This is my first post.

[Joe45]

Good day to you all.

I just thought I'd start what I hope is a long time here by telling you what I think about some things.

I'm not a young man who's recently become interested in the workings of government today; I'm an old man who's recently become re-interested in the workings of government.

I was born in 1932.

In 1944 I voted for FDR.

In 1948 I voted for Harry Truman.

I started to find my political ideology more firmly in the 50s, when I voted a straight Republican ticket from Ike all the way down to my local offices.

By the 1960 election, I was quite firmly a Nixon Republican.

In 1964, I agreed with a lot of what Goldwater was saying but I found the guy scary and just didn't vote at all.

In '68 and '72 I was back with Nixon again. In '76 I was for Carter but ended up voting for Ford.

1980 and 1984 were just too easy. And being from California, I was only too happy to help give that state to our former governor Reagan.

1988 was difficult in that I never really liked George Bush. Nixon apparently called him a 'lightweight' once and I tended to agree. I held my breath and voted for him.

In 1992 I wanted to vote for Perot but I didn't want Clinton to win, so I held my nose again and voted for Bush.

1996 - by this time I really didn't care. I voted for Dole, knowing it wouldn't make a difference. But the country seemed to be moving in the right direction and I was retired, so I didn't seem to mind it when Dole lost.

2000 - well what was I to do here? I thought the tax cut was stupid. I think missle defense is pointless. I think W. is stupid (and I voted for Jerry Ford!). But what else could I do? The election was close - so AGAIN I compromised and voted for Bush instead of who made the most sense to me: Buchanan.

Now? We almost had TIPS, a 'spy on your neighbours' kinda thing. We've got this ridiculous 'Patriot Act' which says that US Citizens can be abducted by the Federal government on a whim and be held without being charged.

Then yesterday the Senate passed the Homeland Security Bill. I was watching on CSpan. Robert Byrd held up the bill - all 484 pages of it (it was 35 when President Bush submitted it to the Congress) and said that it was loaded with pork and with the worst kind of big government 'big brother' crap this side of Iraq.

And you know what? I'm fed up about it. They passed it. Bush is going to sign it.

And you know who the only people talking about the REPRESSION OF CIVIL LIBERTIES are?

I've heard a couple. GORE - of all people, Al Gore goes on Larry King Live and says we're losing our rights. The ALCU for Chrissakes says the same thing. And Dick Armey, who might go and work with them.

I'm sorry. I've held my nose enough. I don't like Bush, I don't trust Bush. And we're never going to learn how to be a truly conservative party if we keep winning pyrric victories like in 2000.

I want someone to challenge Bush from the right in 2004 for the Republican nomination. Pat Buchanan or Tom DeLay or someone who isn't just a sicophant for what the Republican party - the party of Reagan and Goldwater conservatism - has become.

I've seen all sorts of things happen in my time. One side is just as bad as the other and I don't think we ought to settle for mediocrity and people like Bush anymore.

I'm sorry if my opinion disturbs anyone or offends anyone, but I wanted to put it out there and see if anyone else in the conservative world agrees with me.

Thank you.

Faithfully,

Joe.

[Joe45]

Let me introduce to myself. I want you to know why a 70 year old man has once again taken a keen interest in the running of government today.

[Dog Gone]

You voted for FDR when you were TWELVE???

[Joe45]

Forgot to add another thing - Campaign Finance Reform. Would Pat Buchanan or Tom DeLay or Ronald Reagan ever have signed this into law? I hope you can understand my frustration.

[Bahbah]

Did I read correctly above that you voted for FDR at the age of 12? Interesting.

[yonif]

Most people in the forum won't be suprised at me for asking this:

What is your opinion on Israel?

[Joe45]

I'm sorry. 1944 and 1948 I didn't vote. I meant to write that I wanted to vote for FDR and for Harry Truman. My mother and father both did. Please excuse my error.

[rellimpank]

--how did you vote for FDR when you were twelve and HST when you were sixteen--live in Chicago?

[Bahbah]

We obviously passed math.

[yonif]

good point. Could be that he meant he supported FDR.

[mikeb704]

I meant to write that I wanted to vote for FDR and for Harry Truman. My mother and father both did. Please excuse my error.

The error was made by your parents.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[Fintan]

Joe, let me be one of the first to welcome you aboard!!!

You sound like my kinda guy. I'm 51 (52 on Saturday, 11/23 in case you like to send a case of Irish whiskey and a box of Arturo Fuentes) and I'm looking forward to learning from you and getting to know you.

We're a contentious bunch, and our motto is, "When News Breaks, We Fix It".

Welcome!!!!!!!!!!!

[yonif]

it seems to me you have been here quite a time:

You have been a member since,
2002-04-29

[xm177e2]

If you voted for FDR in 1932, and you are 70 years old today, in the Year 2002.... when your mom went into the voting booth, did you reach out of the womb and pull the lever for her?

[xm177e2]

Ooops my mistake.

[hoosierboy]

Hey the democrats needed another vote, they had to recruit kids. Now they get felons, illegal aliens, dead people. Hey the democrats have been help voters commit fraud since the beginning of time. Why are you shocked?

[Joe45]

On Israel? I have to admit that I don't pay as much attention to the situation there as I probably should.

I don't know. It's awfully hard to have any kind of peace when you're dealing with people who want to murder your children. If Arafat can't do anything about terrorism then someone has to. And if that someone has to be Israel or the United States, then I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

That said, I don't want to see our troops go over there.

But I don't have a completely thought out opinion on the subject.

[Bahbah]

Joe, I just don't buy you.

[Senator Pardek]

Now if he said he died in 1932, I'd buy it.

[Joe45]

Excuse me?

[fifteendogs]

Joe, I appreciate much of what you had to say, but your credibility is hurting. You say you were born in 1932 and you voted 12 years later and again when you were 16 and again when you were 20. I find that hard to believe unless you are talking about when you were in school and the school had elections. Nevertheless, I am glad that you bellied up to the bar to post your thoughts.