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| Between
a Rock and a Hard Place
A Review of Aron Ralston's New Book
What goes through the mind of a man
about to cut his arm off to save his own life? Aron Ralston details
his days trapped in a Utah canyon and the many adventures that led
him there. |
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| George
W. Bush's Resume
Wondering about the man behind the rhetoric? Meniscus Magazine has
helped George Bush update his resume. Afterall, the job market for
an ex-president is tight. One word for you W: monster.com |
| Select
Quotes from the 2004 DNC and RNC
Republicans, Democrats and the
People speak! Read the slams and slogans that our presidential candidates
and elected officials toss around like jell-o in a food fight. |
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Democratic
and Republican
National Conventions
Published
9/25/04
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Join
Meniscus Photographers
To See the Conventions Yourself
Take the slide show tour... |
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|
The
RNC: New York, NY Sept 04
Photography by Michael Weintrob
 High
speed (8 MB)
Dial up (3 MB) |
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(Download
will take several minutes—but it's worth it! Make
sure sound is on.) |
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Below are quotes taken directly from the
speeches given at the Democratic National Convention and the Republican
National Convention,
and photos of the people of Boston.
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| “When we send our young men
and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge
the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care
for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon
their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops
to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.”
— Barack Obama U.S. Senate candidate,
Illinois |
 “The
men and women who wear the uniform of the United States represent
the very best of America. They have the thanks of our nation. And
they have the confidence, the loyalty and the respect of their commander
in chief.”
— Dick Cheney, Vice
President U.S. |
“Americans long to be
united. After 9/11, we all just wanted to be one nation. Not a single
American on September the 12, 2001, cared who won the next presidential
election.
The president had an amazing opportunity to bring
the country together under his slogan of compassionate conservatism
and to unite the world in the struggle against terror.
Instead, he and his congressional allies made a
very different choice. They chose to use that moment of unity to
try to push the country too far to the right and to walk away from
our allies, not only in attacking Iraq before the weapons inspectors
had finished their work, but in withdrawing American support for
the climate change treaty, and for the international court on war
criminals, and for the anti-ballistic missile treaty and from the
nuclear test ban treaty.”
— Bill Clinton, Former U.S. President,
1993-2001 |
 “I
am running for president with a clear and positive plan to build
a safer world and a more hopeful America. I am running with a
compassionate conservative philosophy: that government should
help people improve their lives, not try to run their lives.”
— George W. Bush, President
U.S.
|
“What a difference these few months of extremism have made.
The United States has alienated its allies, dismayed its friends,
and inadvertently gratified its enemies by proclaiming a confused
and disturbing strategy of preemptive war.”
— Jimmy Carter, Former U.S. President, 1977-1981
|
 As
in other times, we are in a war we did not start, and have no
choice but to win.”
— Dick Cheney, Vice President U.S.
|
“For
the first time when America was in a war footing in our whole history,
they gave two huge tax cuts, nearly half of which went to the top
1 percent of us. Now, I'm in that group for the first time in my
life…
I almost sent them a thank you note for my tax cuts, until I realized
that the rest of you were paying the bill for it. And then I thought
better of it.
… They chose to protect my tax cut at all costs while withholding
promised funding to the Leave No Child Behind Act, leaving 2.1 million
children behind.
They chose to protect my tax cut, while cutting 140,000 unemployed
workers out of their job training programs, 100,000 working families
out of their child care assistance, and worst of all, while cutting
300,000 poor children out of their after-school programs, when we
know it keeps them off the streets, out of trouble, in school, learning,
going to college and having a good life.
They chose -- they chose to protect my tax cuts while dramatically
raising the out-of-pocket costs of health care to our veterans and
while weakening or reversing very important environmental measures
that Al Gore and I put into place, everything from clean air to
the protection of our forests.”
— Bill Clinton, Former U.S. President, 1993-2001 |
“We are transforming our schools by raising standards and
focusing on results. We are insisting on accountability, empowering
parents and teachers, and making sure that local people are in
charge of their schools.
By testing every child, we are identifying those who need help,
and we're providing a record level of funding to get them that
help.”
— George W. Bush, President U.S.
|
“In repudiating extremism, we need to recommit ourselves
to a few common-sense principles that should transcend partisan
differences.
First, we cannot enhance our own security if we place in jeopardy
what is most precious to us, namely the centrality of human rights
in our daily lives and in global affairs.
Second, we cannot maintain our historic self-confidence as a
people if we generate public panic.
Third, we cannot do our duty as citizens and patriots if we
pursue an agenda that polarizes and divides our country.
Next, we cannot be true to ourselves if we mistreat others.
And finally, in the world at large, we cannot lead if our leaders
mislead.”
— Jimmy Carter, Former U.S. President, 1977-1981
|
 “On
September 20, 2001, President Bush stood before a joint session
of Congress, a still grieving and shocked nation and a confused
world, and he changed the direction of our ship of state.
He dedicated America, under his leadership, to destroying global
terrorism.
The president announced the Bush Doctrine, when he said, ‘Our
war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there.
It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has
been found, stopped and defeated. Either you are with us or you
are with the terrorists.’”
— Rudy Guiliani, Former Mayor New York City, 1993-2001
|
“And this soldier has news for you tonight. Anyone who
tells you that one political party has a monopoly on the best
defense of our nation is committing a fraud on the American people.
Franklin Roosevelt said it best. Franklin Roosevelt said: ‘Repetition
does not transform a lie into the truth.’”
— General Wesley Clark
|
 “President
Bush sees world terrorism for the evil that it is.
John Kerry has no such clear, precise and consistent vision.
This is not a personal criticism of John Kerry. I respect him
for his service to our nation.”
— Rudy Guiliani, Former Mayor New York City, 1993-2001
|
“We're told that outsourcing jobs is good
for America. We're told that new jobs that pay $9,000 less than
the jobs that have been lost is the best we can do. They say this
is the best economy we've ever had. And they say that anyone who
thinks otherwise is a pessimist. Well, here is our answer: There
is nothing more pessimistic than saying America can't do better.”
—John Kerry, U.S. Senator, Massachusetts,
Democratic Presidential Candidate 2004
|
 “Businesses
are creating jobs. People are returning to work. Mortgage rates
are low, and home ownership in this country is at an all-time
high. The Bush tax cuts are working.”
— Dick Cheney, Vice President U.S.
|
“And tonight, we have an important message for those who
question the patriotism of Americans who offer a better direction
for our country. Before wrapping themselves in the flag and shutting
their eyes and ears to the truth, they should remember what America
is really all about. They should remember the great idea of freedom
for which so many have given their lives. Our purpose now is to
reclaim democracy itself. We are here to affirm that when Americans
stand up and speak their minds and say America can do better,
that is not a challenge to patriotism; it is the heart and soul
of patriotism.”
— John Kerry, U.S. Senator, Massachusetts, Democratic
Presidential Candidate 2004
|
 “For
it has been said so truthfully that it is the soldier, not the
reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of
speech.
It is the soldier, not the agitator, who has given us the freedom
to protest.
It is the soldier who salutes the flag, serves beneath the flag,
whose coffin is draped by the flag, who gives that protester the
freedom he abuses to burn that flag.”
— Zell Miller, Senator, Georgia
|
“For four years, we've heard a lot of talk about values.
But values spoken without actions taken are just slogans. Values
are not just words. They're what we live by. They're about the
causes we champion and the people we fight for. And it is time
for those who talk about family values to start valuing families.
You don't value families by kicking kids out of after school
programs and taking cops off our streets, so that Enron can get
another tax break.”
— John Kerry, U.S. Senator, Massachusetts, Democratic
Presidential Candidate 2004
|
 “Because
family and work are sources of stability and dignity, I support
welfare reform that strengthens family and requires work.
Because a caring society will value its weakest
members, we must make a place for the unborn child.
Because religious charities provide a safety net
of mercy and compassion, our government must never discriminate
against them.
Because the union of a man and woman deserves
an honored place in our society, I support the protection of marriage
against activist judges.”
— George W. Bush, President U.S.
|
“We value an
America that controls its own destiny because it's finally and forever
independent of Mideast oil. What does it mean for our economy and
our national security when we only have three percent of the world's
oil reserves, yet we rely on foreign countries for 53 percent of
what we consume?
I want an America that relies on its own ingenuity and innovation
-- not the Saudi royal family.
And our energy plan for a stronger America will invest in new
technologies and alternative fuels and the cars of the future --
so that no young American in uniform will ever be held hostage to
our dependence on oil from the Middle East.”
—John Kerry, U.S. Senator, Massachusetts, Democratic
Presidential Candidate 2004 |
 “I
believe that America is called to lead the cause of freedom in
a new century. I believe that millions in the Middle East plead
in silence for their liberty. I believe that given the chance,
they will embrace the most honorable form of government ever devised
by man.”
— George W. Bush, President U.S.
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