Suddenly I wish that I would have voted for Ron Paul for President.
By murderistic
@murderistic (2278)
United States
January 9, 2009 8:43am CST
Congress met today to discuss a bill about the crisis in Gaza. The bill, introduced by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), puts the all blame for the current violence between Israel and Gaza entirely on Hamas. It offers unconditional support to Israel, tacitly endorsing the raining down of bombs on the heads of Gazan civilians, a tactic which has led to the deaths of over 700 Palestinians in just a few weeks. In fact, it endorses continued bloodshed of both Israelis and Palestinians.
I am dumbstruck by how one-sided this bill is. The US should condemn Hamas. They are deliberately targeting civilians with Qassam rockets and 9 Israelis have died since Israel started bombing Gaza. But they should also hold Israel accountable. Accountable for denying Palestinians access to badly needed medicine, fuel and food through their year-long blockade of Gaza; accountable for endangering the lives of Israelis by repeatedly violating ceasefires and refusing to negotiate with Hamas, a group, which facts show, can maintain a ceasefire**; accountable for the destructive US-made weaponry they are using on dense population centers, which has now drawn rocket fire from southern Lebanon and threatens to enflame the rest of the Mideast; and accountable for Israel's illegal 40-year occupation.
But it does no such thing. Instead, it reads like a press release written by AIPAC, giving Israel carte blanche to do whatever it wants whenever it wants, without legal or moral restraint. It does not call for an immediate ceasefire, or an end to Gaza's blockade, which is also an act of war. (Quoted from the Jewish Voice for Peace).
I just watched Ron Paul speak to the house in opposition to this bill. After countless democrats and republicans said the same BS in support of the bill over and over, Ron Paul came up and wowed me. If you haven't seen his statement to congress you can watch his youtube video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08gTWqWrI4M
4 people like this
8 responses
@cbreeze (1205)
• United States
9 Jan 09
We need to learn to vote for the person who holds views closest to our own. The third party candidates will never be taken seriously if the American voter continues to ignore them. If the candidates chosen in the major parties don't fit with your values and beliefs, don't vote for them. It may take time, but eventually the masses will realize they have other options than just the two major parties. If you keep doing the same thing, you will keep getting the same results.
3 people like this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
9 Jan 09
I think a lot more people are going to start feeling that way as they get to know him. Most people did not take the time really listen to him, what he stood for and what he would have done for this country. Plus the mass media did not help any.
I voted for Ron Paul. Yep I did a write in. Why? Because I belived he was the best person for the job. Too bad more people did not get to know him before they voted....the election might have turned out differently and this country would be going back in the correct direction again.
2 people like this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
9 Jan 09
some agree ,some disagree. Just like in any party. No one ever completely agrees with any party or politican. Sense you seem to be interesting in Ron Paul now...if you want to learn more about him and his movement you can do a web search on Campaign for Liberty. Ron Paul started this after he lost the primary. You might like it. But then again I am a district leader for this group so I am probly biased.
1 person likes this
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
9 Jan 09
Yes, I did see the website, actually I posted a link above 
but I will definitely look into it more. Thanks!
but I will definitely look into it more. Thanks!@murderistic (2278)
• United States
9 Jan 09
Well when it comes to his stance on Israel, it really doesn't seem that even his supporters agree with him.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
13 Jan 09
Who cares what "party" someone is in if he or she is right for the job. I hear that about a candidates from people...I really like such and such but he is a republican (or a democrat) so I can't vote for that party. That is how we get unqualified, unethical jerks into office. Because we get stuck in party lines instead of looking at the individual running and wether or not he or she is the best possible person for the job. SO they vote for the other person just so they can "follow the party lines".
That fustrates me to no end....It is a big and I mean HUGE part (and cause) of the problems we have in this country.
1 person likes this
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
13 Jan 09
Well I wouldn't say that I came to the party, especially because that parties name starts with an "R" But as an independent voter I have always struggled between being liberal and conservative. I am very liberal on many issues and very conservative on others. Essentially, there is no party that I would fit into. But in retrospect I would say that if I could go back and know what I knew now (wow I sound like Hillary Clinton 
) I would have voted for Ron Paul. His stance on the Middle East is probably the best stance that the US could have, which is in essence, try to stay out of it! No, we don't want to lose Israel as an ally, but by supporting them we are making ourself more prone to terror attacks. But I guess no one likes to think about that.
But as an independent voter I have always struggled between being liberal and conservative. I am very liberal on many issues and very conservative on others. Essentially, there is no party that I would fit into. But in retrospect I would say that if I could go back and know what I knew now (wow I sound like Hillary Clinton ) I would have voted for Ron Paul. His stance on the Middle East is probably the best stance that the US could have, which is in essence, try to stay out of it! No, we don't want to lose Israel as an ally, but by supporting them we are making ourself more prone to terror attacks. But I guess no one likes to think about that.1 person likes this
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
13 Jan 09
Oh I agree with you, I think it's so sick that people will stand up for things that they don't agree with simply because of the party that they're in or that they think they should be in. For instance, when church leaders pressure voters to vote republican for "ethical" reasons - OMG I get so frustrated with that! Forget about how qualified the person is, just vote for them to keep America ethical! The truth is that neither side is completely (or even mostly) ethical. And I'm sure if most conservative Christians educated themselves they would likely vote for a third party.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
10 Jan 09
I've never quite been able to totally understand it but it seems that both parties will always side with Israel no matter what they do. It's just the politically correct thing to do, I suppose. I do feel for the people of Israel, I agree that it's Hamas that has started the killings and bombings but I don't understand why nobody wants Israel to stop, only Hamas. I don't pretend to understand everything about ths conflict that has been going on forever and will probably continue forever but I can't help but feel the saying "It takes two to tango" applies here now.
Annie
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
15 Jan 09
I think you're right. As I said, I DO feel for the Israeli people but I also understand the Palestinians have a point as well. I was listening to some very disturbing things on the radio today about how the Red Cross couldn't even get to some of the severely wounded civilians in Gaza and how they had to take donkey carts to get to them after walking over a mile from where they had to park the ambulances. I care about the people of every country in the world. They're not responsible for what their government or their military does, they're just trying to live their lives and just SURVIVE.
Annie
1 person likes this
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
10 Jan 09
I'm not denying that Hamas had some part in it, they did violate the ceasefire in November in response to Palestinians being killed in the West Bank. They had no qualms about violating the ceasefire because throughout the entire ceasefire Israel never let up on it's blockade of Gaza, which was part of the ceasefire agreement. But people don't talk about that, they like to simplify it as "Hamas fires rockets as Israel, Israel defends itself." The truth is that although I am not calling the rockets justified, I see no way how Israel is justified in it's extreme actions, now threatening a complete occupation of Gaza and to overthrow Hamas.
The reason why everyone in the US has to support Israel is because we need a strong ally in the Middle East... the thing is that they apparently don't see that the main root cause of Islamic terrorism traces back to the injustices in Palestine and we should be more concerned with justice and preventing terrorism than an ally.
1 person likes this
@tombiz (2036)
• Philippines
9 Jan 09
The problem in the Middle East did not just started yesterday or even a year ago. The basic problem dynamic in the area goes back for hundred of years.
There is definitely no easy solution to this plaque in the area. What we saw on tv and what we read on the news could never easily encapsulate the whole premise of the entangling hostilities between many camps in the volatile region.
The journey for peace will never end in the Middle East. In fact, ME geopolitics could be a bomb waiting to explode engulfing the whole world.
Sometimes it is easy to blame the parties involved in the current situation without digging into the foundation of the problem. For as long as both parties are not willing to establish true peace in the area, we should expect more problems there.
The only way for these anti-Israel forces to quit pounding on Israelites is for all of them to be shipped out of the area. Surrounding countries of Israel dreamed of one day waking up and learning that Israel is no more part of the Middle East map. This is the main objectives of the surrounding enemies of Israel.
Will that day be coming soon?
1 person likes this
@vellibiz (297)
• United States
10 Jan 09
did you suggest we move everyone out of isreal? lol, that's been done so many times!!! 1. its impossible to gainer that kind of support from the isrealis, 2. even if you did make them move, they would only migrate back, beacuse isreali is their biblical home. i think its even more funny because weve always had fighting their, the place which in the bible says, will spark armagedon.
1 person likes this
@vjayrao06 (107)
• India
13 Jan 09
tombiz is utterly unrealistic and absurd. You can't ship THE WHOLE POPULATION OF A COUNTRY.It is neither possible nor desirable.
The only solution is that everyone must accept the reality. Israel is a reality. Similarly Palestine is a reality.First of all, let these two countries accept this fact. Then the second fact is that Israel has by force occupied Palestinian land. This injustice has to be rectified.
USA must realise this too and modify its policy accordingly.This HAS TO BE DONE IN THE INTEREST OF NOT ONLY THESE TWO COUNTRIES, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF WORLD PEACE.
This step shall also help to reduce terrorist activites worldwide.As is generally accepted,REAL OR PERCEIVED INJUSTICES ARE THE VERY SOIL ON WHICH TERRORISM BEST THRIVES.
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
10 Jan 09
Tombiz, you are right in saying that there is no easy solution and that what we see on tv could never easily encapsulate the whole premise of the entangling hostilities in the region. But then you go on to give an "easy solution" - ship all who oppose Israel somewhere else! What do you expect will happen after that? You don't think that would cause a world war?
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
9 Jan 09
let me guess. You voted for Obama? yeh, don't feel too bad. You fell in to the same trap millions of otherwise intelligent americans did. I liked Ron Paul. Sad what the media did to him. Even sadder how the "truth" movement followed him around like the plague and devestated any credibility he had. In the end I ended up supporting Chuck Baldwin, who has similar views and was endorsed by Ron Paul.
You felt a vote for a 3rd party candidate was a "wasted vote" you felt compelled to vote for someone who was "the lesser of 2 evils" you voted for someone "you knew could win"
Chalk it up as a lesson learned and pass the lesson on. Neither of the 2 big parties represent the constitution or the American people any more.
2 people like this
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
9 Jan 09
LOL no I didn't feel that a 3rd party vote was a wasted vote. I didn't vote for Ron Paul because of his stance on immigration, however right now that seems so extremely unimportant to me.
2 people like this
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
9 Jan 09
Oh and just so you know I was actually planning to boycott the election entirely... and every election of my life for that matter. So there's a real wasted vote for you. But I decided that it was more important to vote for someone who cared about the poor and the impoverished in America and worldwide, and someone who valued diplomacy before military action.
2 people like this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
9 Jan 09
I agree. THe only "wasted" vote is the one that is never cast. I do not care who you vote for...just vote. Make your voice heard.
2 people like this
@vjayrao06 (107)
• India
9 Jan 09
I am astonished to learn that they can be so blatant! Don't they know the world public opinion? Don't they read newspapers and learn that millions of people---not only Muslims but Christians, Hindus; Europeans,Africans, Arabians--different countries on all continents are condemnig this heinous attack on the Palestinians and demanding to stop the war at once.The UN observers and Inspectors continuously contradict the different claims made by Israel.Their own (Israel ) Parliament members are blaming the govt. saying that it is waging this war only to win the ensuing elections there.
Little wonder so many people are losing faith in democratic means and methods as they watch the debates of the kind you mentioned.
May God ( if he is somewhere near ) save the world from such maniacs!
1 person likes this
@TheCasualReporter (283)
• France
10 Jan 09
Considering Ron Paul was running for President, it almost sounds as if you are pointing to a failure by the new Obama administration before he's even been inaugurated. Talk about a pre-emptive strike! I haven't yet read the bill you discuss, but ex-President Jimmy Carter, the last President to have brokered a Middle East Peace Accord, said on CNN that he thought it appropriate to strike back at Hamas after Hamas launched missiles on Israel but he thought the level of the Israeli response was inappropriate and unnecessary. He pointed out that the Palestenians simply want supplies, so Israel should have kept the supplies coming to Gaza and focused bombing on the tunnels used by Palestenians to smuggle arms into Gaza. Sounds intelligent to me. I know he and Obama have a great deal of respect for one another so perhaps Obama will help broker that type of a peace accord when he gets in office.
1 person likes this
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
10 Jan 09
Obama has made his support for Israel very clear. And by everything that I've been hearing the democrats in congress say, save a few, none of them are concerned with the devastation and war crimes of Israel and are only concerned with keeping them as a strong ally. Israel is now saying that the fourth part of their operation is to overthrow Hamas and reoccupy Gaza.
