Newsgroups: bit.listserv.politics
Date:         Wed, 30 Sep 1992 10:18:32 EDT
From:         todd pukanecz <CCCS@VTVM1.BITNET>
Subject:      Sununu and Tsongas

Va Tech's distinguished speaker series featured John Sununu and Paul
Tsongas last night.  It was a somewhat predictable although interesting
debate.  Both speakers rehashed major themes of their respective party's
campaign.  There was some insightful Q&A afterwards.

For his part, Sununu did a good job of highlighting the accomplishments
of the Bush administration.  It left me with the impression that Bush is
a much more effective leader than I give him credit for.  It occurs to me
that the Republican campaign should focus on Bush's domestic achievements
instead of Clinton's draft record or "family values" (do I smell a flag
burning?).  There was also the usual blame congress dodge and remember
the last Democratic administration bogeyman.

Tsongas had more and better laugh lines.  His reasons for encouraging
a Clinton vote included a woman's right to choose, the environment,
gay rights, racial tolerance, and the economy.  Although he doesn't
agree with all the particulars of Clinton's economic plan,  he sees
Clinton as more serious about economic reform.  Tsongas also brought up
(and gave the 800 number) for the Concord Coalition that he and Rudman
are starting - a grass-roots lobbying effort to get congress and the
white house to deal with the national debt.

Both men agreed that the president should have a line-item veto.  (I
personally don't buy it.)  Both also agreed that the key to helping the
inner-city poor - preventing a rerun of the LA riots - is to have sound
economic growth so there is a larger pie of which we can all take larger
slices.  They disagreed on which road to take to this land of Oz.

Tsongas went on to comment about impending generational conflict, as the
baby boom retires and people of my generation have a 20-25% of their
paycheck stolen by the government to pay for the retirement of our
parent's and grandparent's generation, who got us into this economic
quagmire in the first place.  Tsongas favors major reform in entitlement
spending, needs testing for social security, etc.

Finally, both were concerned that our generation would shy away from
public service, both because of the riggers and scrutiny of the election
process, and because of the negative perception many people have of
politicians.  Both extolled the virtues and rewards of their personal
public service, and encouraged us to improve the system by getting
involved in the political process to some extent.

On a frivolous note, I was ogling a fine looking blonde while waiting
in line to ask my question (she reminded me of an old flame.  Time ran
out before I could ask the question).  I noticed a decided lack of
blondes in the crowd;  although bleached and natural blondes make up
10-20% of any classroom, they were 2-3% of the 4K in the auditorium.
Liese may be interested in noting that redheads were out in force.
There were also a few geriatrics in the crowd, so regarding hair
color, the reds outnumbered the whites, who outnumberd the blues.
   toddddddddddd

=========== Wake up John Doe.  You're the hope of the world! ===========
--------     /^^\    ---- Todd Pukanecz ----   ----  CCCS@VTVM1  ----
-----      /      >   --- Ag. Econ. DPL --- "Dan Quayle is more stupid
---  /\_ / @       \   -- Virginia Tech --   than Ronald Reagan put
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