Fernando, those same accusations are thrown at Bush. It's not unique to Spanish politics. People here say we are losing rights. Funny, I can't think of ONE I have lost. Hell, Danny Glover said Bush was a racist, although with the US's national defense, there is a triad...the National Security Advisor, the Sec'y of State, and the Sec'y of Defense. TWO of which are African-Americans. Hell, Rod Paige, the Sec'y of Education appointed by Bush is ALSO African-American. Liberals in the States will try anything to discredit a Republican. Sadly, many of the people that don't research for THEMSELVES and only walk lockstep with the Democrats like Sheep, believe them without doing their own research. I, as a Social Liberal, Fiscal Conservative (Basically Libertarian as I want freedom on BOTH sectors) see these attacks and ignorance from the people in the States as disheartening. ....and most of it comes from the Democratic Party. Want to talk about racist? Here in the states a Black Republican is called an "Uncle Tom". Most Democrats don't realize that the Republican Party, Lincoln's Party, was formed as an abolitionist party in 1858 and most Democrats in the South were opposed to integration, Al Gore's father being one of them. Ask them where that little tidbit went to when they say they "Champion" civil rights.

My contention is that I don't trust the left. I see all to often that they side with Communists....a group that has a GREAT history of human rights.

That's funny, as a black person even I don't blanket all blacks with sweeping, baseless generalizations like that. Don't think for a minute that Rice and Powell are not respected. Paige, on the other hand, I don't respect him because I am from the Houston area and I know he isn't all he's cracked up to be--and it's showing. He fudged a lot of records to make Houston schools appear better than they were when he was appointed, and local media have exposed that.

Yeah Lincoln liberated the slaves, and he was a Republican, but you fail to mention how a heck of a lot has happened since then, and how many jumped ship as soon as Democratic Party decided to jump on the Civil Rights bandwagon in the 1960s. But oh, I guess I should just throw my hands up and be a Republican since Lincoln was one. I guess I'm just lost. Not that I have to justify anything to you, but when a President can smile and stand next to Trent Lott and hang out with Bob Jones, he isn't exactly in the running for Mr. Acceptance 2004. Besides, he has to appeal to his hard-line conservative base, which, let's face it (at least around my part of the world), is seriously infected with a rash of racism. (Several coworkers of mine are prime examples.)

To call Bush racist is going too far--I don't know him personally, but I do know for a fact (and if the campaign gets dirty enough this year we may surely see) that Bush can't be a racist. There's living proof of that in Houston. *wink*

Now, that's all I am going to say, as this has nothing to do with Madrid or Spain (my apologies to MadridMan).

Well, Mike, (And sorry MM) I'll admit. I don't know too much about Paige. My friends probably have opinions as about 70% of them are teachers. You, being from Houston, probably do. I do, however, know about Trent Lott as I am originally from Jackson, Mississippi. He is a man of integrity and he has done a TON for the black community in Mississippi. Hell, he has a building named for him at Jackson State University and, what you WON'T hear, had MANY black people from the state coming to his support. JUST like Pickard. WHY won't you hear about it? Simple, the media doesn't WANT you to hear about it. His toast to Strom Thurmond was just a toast to an old man. ...and old man who HAD seen the errors of his ways. A man who HAD fathered a mixed child and supported that child until she was married and started supporting her again when she was divorced. Tell me Mike, Why does Richard Byrd-D-WVA, former Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, get a pass? He does and I see it every day. What about Al Gore Sr.'s vote against the Civil Right's Act of '64? Why is that not aired in the national media?

Fact is Mike, Bush has appointed more minorities than the "First Black President" Bill Clinton. That alone should tell ANYONE he is not a racist. A racist being someone who has the inherent belief that their race is superior. I haven't seen the DNC put a minority in ANY MAJOR position of power. They are placed in token positions to please the masses. The Republicans will be the first to offer a minority as a viable(NOT Sharpton-like) candidate. I pray it's Condy Vs. Hillary. ...as I DESPISE Hillary Clinton and love with a passion Condoleeza Rice.

Gentlemen-
The topic of this board is SPAIN. Discussions of US politics belong at a minumum in the non-Spain topic, and probably in another forum.

Again and again I read the same: we were scared , that's why the socialists won.
UNTRUE. You weren't there, I was.
I wont explain it again, look at the first post.
My wife was VERY scared. She voted PP.
End of the question!

Fernando: your opinion is truly biased. If you think that PSOE has criminalized PP, I say to you: What the hell was PP trying to do during the campaign?

At this point in time, all that's been done is the counting of ballots, and a new administration will take office in Spain. As to the changes and effects of this election, it's still unknown.

Let's just hope the fallout from this election doesn't signal terrorist strikes everywhere in conjunction with elections, because that would be one hell of a bad legacy for the results in Spain.

Wolf

No deibid, I was also here, in Spain and in Madrid. You can tell me you disagree with me and that's ok, but don't try me convince I saw different things of I what truly saw.

And yes, my opinion is biased of course, but as biased as yours or anyone's. You are not in possesion of truth (neither I'm).

Fernando

OK, no problem

Rather than try to catch up on the entire thread of this conversation... I just want to address the title of the thread, about Democracy winning in Spain.
It is true that the people have spoken in Spain, and though they made a decision which I do not agree with, it is their choice. However, just because the people made the choice does not mean an automatic victory for "democracy". Democracy is also dependant upon people making GOOD decisions, and definitely not decisions in reaction to day by day events.
Adolph Hitler was initially ELECTED.. but that was a sad day for democracy.

BTW, kevin, your right, and not only did Al gore Sr fight the Civil Rights act, he has a hiway named after him today.