LegendKiller

There were a few kids in my neighborhood that I hung out with, two were brothers, Ben and Bill. Their mom was super super nice. Eventually she got divorced from their father and remarried to a guy named Leo.

Leo had lost his wife and 2 kids to a drunk driver. He lost Lisa 4 years after they married and had their kid Matt. I saw matt days after he was born and I saw him grow, he is now a senior in high school. Great kid, Leo took awesome care of him, straight A's, going to the UofMN next year, all without Lisa.

Leo found out 3 years ago that he had a rare degenerative marrow disease and they told him that in 3 years he'd come up with a super rare form of cancer. He now has Leukemia, a very aggressive strain. Matt is now losing his father.

This is the 2nd person this year that I know personally that has fallen to cancer. Yet we spend 200 BILLION in Iraq, for what? So people can drive their SUV's with cheap gas? So we could eliminate a man that had no direct threat to us?

Why couldn't we spend that 200 billion on cancer research?

Why would we want to vote for a president who has eliminated government research on stem cells? Sure, stem cells might not be the silver bullet, but why not give it a chance? Why eliminate it BEFORE we have explored it?


I my eyes, President Bush hasn't just killed 1000+ soldiers, but he has also killed the two people I know and countless others in the future.


Thanks GWB, I am sure all of the H2, Expedition, Aviator, Navigator and other gas guzzling drivers really appreciate the sacrifices you have volunteered others to make on their behalf.


LK

johnnymk

I lost a friend a couple of weeks ago to leukemia. His daughter is convinced that the radiation treatment performed around 7 years ago for his prostate cancer caused the leukemia.

__________________
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” (Winston Churchill)

nickel

what are you doing to make a difference in the fight against cancer research LK?
that is where your energies should be directed.

my father died of cancer 2 yrs and 4 mos ago. i am not blaming the Bush Administration for his death.

__________________
*click me*

Cantacuzene

LK isn't in a position to affect any great changes in cancer research, the President is.

Do you honestly think cancer or AIDS or fuel efficient cars would remain problems if we directed our zeal (and money) in government towards them? I sure don't.

nickel

tsk-tsk Canta, that is just like telling someone not to vote, because their one vote won't make a difference.

cheapie

i'm sorry about your friend but this is probably the stupidest thing you've ever said here.

__________________
70% of the world is covered by water. The rest is covered by Bob Sanders

ray

LegendKiller

Why? Because our President would rather focus his attention and OUR money on misadventures aimed at keeping his friends rich and gas prices down?


Ohhhh, thats right, who gives a flying fvck about our people and research for cancer as long as the Iraqi's are free, yeah, thats pretty stupid of me to forget that.

Yeah, its stupid to think that instead of wasting 1000 lives on war that has gotten us NOTHING we should have devoted resources to RESEARCH. Its STUPID to think that 200 BILLION could have been spent on something OTHER than his idiotic war in Iraq.


Yeah, I am so damn stupid for thinking that our president has been neglectful to cancer research while going to war, wasting 1000+ lives, 200 billion dollars, and 4 years of presidency while squandering international alliances.


You know what is REALLY stupid cheapie? Rubber stamping a president because he is republican, because he is a wartime president. Its stupid to think that 200 billion is best spent in Iraq. Its stupid to think that 1000 of our soldiers died for a good cause that will not improve because the morons in the white house mismanaged the whole thing. Its stupid to think that Stem Cell research should be stopped.


Its really stupid to even vote for a president that cares more about Iraq than our own people.


LK




I guess you cannot see the irony in this situation.

How can I affect change? I can tell as many people I know about the problem, HOPING that they vote for a person who would solve the problem, or will not repeat the same thing.

Yet, when I tell people this they would rather say I am doing nothing. The act of telling them is an attempt to do something, however, they would rather ignore the problem and say its ME rather than affect change.


Its people that ignore Iraq, 200 billion, 1000+ dead, Stem Cell gov't research cut, that affect NO change at all. Its people like you who rubber stamp Bush that are the problem, because you ignore everything else.


LK

gear02

well said. Republicans never question their leaders, always giving them their approval, even if they end up screwing them. But hey, he's our GOP leader, we can't question him. That' unpatriotic.

ray

I blame George Bush for the failure of my Toyota Camry for not spending $200B on automotive research and safety.

I blame Bill Clinton for the dot-bomb, when he could have spent $200B saving all the start-up companies.

I blame Apex for spending money to set up this website, when he could be donating his money to AIDS research instead.

I blame everybody on these boards for buying something from one of the deals, wasting time posting on these boards, and congregating at G|A get togethers when they could be out helping the community.

Please dude. Bad things happen to everyone, and there will always be the people who feel so helpless. How do you think I felt when my dog died of cancer? I'm not going to blame anybody for my dog's tumor. Unfortunately, it is what it is until someone can find a cure. C'est la vie. Life goes on.

nickel

that was very callous. i have not rubberstamped Bush. i do not agree with everything he has done. i am not the problem. i am not ignoring everything else. you are very presumptious.

you are speaking of finding a cure for cancer in your original post. i am wondering what you have done at all to help the quest besides trying to place the blame on someone?

you have already said that stem cell research may not be the "silver bullet" - so it is not a set in stone remedy for the situation. although, i too would like to see this research continue.

personally, i have donated money, and i have participated in fundraisers for cancer research. if it's all about the money as you say, i am doing my part more than just telling people who to vote for.

-

------------------
so wrong...
i am Republican. i do not think our President is infallible.

Merlin

Let's cut LK a little slack. He lost someone and as such should not be expected to be rational. Regardless of your view on the war it had nothing to do with your friend's cancer. To think that those funds or anything else could have saved him is just desperate. I'm sorry for your loss and I hope the pain does not prompt you to lash out too much.

__________________

nickel

i agree with you Merly.
i apologize LK if i went off on you too strongly. cancer has hit home with me too.
all anyone has to do is say the word and i can feel a flurry of emotions.
unfortunately sometimes our emotions get the best of us.

cheapie

cuz he didn't kill your friend. that's why it's stupid.



on pretty much everything.


i too have lost close family to cancer, heart disease, etc. but it wasn't clinton's fault when it happened to my family and it's not bush's fault now.

LegendKiller

No, he hasn't killed Leo (although he isn't dead yet), but he has allowed the focus to be shifted from what is important.

I also agree that money isn't always the best solution and it certainly has a point of marginal return. However, do you seriously think that even 50 billion extra couldn't help research?

Additionally, perhaps just ONE of those 1000 troops we have lost would have been a world reknown cancer researcher, yet now he is lost. And for what?

What I am pissed about is priorities. I am pissed about the greater good. I am REALLY pissed about a President who seems more concerned with Iraq than most other issues that will plague us in the future. Seriously, he has cut some of the most important research we have had going, or severely limited it. These range from Cold Fusion, Alt Fuels, Stem Cells, all of the way to reduction in ground pollution.


When you look at him, what is his trademark for presidency? He has gone to war in Afghanistan, which is great. He has gone to war in Iraq, which as cost us 200 billion and 1000 lives, he has reduced key research, both medical and environmental, and he has hurt international relationships.

He didn't kill my two friends, but he, through his neglect of the country, has probably aided in killing thousands more in the future. That is a shame and is something that most people should think about when they go to the polls.


What is better? Cheaper gas, freedom for Iraqi's, or medical research that could save millions?

LK

nickel

dude, that is such a can o' worms.

that same cancer researcher could've been aborted.

LegendKiller

Don't jump the shark, the topic is the stupid idiotic moves the president has made in war, both in men and money.


LK

nickel

zing

cheapie

dude....don't be looking for me to argue w/you regarding priorities. i was just contesting what you said. imho, we should chop the military budget by having fewer conflicts and soldiers stationed elsewhere and spend it on heart disease and cancer, both of which have killed my g'parents. additionally, i think the disproportionate amount of money we spend on aids research is silly as well. but that's just mho.

ski

very good point that many fail to realize. although, there's a flip side that that person may have done nothing to contribute society, but the fact remains that there is a small chance, so you are both right in a way.

Well said.

__________________
And closer...

Merlin

Actually if you want to blame a president for your problem you should blame Kennedy. If 35 years ago he took all the money we "wasted" to go to the Moon and put it into research we *might* have a cure today. If Bush put the war money there we *might* have a cure in 10 or 20 years. So if you must blame someone, blame the person who actually could have made a difference in your friend's situation.

johnnymk

If I remember correctly, Congress had to vote on the $186 Billion budget for Iraq and approved it.

LegendKiller

If I remember correctly it was Bush who went to war in the first place?



Again, you fail to see the logic. Yes, my friend is dying. Yet why do we continue to support Bush on Iraq when that money could have been spent for the future? Why do people STILL want Bush in office despite his idiotic adventures?


Also, comparing the Apollo missions to Iraq is rediculous. Iraq will do what for us? Ohh yeah, cheaper gas!

Merlin

The war is still going on. Wait a few years before assessing the impact of it on our lives. Only then can you rightfully determine if the money was well spent. I'm sorry for your friend but your rant is

LegendKiller

I thought the war was over and we are just dealing with bands of foreign fighters?


Face it, the outlook in Iraq is BAD. It won't improve for a long time, and even then its going to take a decade for that country to get back to its pre-GW1 levels of production. Between insurgents destroying the pipeline every day to increased bombings, things are going from bad to worse and its going to get even more worse before it gets better.

We screwed the pooch in Iraq. In the end what dividends will we see for 200+ billion and probably over 1500 casualties? Some cheaper gas and a "democracy" forced upon people.

Yeah, sounds like a real great business proposition.


How about this. I create a company by stealing my neighbors car and killing him. Then his brother and kids come after me and try to kill me. All the while I force you, cheapie, Nickel, and ray to invest 200 billion in cash so you can get free rides in my car. Meanwhile, the car breaks down all of the time and requires more money. Furthermore, while running from the relatives of the dead guy, I run over a few thousand people and kill the rest of his family...ohhh and don't forget, cheapie and nickel die.


Sounds like a GREAT proposition, I bet we could sucker P3rsian into betting on it!!


LK

psycho-

If that 200 billion wasn't spent on the war, would it have been spent on Cancer research? Probably not. It'd probably not be spent and we'd just have a smaller deficit instead.

Also, you are right about Apollo missions vs. Iraq.

But, truth be said: last time I checked, Apollo missions haven't helped your friend either.

__________________
Victor

Showtime

He would still be dying of cancer no matter who was in office. Nothing any president could do to change that. The only good thing about cancer is that you get a chance to prepare for death. Better to give him a call and tell how much you respect him and lend support than belittling Bush. Bush gets plenty of that for things he does have control over.

-j

__________________
NBA REPORT 10-11/ The 3-Peat!


1948 1949 1950 1952 1953 1954 1972 1980 1982 1985 1987 1988 2000 2001 2002 2009 2010 Reigning NBA CHAMPS!

LegendKiller

Sigh, yet again I must explain that yes, my friend is dying. Yes, people have died in the past. Yes, money has been squandered in the past.

HOWEVER


Does that mean that we should support a president that continues to do this?!?!?! One that has squandered MORE, cut MORE good programs, and wasted MORE good lives?


I really wonder if some people can see the forest through the trees.


LK

ray

Can you guarantee that Kerry will do a better job with funds? Can you guarantee what the next 10 presidents will do to this country? I can see the forest through the trees, but the reality is, I don't trust any of the recent presidential candidates. If you don't like the way things are done here, perhaps going to a different country is the best solution.

psycho-

LK-

I think you're starting to cross over the line into making this into a political thread. I can understand the fustration in the original post, but you've dragged it out to more than it needs to be.

It's not about your friend anymore.