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.

[yonif]

lol

[Joe45]

I'm sorry, but is there any way to edit my original post? I've obviously caused problems with my errors.

[JMJ333]

Joe, its nice of you to join us. A good attempt at your first post. Be forewarned that everything you say, whether a harmless typo or a serious thought will be picked over. Take it in stride. Jump in and defend yourself with both barrells blazing! Best to you...

J+M+J

[Dog Gone]

I'll excuse the error, but you still think Dubya is stupid, which makes me wonder about the rest of your judgment.

Maybe I'm biased. I knew him before he was President and we've talked alone. He's been portrayed by liberals as stupid, but he's anything but.

[smoothsailing]

Welcome aboard !!!!

[swarthyguy]

Joe voting age was 21 back then, wasn't it?. So your first election may have been 1952 or 1956.

Only became 18 when.....sometime in the 60's?

[yonif]

he already said that, he meant to say he supported them

[Joe45]

I could be wrong about Bush's intelligence. It could be a product of my dislike for his father.

But I watched Jeb's victory speech on election day and he is a lot more articulate than his brother.

[Joe45]

I could be wrong about Bush's intelligence. It could be a product of my dislike for his father.

But I watched Jeb's victory speech on election day and he is a lot more articulate than his brother.

[Hunble]

Welcome to FR and your first post was most welcome.

Please turn off your TV and start studying the actual text. Oh, I am sure many people in our Congress have stuck in some very vile things, but the country will survive.

The GOP will get good judges who can and will rule that many items are not Constitutional. Until the GOP obtained control of the Senate, judges today invented things as they go along.

There are not activist Conservative judges. Conservative judges can read the Constitution without hallucinating.

[Jewels1091]

Hi Joe...I disagree with everything you said. But, you have a right to say it. I love this president and thank God every day that he is in office now when we need him. I will vote for him again. I think that lots of people are getting 10 second snipets for their news and NOT doing their own research.

Like I read somewhere..if Gore had been in office, he would either haver thrown a few cruise missles at the problem or Afganistan would be glowing in the dark.

President Bush has been and will continue to be one of the greatest Presidents this country has ever had!

[Mad Dawgg]

"This is my first post."

Howdy, Illbay will be along in a moment with his Vanity reminder. (He gets his goodies with these reminders so just play along)

Let me be the first to post the obligatory:

Already posted Here! Post.

Oh and Welcome. You are in for a wild ride.

[mfreddy]

Welcome Joe

You're certainly entitled to your opinions on FR. That's one of the nice things.

I'm curious--you say you don't trust Bush and you state as a primary concern our being stripped of our liberties. Since you've been around through a few wars, do you not remember any similar steps during previous wars?

My point is that we have people in this country that want us and our way of life to cease. For the last eight years we have witnessed a systematic destruction of our intelligence community, a quadrupling of illegal immigrants, and an administration that chose to ignore the terrorist problem until it killed 3000 Americans.

The cells are among us. My plans have been layed.

Why don't you share with us how YOU propose to solve the problems without any of the aforementioned "attrocities".

By the way, I still can't believe anyone would've actually voted for Perot.

[Joe45]

I really do hope you're right. I'll try to keep an open mind. After all, now that I've finally posted here, maybe you can give me some tips on where to get better information - if I'm misinformed on my views, that is.

Cheers.

[Radix]

I think that they are saying that your post seems flawed.

I do not know a lot about FR.com. I am relatively new here myself.

I do not understand the business about not liking Bush. His poll numbers are pretty high. Of course I despise polls myself.

They appear to think that you are Full of it.

They are surmising that you may have an agenda!

I can see why!



I don`t know that much about posters here.. I am still green here.


Anyhow, Freep on!

[yonif]

By the way, what state are you from?

[Senator Pardek]

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

Bingo - that went over my pointy head. Ike ran in '52 the first time, when Joe was 20 - another "mistake"? Lol...

[yonif]

Also what wars have you faught in, if any?

[Bahbah]

I owe you a response. I'm no spring chickie but I don't think I'd mistakenly say that I voted for 2 presidents I was too young to vote for. I hope I am reading you wrong and will certainly give you the benefit of the doubt.

[Joe45]

I do understand the need for certain laws to be enacted. And yes, I've seen it happen before. And it was Joe McCarthy just a little bit. I'm just saying that I think some of these things are excessive.

Also, I do not consider Campaign Finance Reform to be necessary for national security.