FRI 30 JAN 2004
UI poll displays parity in students’ election plans
By Leif ThompsonArgonaut Staff
As the Democratic primaries continue and Super Tuesday approaches, 17 UI students on were asked to express their politics, opinions and thoughts on the 2004 presidential election.
The informal poll was conducted Wednesday afternoon in the area between the Idaho Commons and the library. Seven students declined comment because they had no opinion, three students declined comment because they were late for class and seven other students had varying political views.
DANIEL BICKLEY / PHOTO ILLUSTRATION / ARGONAUT / President George W. Bush’s opponent in the 2004 presidential election has yet to be determined.
Oldroyd was asked if Bush has been a good president.
“Yes, definitely, no one has convinced me otherwise,” Oldroyd said. “(I like) the way he comes across. He’s outspoken, he doesn’t hide and he’s very open.”
Charles Rice, a graduate student in history, will not be voting for Bush in 2004.
“Bush is an idiot,” Rice said. “I belong to the ‘Anybody but Bush’ party.” Rice does not like the foreign policy of the Bush administration.
“There were plenty of real reasons to invade Iraq, but he chose a bogus reason because he is an idiot,” Rice said. “His policies and his actions have been tremendously embarrassing to the United States.”
Rice also said Bush has blurred the line in the separation of church and state.
“He uses religion to manipulate the American people,” Rice said. “He is supposed to be the political leader and not the religious leader. He’s not the pope.”
Rice said Bush should be impeached.
“Because he has mixed religion and politics against the U.S. Constitution, he should be impeached. He has violated his oath to uphold the Constitution,” Rice said.
Jesse Mecham, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering, said he will vote for Bush because he likes the administration’s foreign policy and does not agree with some Democratic platforms.
“I know that the Democratic platforms I don’t agree so much with, as far as labor unions go. I agree with the war in Iraq. Why should someone be oppressed by another person, Saddam. I’m kind of glad that we found him and we’re dealing with all that terrorism,” Mecham said.
Andy Olson, a senior majoring in environmental science, is undeclared, but he is sure he will not vote for Bush.
“I haven’t been following the Democratic primaries very much,” Olson said. He said he voted for Ralph Nader in the last presidential election, but he probably would not vote for him again.
“I think they need a strong Democratic presence in the presidency or at least a more liberal view than the current administration takes,” Olson said. “Show Bush the door in 2004.”
One graduate student in horticulture wished to remain anonymous because she works for the government and is not allowed to talk to the press about politics. She voted for Bush in 2000. She is waiting to hear debate between the candidates before she decides who to vote for in 2004.
“I voted for Bush last year,” she said. “I think he’s doing a good job. I also like (John) Kerry. I’m looking forward to seeing who he (the Democratic opponent) is and what he has to say,” she said.
She said she might not vote for Bush because he might cut government spending and take her job away.
“Bush is privatizing government. That would hurt my job,” she said.
Jeff Diteman does not like Bush and is unsure of his opponents.
“I’m pissed off,” Diteman said. “Kerry is the only electable Democratic candidate and he voted for war (in Iraq). (Howard) Dean is very charismatic. He could have carried it (the Democratic nomination) through his initial treatment, but the press likes to blow what he says way out of proportion because he is the only person willing to say some of this stuff.”
Diteman said Dean might be a disingenuous candidate.
“It seems like he’ll do whatever it takes to get elected. He’s expressed opinions of what he thinks we want to hear,” Diteman said.
John Feeney, a sophomore majoring in accounting, does not like the domestic policy of the Bush administration.
“I think that Bush has dropped the ball on what he said he was going to do and I don’t agree with him at all. (I don’t like) No Child Left Behind and the PATRIOT Act,” Feeney said. The No Child Left Behind act holds the public education system of each state accountable to standardized proficiency test. The PATRIOT Act is a group of laws that broaden governmental power in the measures they use to combat terrorism.
TODAY
College of Law open houseUI Menard Law Building
4 p.m.
Architecture lecture series
Idaho Commons, Crest Room
5 p.m.
ASUI senate meeting
UITV-8 programming
8 p.m.
Piano recital: Peter Henderson
School of Music Recital Hall
8 p.m.
SATURDAY
High school band festivalSUB
Noon
Wyoming certification wildlife biologist exam
College of Natural Resources, Room 10
10 a.m.
SUNDAY
Sigma Alpha Iota MusicalSchool of Music Recital Hall
3 p.m.
MONDAY
Lecture: “Paraphrases and Reminiscences”Steven Spooner
School of Music Recital Hall
8 p.m.
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