Quote Originally Posted by greynotsoold View Post
In Montana there are substantial coal reserves. In the recent elections, the line was that, due to excessive regulation at least one plant was forced to close, and that future operations would be curtailed. this was blamed not only on obama, but on jon tester (democratic contender for the senate) and Steve Bullock (erstwhile state attorney general and newly elected democrat governor). That may very well be true. Not being in that business, I have no way of knowing.
I do know, for certain, that anybody running for office, regardless of party, lies. And I am equally certain that their more rabid supporters would, could and do play games with the rest of us to "prove" their points.
I don't think that there is any possibility of anything getting done properly or anything getting better when, no matter which party is in charge, when half the population/"leadership" is not only hoping that the other side fails, but is actively working to make certain that they fail.
This whole trip of playing red/blue, liberal/conservative, democrat/republican like its some fucking football game when people's live and futures are what is being played with is utterly asinine.

Unfortunately, grey, politics is politics and will always be. Gone are the days when the true good of the people... ALL the people... is considered above all else. There's always a hidden political agenda and special interests to appease. Extreme environmentalists would have us shut the country down, so as to not endanger the yellow-striped, hook-billed, heavy-feathered hummingbird... and our children and grandchildren can go camping and see them. Extreme oil and coal advocates would have us think that oil and coal are limitless, and screw the environment... what's a few major oil spills here and there, and who cares about emissions from burning coal.

I don't consider myself either Republican or Democrat (contrary to what Lyle may think, with all due respect, Lyle). But I have a deep mistrust for Mitt Romney, which I expressed as many times as I could before and after the elections. I've never claimed Barack Obama is perfect, either. I'm sure we've had much better and more effective Presidents. But to me it was the lesser of two evils.

You, unlike most of us (or all) in the forum, live in Montana. So you have a long-standing and clear view of the politics in your state and your neck of the woods. You have your reasons for supporting or not supporting certain issues. The issues you consider important may be 180 degrees different from those that someone in NYC might consider important. But your point is well taken. Politicians by and large, lie. Believe me. If a new candidate surfaced tomorrow who looked and sounded capable of leading the country and doing what is best for ALL Americans, not just the wealthy upper class... and could balance the need for energy with the needs of the environment... and could work truly in a bi-partisan manner for the good of the country.... I wouldn't give a rat's ass whether he/she was Republican, Democrat, or Martian. I'd support that person.