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Thank you for taking the time to write me this thoughtful and reasoned reply.

Many times I am turned off by anti-Bush posters at FR due to responses such as your earlier, "Bush.. so much for conservatism.... Harrumph!!" type reply. This reply really made me think and begin to re-evaluate my take on the President.

I must admit to be an active follower of politics, and mostly because I am fascinated by the give-and-take manuevering that is the game of politics. Yes, like you mention in your post, it is largely a game to me, and maybe that's the problem.

I think that a lot of the time, I tend to get sucked into an "us-versus-them" type mentality in analyzing current events and politics. I honestly try to not be for something just because a Republican is behind it, or against a position merely because a Democrat is praising it. Unfortunately, many times I do get pulled into this mode of thinking, where a Republican -- largely President Bush -- can do little or no wrong. No, obviously this is a gross over-simplification and I'm generalizing here. I don't agree with everything the man does, and I certainly have some policy differences with him.

The problem is that I can see how viewing this whole thing as a game is a dangerous viewpoint. It's really the challenge of viewing things in the context of the application of values rather than the winning of short-term politcal battles. However, I still believe that the Republicans generally have a better, more positive, and more productive agenda for this country than do the Democrats. Because of this, I tend to put on my rose-colored GOP glasses when I analyze things. I know this isn't a good thing to do, but I guess it's human nature.

The intent of my original post was to put President Bush into context by illustrating that many policies that he is now implementing -- prescription drugs under Medicare, for example -- were fully and repeatedly described in his campaign and presidential debates.

What you've left me to "chew on" is that while the country will turn into a better direction (in my opinion) under the Republicans than the Democrats, is that direction really the best we can hope for, or the best we should hope for?

In 2000-2001, disappointments with the Bush administration were going to be smoothed over, "just as soon as 2002 comes, we'll get the Senate firmly in GOP hands again, and we'll make some real progress."

Now, 2004 is looming, and we're told that larger gains in the Senate and the re-election of Bush is all we need to reach the "promised land." I for one will be watching and listening to President Bush next year and carefully listening to what he has to say, because he's a man I take at his word and I trust that what he outlines in his campaign is exactly what he intends to do. The question that will remain for all of us is whether or not his goals for the nation are the same as our own.

Thanks again for the post; you really made me think, and a good exchange of opinions.. A perfect example of the greatness of FR!