And the debate questions were............?

This was a referendum on exactly how inadequate the MSM is on politics. You can not be subjective about an issue when you and your news organization has an agenda of its own.

Dear Ambra,

Morals? Whas dat? We have a bone to pick with you, young lady.

Sincerely,

Whoopi Goldberg of the
The Goldberg, Franken, and Michael Moron Alliance

It's interesting that the media has seemed to be so focused on the issue of security and the economy. Hannity has described these as scare tactics and I think that's exactly what was trying to be done. In reality people really cared about the moral issues and the attempt made by the media and the Democrats to scare everyone into thinking that the big issues were security and the economy didn't seem to work.

I was actually glad to see that people in this country still had morals. It seems that traditional moral values aren't as rare as we thought. Amendments supporting the defence of traditional marriage are getting a lot of support in a number of states. I seriously doubt that those amendments will be passed without ending up in the Supreme Court but it shows that people do still have a certain moral value system.

I concede Ambra, you were right. Bush won, blah, blah, blah.

But you just wait, in 4-years, we'll be back!

The bitterness is thick and .....well just not very much in a spirit of "working together".

http://adreampuppet.blogspot.com/2004/11/kerry-concedes.html

This guy hates BTW.

Frist in 08!!!!!!

I'd add an additional moral value. Bush's strong leadership makes a stable democracy in Iraq and perhaps Iran more likely. And with that will hopefully come not only more religious freedom, but a willingness to consider Christianity as an alternative.

One of the more depressing facts about the Middle East has been the exodus of Christians whose ancestors have lived there since the time of Christ. With Bush that trend just might be reversed.

--Mike Perry, Seattle

"I'd add an additional moral value. Bush's strong leadership makes a stable democracy in Iraq and perhaps Iran more likely. And with that will hopefully come not only more religious freedom, but a willingness to consider Christianity as an alternative.

One of the more depressing facts about the Middle East has been the exodus of Christians whose ancestors have lived there since the time of Christ. With Bush that trend just might be reversed."

Hmmmm, so now we are about democratizing and evanglizing the Middle East? Scary

If someone had asked me a question about "moral values" I wouldn't have automatically assumed that it was a euphemism for same-sex marriage. (It wasn't on the ballot in my state in any case.) I'd have answered "yes" that "moral values" were important to me... probably more important than the economy and more important than terrorism.

On the other hand, I'd have been thinking very much in terms of foreign policy when I said it. I'd have been thinking of integrity and reputation and steadfastness, and virtues like honor and truth.

Would I know what a poll meant by "moral values" and would a poll know what I meant when I answered "yes"?

Since I come from a religious back-ground that doesn't quite recognize the sanction of the State as "married"... and that goes all the way from ultra-conservative Lutheran to Assemblies of God... marriage being something between a husband and wife and God, combined with my leaning toward a libertarian understanding of the purpose of government, had someone asked me *without* the euphemism, if I put gay marriage at the top of my list of priorities, I'd have said "no."

I understand the election was based on ethical morals (abortion, gay marriage, etc.) and not terrorism and the economy like it should have been, but under Bush's 4-year-run, abortions have increased dramatically, and same sex marriages... c'mon, [sarcasm]electing Kerry into office would have allowed gays to unite in holy matrimony[/sarcasm]. Frankly, I would be more afraid of Dick and his lesbian daughter, but whatever.

I guess the morals people should have been voting on was the thousands (and still counting) of innocent lives being taken in this pointless war. More people have died for God than for any other reason. When will it ever stop?

Tom: The debate questions were mostly on the war and terrorism. Go figure. Oh yeah, and flu shots. HA! I continued to complain that they were asking diverse questions during the first two debates esecially.

Spencer: I agree. For me it shows that this country is still traditional in many of the ways that the media would seek to prove otherwise.

Beau: where ya been?

Matt: you just saved me an email. Thank you thank you *bows* thank you very much.

Well Matt, I guess it comes down to what peoples' definition of morality is.

Julie: I don't think gay marriage was the only thing driving the polls. So are you arguing that most people would attitribute their vote to their moral values (just a differening in what those values represent?)

Mmmkay, enough of me...

The morality and culture angle is starting to be discussed more and more, and I can really appreciate that. That was a perspective I had not begun to give serious thought to at first, but hindsight being what it is, this view is deeply resonant with me. The reason I'm glad Mr Bush was re-elected is I highly respect his focus and clarity on what he has to do. For me, I just took a hard look at John Francois and Momma Ketchup and said, "uhhh.....NO." I had nothing personally against them, because obviously I don't know them, but something about the President's strength of conviction about what he has done and must continue to do, in spite of the criticisms spoke volumes to my CONSCIENCE. I can only hope and pray to be that kind of leader.

There is a lot of sneering at Christians, Evangelicals and "fundamentalists" out there, including by the more Libertarian (read:"socially liberal") arm of the Republican party. Terrorism was the #1 issue to many, but
" values and morality" is the biggest difference between the 2 main parties at the moment. Where one gets their values from, and what informs one's morality colors every action. It is possible to value "freedom" and therefore reject socialistic programs, while at the same time having a morality which "allows" for drug use, prostitution and unfettered sexuality of any nature. It is also possible to believe in social engineering driven by a "social justice" doctrine which borders on communism, while at the same time holding absolutely against abortion and the acceptance of homosexuality. Some of the electorate are single-issue voters, while others must have had quite a time sorting it all out.

There is a great fear "out there" that we evil religious people are going to turn America into a theocracy, prescribing all behaviors and smiting all offenders. They don't understand the quiet determinism of many of us who don't wish to force our religions upon them, but who've finally had a chance to make a stand against having their beliefs rammed down our throats.

I've always felt that the founding of our nation was Provident, and that the wisdom written in our founding documents was beyond that of even the great mortals who were our Founding Fathers. The Constitutional right of freedom of religion insures a diversity of thought. Our modern America differs so from that day when the Bible was the reading primer. The diversity of nationalities and their accompanying religions in our present population presents an additional challenge to our formerly Judeo-Christian makeup. The largest challenge to religious freedom, however, comes from those who eschew any religion at all. They believe all religious beliefs, moralities and many of the accompanying values to be cages, rather than frameworks upon which to build lives.