which he is likely to call in if he is elected.
Schmoozers; yes.
 
 NP> Well I did say BillyBob party.  I view them as one and the same.  But
 NP> yes, you've got the party right.  I come from a family of military
 NP> democrates, if you can believe that.  I joined them after years of
 NP> being an independent because I wanted to vote in primaries.  Which I
 NP> haven't done yet because at primary times I still can't figure out if I
 NP> like anybody.
I see those parties as the same as well. Military Democrats? That
would seem to be a contradiction in terms, but I hadn't really
thought about it before. I never know who to vote for in the primaries,
so I have never done so either.
 NP> When it comes to congressional and local elections, who you vote for
 NP> is important.  Your vote counts, and it may well be your vote that
 NP> makes the decision.  I'm much more inclined for vote damage control
 NP> there, if I consider the damage control worthwhile.  If both candidates
 NP> are roughly equal loosers though, I will probably vote my conscience
 NP> and write in Mickey Mouse .
I feel the same way very often. 
 NP> I also haven't lost sight of the fact that none of us are actually
 NP> voting for the President. The electorial collage is the
 NP> body that actually votes for the president.  All the hype, all the
 NP> concern, it's all just a shell game.
I know. I have never had much respect for this system of election.
It seems to me that a popular vote would be much better.
Take care.
... Happiness is a warm gun.
--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30
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