Hi Kathy,
First let me say that I dont hate you or most other people that voted for Kerry but I fine your post very illuminating. Lets take one thing at a time.
First you say that you are a fiscal conservative. Yet you voted for Kerry. While Bush certainly could have watched the pennies more carefully John Kerry proposed spending increases of at least $1.8 trillion. Thats about a 70% increase in spending. I admit he promised to increase taxes by $660 billion but that still means that the increase in spending would have still exceeded a 50% increase under a hypothetical Kerry Presidency. And there are other arguments but the fact is that you were either ill-informed, didnt believe Kerry on the spending he planned (in which case why would you vote for someone like him anyway) or you are not really a fiscal conservative.
Second. Abortion. This is not just a religious issue. Although I personally have some mixed emotions most of the antiabortion forces believe life begins at conception. For them failure to fight abortion is morally equivalent to the Europeans who turned their heads away as Nazis marched Jews off to death camps. Try to explain that away any way you want but you have to respect moral conviction of that type.
Gays. No one wants to deny anyone rights. However newly invented rights created for certain groups are just plain wrong. Gays have the exact same rights as you or I but changing the age old definition of fundamental relationships opens a door to to a very serious slope. What do you do when a NAMBLA comes around next Tuesday insisting on the right to marry 9-year-old boys? Are we denying their rights? A society must have definitions and standards and these are ours.
Iraq. Im not happy about Iraq either but not for the reasons you are. I do think it could have been handled better but not the way you think. The simple fact is that every death in Iraq, on 9/11, the first Trade Center attack, and nearly every other terrorist attack against Americans is directly attributable to John Kerry , Kennedy and every one of their ilk. The root reason that anyone dared try these terror acts is because they thought they could get away with it. Vietnam, Somalia, and scores of other incidents have occurred over the last 40 years to encourage every thug in the world to think that they can murder Americans with impunity. I maintain that if OBL knew in advance we really and truly come after him, and never stop coming, he never would have tried 9/11. Its the John Kerrys of the world who have essentially acted in behalf of the goals of such terrorists that have encouraged exactly that behavior.
I have more to say on this subject but I wont since it enrages me far more than I like since its a fight Ive fought since a teenager.
You have fallen for the propaganda of many of the left. There is little hate among most conservatives for Kerry supporters, certainly nothing like the venom heaped on us after the election. However you in the collective sense are dangerous. You voted for a man that would say ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING in a desperate search for power. You aligned yourself with thugs (thousands of assaults on Bush supporters have been recorded), liars (Dan Rather), and fringe kooks (drop by the Democratic Underground and read their conspiracy theory of the day).
Perhaps that is your idea of leadership. It certainly was kinda OK in the peaceful and easy 90s. Today times are much tougher and more dangerous and far too much is at stake for another feel good overgrown, special interest, character to inhabit the White House right now.
Best Regards.
I do. [snicker]
Well said!