Billy, I completly agree with you. I however am a lifelong democrat (who probably isn't going to be welcome on this thread if it's anything like the last few times this "communist" has posted).
I firmly believe that if Gore were president today for 7 1/2 years we would still have 1.50 gas, the job market would be fine, and the housing market up to 2008 prices.
Housing market - was just a trickle down effect. As a matter of fact it is the only thing in the last 8 years to benifit me because I'm getting ready to buy a house this fall. Of course I don't see an end to this recession any time soon (quite the opposite) but you have to live somewhere. Hopefully 5-10 years from now I can take advantage of another economic boom and come out ahead on the house. So in that, I'm optomistic.
The job market is kinda mixed. The liberal end of my party who wants to spread social culture (the minority of my party) is teaming up with the republicans (I'd still say the minority) who want the illegals here to bring down american labor. And finally it's directly linked to oil prices which cause too much transportation costs for companies, it's caused the american auto industry to lose hundreds of thousands of jobs (because of the truck and SUV plants but also because of the promotion of Toyota who also exploits american labor).
But the oil problem is directly Bush's fault and he's making his billionare cronies into multi-billionares...which was the plan from the start. Clinton stopped big oil in it's tracks. It could of been done again. Instead Bush said he would not do anything as punishment for not allowing him to drill in Alaska --- a refuge set aside so maniacs like him would never be allowed to drill in. All drilling in Alaska would do is give the cronies more money while keeping gas prices the same.
Prior to the 2000 election Bush made it clear that Saddam "tried to kill my daddy" and if given the chance he would take him out. So not only do we have an illegal war for personal vendeta, we have Cheney's cronies who had the contracts in Iraq...no coincidence I'm sure.
And then We elect Bush again when we stand there and let him bash the patriotism of Kerry who proudly served the US military (unlike someone else who stayed home and snorted nose candy).
The last 8 years have been a sham
I know firearms are important to you all (It's not to me - it's a hobby and that's it). I know the NRA pushes the issue every election season (personally I find it to be propaganda). Even if democrats put heavy restrictions on guns (a theory I don't subscribe to) it's doesn't matter anyway because we can't afford to buy them
Whatever you views on guns, abortion, gay marriage, etc - you shouldn't be voting on these and then wonder why the economy is messed up. The gun industry uses scare tactics so you vote on inanimate objects and the opportunity to play Rambo, the church uses scare tactics telling everyone that if you vote for a pro-choice candidate it is a sin, the military powers that be uses scare tactics saying that terror is the world's biggest threat.
I believe Obama (not that I like him...I am for my girl Hillary but that ship has sailed) when he says that republicans have tricked people into voting against their economic interests.
I urge everyone to vote based on the economy---that is truely the most important thing we have that we base our entire lives around. That includes gas prices, jobs, healthcare, balancing the budget, etc. And if economic issues tell you to vote Republican - fine - at least you're voting for a valid reason.
Everything else is not important unless everyone has some sort of financial breather in their lives.